U.N.T.C.I. MINISTERS PRAYER CHALLENGE

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“Let the thought sink deep into the heart of every church, that their minister will be such a minister as their prayers make him. . . . How perilous is the condition of that minister . . . whose heart is not encouraged, whose hands are not strengthened, and who is not upheld by the prayers of his people! It is at a fearful expense that ministers are ever allowed to enter the pulpit without being preceded, accompanied, and followed by the earnest prayers of the churches. It is no marvel that the pulpit is so powerless, and ministers so often disheartened when there are so few to hold up their hands. . . . When the churches cease to pray for ministers, ministers will no longer be a blessing to the churches.” ~ Gardiner Spring (1785-1873)

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There is no greater gift you can give your Fellow Ministers and the spiritual leaders of this Ministry than to pray for them. Ministers cannot win the battle alone; they need committed intercessors to lift them up in fervent, specific prayer. Imagine how the power of God might be released in our churches, ministries and outreaches around the world if we were to simply pray for each other.

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Ministers are human—they face the same challenges that their people do, with some additional ones! They grow tired in ministry, are tempted to sin, and may find it difficult to balance their many roles and responsibilities. They need the encouragement and support of those they lead.

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Prayer for your Fellow Ministers is crucial to the spiritual health of your Fellow Ministers, their family, and your church (UNTCI) as a whole. God will reward your efforts to cover each other in prayer. If you want to encourage your fellow Ministers (and their spouses!) let them know you are praying for them. Ask them periodically for any specific prayer requests and assure them you will pray accordingly.

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We humbly ask you to include these points in your prayers each day of the month on behalf of UNTCI Ministers everywhere:

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Pray that your Fellow Ministers will love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Pray that God’s Spirit will work in their heart in power and that they will value and follow biblical priorities. (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 6:33)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will cultivate strong character and uncompromising integrity. Pray that their testimony will be genuine, and that they will never do anything that they would need to hide from others. (1 Tim. 1:5, 3:7;

Eph. 6:10-12)

Pray for their personal walk with God—that their soul and spirit will be nourished and strengthened in their quiet time with God, beyond just sermon preparation. Pray that they will spend more time in the Word of God than reading Christian books and articles. (Mark 1:35; 2 Tim. 2:15-16)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will counsel and teach with discernment through the wise use of Scripture and faith in God’s power to work. Pray that they will be protected from the effects of sinful or negative attitudes that they encounter as they counsel. (Mal. 2:7; James 1:5-6; John 17:15)

Ask God to protect your Fellow Ministers’ marriages and keep them strong as models of Christ’s relationship with the Church. Pray that your Fellow Ministers will tenderly cherish their spouses, and that they will respect and encourage each other. For those Fellow Ministers who are not married, pray for their relationships with loved ones and those who are close to them.

Pray that God will protect your Fellow Minister’s spouse from bitterness when their spouse is criticized. Pray that their prayer and devotional life will be consistent, and that they will guard their minds and hearts. (Heb. 12:15; Prov. 4:23)

Pray for your Fellow Ministers’ children, and especially that the pressures of the ministry will not discourage or embitter them. Pray that your Fellow Ministers will provide godly leadership in the home, not based on fear of what others will think, but according to scriptural truth. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:20-21) (If your Fellow Ministers does not have children, pray that God will give him many “spiritual children” as he/she shares the Gospel.)

Ask God to protect your Fellow Ministers from the evil plots of Satan. Pray that he/she will not be corrupted as he rubs shoulders with the world in the course of ministry. (John 17:15; Is. 54:17; 2 Cor. 2:11; 1 Pet. 3:12; Ps. 9:9-10, 91:9-11)

Pray that God will build a hedge of protection around your Fellow Ministers’s marriage, and that they will be aware of the potential for any improper relationships. Pray that their family time will be protected. (Ezek. 22:30a; 2 Cor. 10:4-5; Matt. 19:6)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will use discernment in use of e-mails, the Internet, and the media. Ask God to guard his/her heart concerning the use of free time. Pray that they will be morally pure and that they will wear the armor of God so that they will not fall into sexual temptation. (Rom. 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:16; Eph. 6:10-18; 2 Cor. 10:4)

