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Saving lost souls is a work of God's Spirit, and He has chosen you and me as His partners in this great enterprise. God is still bringing forth a harvest, but our part has become harder and easier over the past few decades.
Something becoming harder and easier at the same time may sound like a contradiction. In the last quarter issue, I wrote an article entitled, "A Secular Society and a Spiritual Culture," that addresses this issue. Evangelism has become harder due to the growing secular society that doesn't know much about God and doesn't trust their fellowman. However, a growing secularity is having an upside -- people are wounded by godless living, and more and more folks are looking for healing in life and spiritual fulfillment.
God has given us a wonderful contact point with lost souls – it's prayer. The American public believes in prayer and is receptive to receiving prayer for their life struggles.
My purpose in the above-mentioned article was to encourage churches to build a passion for prayer and develop a prayer ministry. The first article by Keith Roberts picks up where I left off and provides some practical ideas for your prayer ministry.
Not until our members develop a strong faith in prayer and become devoted prayer warriors will they ever be willing to pray for the lost. I mean, members need the courage to ask their friends, neighbors, and church guests for their prayer needs.
People will begin to trust when we demonstrate that we really care about them and their concerns. What better start to showing God's love than inviting God to heal the hurts in their lives. When the lost encounter loving people and a loving God, they will want the same saving relationship that you and I enjoy.
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