|
| |
INTERCESSORS FOR MELBOURNE
GUIDELINES FOR FORMING NEW AREA PRAYER GROUPS
1. FIRST STEPS
1.1 LEADERSHIP
 | Normally God gives a
person a faith vision for an area prayer group. |
| They have a passion for the lost to
be saved and the growth of the church in a specific area. |
1.2 CONFIRMATION OF LEADERSHIP:
| God will confirm this call through: |
| Your local Pastor |
| Intercessors in your area. |
| IFM Leadership |
1.3 FORMING THE PRAYER GROUP.
| Look for people with a similar vision who will join you in prayer. |
| Ask God for the timing, the strategy, and the team. |
| Share your strategy/vision with IFM leaders for confirmation. |
2. GOING PUBLIC
2.1 PUBLICITY
| IFM can supply names of
people in your area to advise. |
| Write/call all people you know in
your church and other churches inviting them to your first meeting. |
| Write to pastors in your area to
advise them of the formation of a new intercessors group. |
2.2 FIRST MEETING.
| IFM will delegate an experienced facilitator to assist you in the first meeting. |
| Topics to be covered: |
| What is
IFM? |
| What is
the faith vision of the Leader/Core Group? |
| What
faith vision do those attending have? |
| How often
will you meet? |
| When do
you start? |
| Where to
meet? |
| Who is committed to
participate? |
3. FIRST MEETINGS
3.1 RELATIONSHIPS
| Ministry is only
effective if the group develops good relationships of love, unity, trust …. Love one
another as I have loved you. |
| Spend some time in the early
meetings, and when new people are added, in sharing about each member's spiritual journey
and faith vision. |
| It is important that we learn to
respect and honour every church's tradition and practice. We need to be in unity,
(John 17) |
3.2 WORSHIP
| Seeking the Lord's face
and enjoying intimacy with Him is an important part of the meeting. |
| You will need to discover: |
| the songs you know and provide words/books. |
| do you have a musician? |
| can you use tapes to sing etc? |
| do you have a singer who could lead? |
| who will lead worship? |
| It is intimacy with God that we hear His strategy for prayer. |
3.3 INTERCESSION
| There are many Biblical and valid ways to express our prayers. |
| Each group needs to make space for: |
| Thanks and praise for what God has done. |
| Speaking words of blessing on: Community/ church. |
| Waiting on God in silent adoration. |
| Spiritual Warfare - taking authority over the enemy and evil |
| Prophetic visions, dreams, prayers. |
| Bible verses. |
| Repentance for sin. |
| Weeping and laughing. |
| The main things are:
 | to be tolerant to one another |
| don't think your way is right |
| make way for quieter people |
| don't hog the prayer time with your ideas/prayers |
| have plenty of variety |
| ask God what He wants you to pray for. |
|
3.4 PRAYER DIARY
| IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A RECORD OF: |
| prophetic insights |
| prayers prayed |
| answers to prayer |
| Thanksgiving. |
| This may be used as a guide for future meetings and often gives insights into how God is
leading you. |
3.5 AGENDA
| Agree on a specific time e.g. Mondays 7pm-9pm and stick to it. |
| Possible format of a meeting. |
| Welcome and Opening Prayer (5mins) |
| Worship (30mins) |
| SHARING INSIGHT FROM GOD (10mins) |
| INTERCESSION (60mins) |
| THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE (15mins) |
| Close with fellowship (tea/coffee) |
Be flexible; be led by the Holy Spirit.
4. IFM FACILITATORS
4.1 Monthly Meetings
Are expected to attend the monthly
Facilitators meetings for:
| accountability |
| fellowship |
| seeking God's strategy/direction |
| teaching/training |
| prayer. |
4.2 QUARTERLY CITY WIDE MEETING.
Are expected to take part in the leadership of the meetings for:
| Networking/fellowship |
| Teaching/training |
| Encouragement/strengthening |
| Intercession for the city. |
4.3 Experienced Facilitators
Will be asked to:
| pray for areas without an IFM prayer group |
| assist in the setting up of new groups. |
Written by The Rev Denis Plant 1999
  
|
