The Global Prayer Team e-Newsletter

SVM2 Global Prayer Team (GPT) Network

Uniting a Generation in Intercession to Reach the Nations

Highlights of this edition (May 11, 2006):

ARTICLE:  Prayer Makes History II:  Charles Spurgeon by David Smithers

CONNECTION:  Checking In II:  Some Stories from You

RESOURCE:  Global Day of Prayer – June 4, 2006

NETWORK:  Summertime Prayer

ARTICLE:  Prayer Makes History II:  Charles Spurgeon by David Smithers

"In Spurgeon's eyes the prayer-meeting was the most important meeting of the week." It is here many of us find ourselves in conflict with dear Mr. Spurgeon. We love our meetings for preaching and praising and yet sadly neglect those set aside for praying. One of Spurgeon's greatest concerns was that his people learn to truly pray. "He taught his people to pray, doing so far more by his example than by any preaching. People heard him pray with such reality that they became ashamed of their own mere repetition of words." Throughout his entire ministry many hearers remarked that they were moved by his preaching, but yet still more affected by his praying. D. L. Moody after his first visit to England, being asked upon his return to America, "Did you hear Spurgeon preach?" He replied, "Yes, but better still I heard him pray." A close friend of Spurgeon's, commented on his prayer life, "His public prayers were an inspiration, but his prayers with the family were to me more wonderful still. Mr. Spurgeon, when bowed before God in family prayer, appeared a grander man even than when holding thousands spellbound by his oratory."

Spurgeon fully recognized that the Church's greatest need was not to have another, "Prince of Preachers", but to have more princes of prayer. One of his many published sermons expressed his feelings on this. He wrote, "Shall I give you yet another reason why you should pray? I have preached my very heart out. I could not say any more than I have said. Will not your prayers accomplish that which my preaching fails to do? Is it not likely that the Church has been putting forth its preaching hand but not its praying hand? Oh dear friends! Let us agonize in prayer . 

.  Click to read the rest of this article…

CONNECTION:  Checking in:  Some Stories from You:

>>From Chistopher @ Samford University

>>GPT:  Global Prayer Team

>>”We have seen the power of prayer to unite students on campus that may not usually even be connected”

>>Christopher writes:  "Starting region-focused prayer groups on campus has been an amazing experience.  Through our Asia prayer group we have seen the power of prayer to unite students on campus that may not usually even be connected.  It has opened doors to new and encouraging friendships among students with similar passions and hearts for the people of Asia.  We have also been able to see our students' interest in Asia increase.  As students learn to pray for issues such as social justice and religious persecution, their hearts begin to fill with a God given passion for those whom they are praying for.  We have seen this truth manifest itself among our students.  Some have even come with this intention in mind.  So we are confident that as our students leave this summer to serve in Asia, that they will go with a love and concern for the place where God has called them to serve."

RESOURCE:  Global Day of Prayer – June 4, 2006

The next Global Day of Prayer (http://www.globaldayofprayer.com)

is Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 2006. Are you ready? Millions of Christians are expected to pray for the ten days preceding Pentecost as well. A useful guide has been published by Waymakers; (http://www.waymakers.org) other resources and details are also available at GDOP USA (http://www.gdopusa.com).

But this day of prayer coincides with the launch of an even more extensive prayer campaign, an unprecedented year-long prayer focus on the world’s least-reached peoples. Ethne (http://www.ethne.net), the Global Prayer Digest (http://www.global-prayer-digest.org),

Joshua Project (http://www.joshuaproject.net), and others are teaming up to provide information to fuel this effort, which will last from June 2006 through May 2007. We expect united prayer will open doors and fuel effective outreach efforts throughout the earth!

Each month will be dedicated to prayer for one of 12 regions:

June 2006: South Pacific

July 2006: Southeast Asia

August 2006: Northeast Asia

September 2006: South Asia

October 2006: Central Asia

November 2006: Middle East and North Africa December 2006: East and South Africa January 2007: West and Central Africa February 2007: Eastern Europe and Eurasia March 2007: Western Europe April  2007: Central and South America May 2007: North America and the Caribbean

A map is available here (http://www.joshuaproject.net/ethne globalregion.php).

Ethne (http://www.ethne.net) has produced a DVD with video testimonies and videos highlighting each world region and its prayer needs.

They are currently finalizing global distribution channels. “Other resources will be available through the Ethne (http://www.ethne.net) site and are being uploaded now as quickly as possible. You are given permission to duplicate and distribute as much as possible,”

NETWORK:  Summertime Prayer

Summer is upon us (Yahoo!).  It’s such a great time of year.  Many of you are headed all around the world on short term mission projects, others to summer jobs and for others it’s business as usual, except it’s sunny and warm looking out the office window.

If you’re receiving this e-Newsletter, you are the leader of your prayer group.  Please do one of the following:

1. Forward these GPT e-Newsletters onto your group so that they can be encouraged and envisioned.  OR
2. Send out your own regular email that will help build the community of your group.  This should be sent out once a week, be personal and be purposeful of encouraging community and calling to prayer.

We’ll send out a GPT e-Newsletter once a month for the rest of the summer (June-August).  May God bless you and your pray-ers this month and throughout the summer!