Page 17 - Contact Spring 2018

So what is P r ay er Minis tr y ?

At the end of each service in High Kirk we offer prayer ministry. We feel it is an important
part of the experience of meeting together as the people of God each Sunday. But what
is it exactly? Sometimes we can have a mistaken view of what it is. It is related to
intercessory praying but it goes further than intercession (when we present each other’s
needs to God).

Prayer ministry is defined as ministering the Spirit of Jesus, His presence and a word
of encouragement or of knowledge into a person’s life. We seek to be attentive to the
presence of Jesus and what He may want us to say to a person to help them in their
current situation or season of life. A person may come to us with a presenting need
but God may show us something else that is lying behind or below the surface. Prayer
ministry then, as we bring something of Jesus to people, has a prophetic aspect
(1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20).

Thus a person may come forward at the end of a service for prayer because they
have had a bad week, or a troubling illness, or even to ask for prayer for someone else.
The team will pray for that immediate need. However they will not leave it there; indeed
prayer ministry has not actually occurred in its proper sense yet. Intercessory prayer has
occurred, which of course is very valuable and is much appreciated, but there is more.
The prayer ministry team under the leadership of Shirley Donaldson have gone through
a period of training where they have been taught how to pray silently, wait on the Lord
and to ask if the Lord by His Spirit has a word of encouragement, a word of knowledge or
of application of the sermon that has been preached (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:8).
They will wait in silence with the person for a short time, not speaking - just waiting.
Allow that silence to develop – they are listening for God’s Spirit. They will then pray
what they sense for that person. That is prayer ministry.

Of course they may not get any specific word or picture or scripture for you.
That sometimes happens. But that’s ok. More often than not however as we come to Him
in faith there is something He wants us to hear and to pass on. How wonderful God is.

Thus a person after a service could simply come up to the front with nothing “wrong” with
them or worrying them. They might simply ask “has the Lord any specific encouragement
or insight for me today”, or, “I have an important decision to make soon, is there anything
the Lord wants me to take into account”. The team of two will wait on the Lord and see if
He reveals anything to them or a scripture that they believe is particularly relevant.
Ministry will be positive, encouraging and scripture based. There is nothing to fear.
That is prayer ministry.

We would love to see more people being blessed by this ministry. How lovely it would be
if we had to multiply the team at the front each Sunday because of the demand. Shirley
can also arrange for a couple of members of the team to meet with you at another time
for a period of extended listening and prayer. Please use this ministry.

Norman

“I go to PUSH because the routine of meeting with others helps to keep me disciplined KEN’S ANNU AL REP OR T - 2017
in my prayer life. Also I believe there is power in group prayer and the small room suits
me better.”
Molly McPeake

“I really enjoy going to PUSH as it is really nice to listen to other people pray for what’s
on their hearts and to have a one to one time with God”.
Elizabeth McCartney