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April 14, 2022
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Greetings from your friends at Pastoral Care
Inc.
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This Easter, Increase Our Prayers
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If We Want to See an Increase,
We Must Increase Our Prayers
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Pastors I talk with across the country are hoping that their churches will get back to “normal” this year, meaning the way things were before the
pandemic.
Easter weekend has
the highest attendance of the year at most churches. Many pastors are hoping Easter 2022 will be the tipping point, prompting the return to pre-pandemic
conditions.
But what if God
wants to do even more than that in your church? I am reminded of Paul's prayer for the church at Ephesus:
- “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” (Ephesians
3:20)
We all want to see
increased attendance. Increased outreach. Increased enthusiasm. Increased financial support.
But what
we especially need right now is increased praying. If we want to see an increase in our churches in 2022 and beyond, we must increase the time we are spending in
prayer. |
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(1) Pray for Direction
Your church in 2022
no doubt looks quite different than it did two years ago, before the pandemic. Some things may be better; many things may continue to pose a challenge.
As we work to lead
our churches to higher ground, it is essential that we increase our time in prayer. We must keep our connection to God strong and seek His direction. If we do, our efforts cannot help but be
fruitful.
- “They were
continually devoting themselves to ... prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
- “Jesus was
telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged.” (Luke 12:1)
- “Devote
yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2)
(2) Pray for Wisdom
How hard it is to
persuade an individual or family to come back to church after they have been gone for some time. Some members have used the pandemic as an excuse to stop attending church, even though they long ago
resumed their frequent visits to Walmart and other public places. Some believers have confessed that although they felt guilty at first about staying at home and missing church, now it feels like the
normal thing to do.
How dangerous it is
for believers to get comfortable with settling for less! The Scriptures are repeatedly clear that fellowship is essential to the spiritual health of every believer.
How can we
persuade the sheep who have wandered off to return to the fold? How can we rekindle the desire among our flock to attend church?
We must ask God to
give us wisdom. We must seek God’s guidance on how to encourage people to come back. We must ask God to show us how to make our preaching and our outreach dynamic and
creative.
We are facing a huge
challenge. The Scriptures say that when we encounter various trials, we must pray for wisdom.
- “Consider it
all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials ... If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to
him." (James 1:2,5)
(3) Pray for Patience
It may take time for
some church members to start attending regularly again as they once did. They used to be on fire, they were pillars of the church; now they are slow to fill that role
again.
Our church needs
them and they need us! We can’t give up on them. We must be patient.
- “The Lord is
not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
Wars are not won in a day, week, or year. We are engaged in spiritual warfare, and this war has been going on since the beginning of
time.
Spiritual battles
are fought and won with God's weapons. There is a battle going on for those in your church and in your community. Who is going to win?
- Our struggle
is not against flesh and blood, but ... against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil
day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)
- “[Take] up
the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ... With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit.” (Ephesians
6:16-18)
(4) Pray Together
Only 50% of pastors
spend one hour in prayer daily. Pastor, if you are frustrated about doing the same things and seeing little or no results, try praying and fasting. Some things only come through prayer and fasting
(Matthew 17:21, Mark 9:29).
Ninety-five percent
of pastors report not praying daily or regularly with their spouse. Something powerful happens when we come together to agree or to bind on any issue or problem. There is strength in
numbers!
- “If two of
you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
(Matthew 18:19-20)
- “When they
had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts
4:31)
Thank You, Pastors!
Pastors, thank you
for your faithful service. Thank you for all that you do for the Kingdom of God! We are praying for you each day. if you would like me to pray with you, or if there is anything you need, please call
me.
Call us or email us at Pastoral Care Inc.: 918-758-4147, jfuller@pastoralcareinc.org. We are here for you!
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Want the Pastoral Care Mobile App? Here's
How!
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Want the Pastoral Care Inc. mobile app? Get the latest Pastoral Care news and announcements, videos, upcoming events, donate to
our ministry, or contact us. Here's how:
1. The Pastoral Care mobile app is provided by "Church by Ministry One." Scan the QR code above or click on this link: Pastoral Care Mobile App .
2. When the "Church at Ministry One" page opens, click on "Open Website." (If you see ads for other sites, just ignore them).
3. Click on the
Apple App Store button or Google Play button. Install the app and open it up.
4. An icon will be
placed on your device: a purple button with a white cross in the middle with the word "Church" below. When you click on that icon, it will take you directly to the Pastoral Care Mobile
App.
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Pastoral Care Inc.
supporting and strengthening pastors
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| Executive Director |
| Jim Fuller |
| jfuller@pastoralcareinc.org |
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| Communications Director |
| Terry Hull |
| terry.hull@pastoralcareinc.com |
Our mission: Pastoral Care
Inc. supports and strengthens Christian ministers nationwide from all denominations through counseling, immediate caregiving assistance and education, as well as researching the underlying
stressors associated with ministry.
Call us. Email us. Pastor, if you need someone to talk to, Pastoral Care Inc. is always just
a phone call or email away. That’s why we are here!
Pastor, you are
very important in the Kingdom of God -- and you are important to us!
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The PCI App
Get it for your Android smartphone or
iPhone
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* Full list of Pastoral Care services for pastors and churches
* Request form for pastors to seek immediate help
* More info about Pastoral Care Inc.
* Videos for pastors, churches and denominations
For more info on how to get the Pastoral Care mobile app, see the detailed instructions above.
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Help Us Help
Pastors
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Every month Pastoral Care provides encouragement, assistance, vacation get-a-ways, and many other forms of help to pastors across the country. It is our continuing prayer to
expand our outreach to pastors and their families.
The need is so great! Will you become our partner in encouraging pastors? Will you send a financial gift to make our present and future ministry to ministers
possible?
Please say “Yes” by responding in one of these ways:
* Use our Online Donation
Form.
* Send your gift to: Pastoral Care Inc., 13455 Celia Berryhill Road, Okmulgee, OK74447.
Thank you for partnering with us in
ministering to our nation’s pastors, their families and the congregations they serve!
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