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Prayer Evangelism

May 19th, 2008 by David Rogers
Posted in Church Life, Church Planting, David Rogers, Evangelism |

I believe that specific prayer for the personal needs of unconverted contacts can be one of the most effective evangelistic methods we have. Think about it. Who doesn’t want you to pray for them, especially if you are praying for them the things they would really like for you to pray for them? There are a lot of people who are not open for you to share the Gospel with them. But a lot of these same people will warm up, and I believe, little by little, open up to the Gospel, when we express a sincere interest in their personal needs, and let them know that we are praying for them.

I also believe that God, many times, takes a special interest in answering the prayers we lift up for the personal needs of the lost. Why? Because He “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” That is actually one of the main reasons given in 1 Timothy 2 that “requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.” Our prayers help them to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Not just our prayers that they will be saved. But also our prayers for all their personal needs.

In my ministry, I have been involved in praying for the lost in various ways, and have also been made aware of several other efforts at praying for the lost that have proven to be quite effective as an evangelistic strategy.

In many of our evangelistic meetings in Spain, we have a special time for prayer requests, and spend some quality time praying for those needs. I have also found that in the beginning stages of church planting it is helpful to give a significant time to receiving prayer requests, and actually praying for them, in the Sunday service. As God answers these prayers very specifically (which He has done on a number of different occasions), excitement builds within the new congregation, and the new believers are eager to invite their friends so their needs can be prayed for as well.

In open-air street witnessing, one method that has proven more effective than others in Spain is a short survey in which the surveyor eventually asks the person being surveyed about their personal needs, and if they can pray for them there on the spot. Hardly ever have we had someone say no. And many people are sincerely impressed. And, on occasion, God answers these prayers miraculously, and the people come back, amazed at the power of prayer, grateful for our concern for them, and open to hear more.

Another positive practice, whenever you are out and about in the community, at a store, or at school, or wherever, is to make a habit of asking people about their lives and their personal needs, and to let them know, on a regular basis, you are praying for them.

I know of one church in Spain that was pretty much started by prayer evangelism. The church planting missionaries, and the core team of initial helpers, rented a storefront as a church hall, and passed out literature in the neighborhood letting people know the church was open all week long for prayer (just like the Catholic churches). They also encouraged the people in the neighborhood to write down prayer requests, and turn them in. The church planting team then committed to praying for these requests on a regular basis.

Among the various people who turned in prayer requests was a couple whose adult son was gravely ill. The church planting team prayed for him, and let the couple know they were praying. Shortly thereafter, God worked a miracle and healed their son. Although the son himself did not become a believer, the parents gave their hearts to Christ, and began to grow in their faith. It just so happened that the father of the sick man was the local public school superintendent, and was very well connected in town. They began to invite their friends and contacts to church. The church grew quickly. This man was eventually named as the first elder of the new congregation.

Last week, I read about an interesting twist on this concept in an article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal. A local Memphis church, World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church, has bought two vans, and outfitted them as “Prayer Mobiles.” On a regular basis, they drive up and down the 180 streets of the Hickory Hill neighborhood around the church, praying for, and blessing the people, on the loudspeaker. Although, according to Pastor Alton Williams, the people on the streets were a bit suspicious at the start, they have now gained a reputation in their neighborhood as caring people, and the “Prayer Mobiles” are a welcome sight.

If you are interested in learning more about prayer evangelism, I would recommend the books That None Should Perish and Prayer Evangelism, by Ed Silvoso. Some of you may also be familiar with The Lighthouse Movement. There is some good information on their website about how to organize “Lighthouses of Prayer” and join together with other believers around us to love and care for our communities, sharing Christ with them through the power of prayer.
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