Pray that God will bring godly friends and encouragers to your Fellow Ministers and their family, to strengthen them for the ministry and provide meaningful fellowship and times of rest. (Phil. 2:19-25)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will be humble and authentic in his/her faith, not given to pride or hypocrisy. Pray that they will have pure motives and give God glory for every gain or victory. (Micah 6:8; Gal. 6:14; John 7:17-18; 1 Cor. 10:13)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will make wise lifestyle choices in order to protect their health, especially in the areas of exercise, eating moderately, and getting sufficient rest. Pray for times of relaxation and renewal to balance the stress of ministry. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 9:27, 10:13, 6:19-20; James 3:1-2)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will focus on the Word of God and walk in the fear of the Lord—rather than fear of man—as they prepare their messages. Pray that they will seek to please God rather than men, and pursue holiness rather than the praise of men. (Acts 6:4; Prov. 19:23; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 11:6; 2 Tim. 4:1-2)

Praise God for your Fellow Ministers’s leadership and pray that they will make godly decisions. Pray that they will lead with a shepherd’s heart, and that they will always speak the truth in love. (1 Kings 3:9; 1 Pet. 5:2; Rom. 12:6-8; Jer. 3:15)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will be courageous in the pulpit in proclaiming Christ, and confident in their use of the Word of God. Ask God to help them preach with insight, transparency and humility. (Col. 1:28, 4:3a; Eph. 6:19)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will be a “Great Commission Leadr”—committed to personal evangelism and the equipping of the saints to seek the lost. Pray that they will have a heart to develop a thriving missions program in their ministry, or devote themselves to supporting existing missions programs through UNTCI. (Rom. 10:15; Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 19:10)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will be a man or woman of prayer and worship, and that they will lead by example—teaching the congregation how to walk in a close relationship with the Father. (1 Thess. 5:17; Acts 1:14a; Matt. 4:10; Mark 1:35; Luke 22:46)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will use wise time management, and that they will seek God’s perspective for their schedule, guarding his time against unnecessary interruptions. (Eph. 5:15-16; Col. 4:5; Ps. 90:12; John 9:4)

Pray for a fresh divine anointing on your Fellow Ministers’s ministry. Pray that God’s working will be powerfully evident both in their personal life and the spiritual life of their flock. (1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Tim. 1:7; Rom. 15:18-19a)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will not give in to discouragement, but will deal with inevitable criticism and conflict by committing themselves into the hands of God, who judges righteously. (1 Pet. 2:23)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will practice servant leadership, edifying all those they encounter with wisdom and serving with God’s “agape” love. (Gal. 5:13b; Eph. 6:7; Mark 10:43b-45, 9:23-24; John 13:5-9; Phil. 2:3-4)

Pray for spiritual unity in the church staff and among the spiritual leadership of the church. Pray that the enemy will not be allowed to create divisions, strife, or misunderstanding among the church leaders. (Rom. 14:19; 1 Cor. 12:25)

Pray that God will give your Fellow Ministers a clear, biblical vision of what their ministry can be and should be for His glory, and that they will communicate that vision clearly and confidently to all. (Prov. 29:18; John 15:16, 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:5; Mal. 3:11)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will seek God for personal revival, and revival in their ministry and community. (2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 69:32)

Pray that your Fellow Ministers will think biblically, with the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:16; Col. 2:6-8; Eph. 4:17)

Pray that he/she will earnestly seek God’s will and be committed to instant and complete obedience—ready for God to work powerfully in and through their ministry. (2 Cor. 10:3-5; Luke 9:23-24)

Pray that he/she will strive for personal excellence and will believe God for all He wants to do in the congregation. (2 Pet. 1:3; Col. 3:23-24)

Pray that your Fellow Minister will be a person of faith and passionate love for God, not giving in to worries, fears, or an uptight and anxious spirit. (1 John 4:18; Prov. 3:5-6)

Ask God to provide for the financial needs of your Fellow Ministers and his/her family. Pray that he/she will be a wise steward of both personal finances and church funds. (Phil. 4:19; Heb. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:11; Ps. 37:25)

Ask God to heal any hurts that your Fellow Minister has suffered in the ministry. Pray that he/she will serve the Lord with gladness, and encourage all those they encounter to worship God with a joyful, surrendered spirit. (Is. 61:3)