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THE PRAYER
STATION OUTREACH IS A MINISTRY OF THE VALLEY ALLIANCE CHURCH
The Biblical Basis
Throughout the ministry of Jesus and that of the apostles of the early
church, we find an emphasis on prioritizing prayer for the felt needs of
people as an initial strategy to reaching their hearts with the gospel.
Jesus most often first prayed for a person's felt need then addressed
the need of their eternal soul. This was also common in the ministry of
Paul, Peter and the other apostles of the first century church.
In Acts chapter 3, Peter and John prayed for the healing of the crippled
man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. The man is healed and as a
result the whole city is impacted with the gospel and the power of God.
Praying for people in the market place was an every day practice of the
first century church. The miracles and healings that resulted were used
of God to draw attention to the message of the gospel and the real need
of the people - their need of a relationship with Jesus.
Most people in the world today are not hungering and thirsting after a
spiritual relationship with God, but they all have very real needs they
want God to help them with. It might be a healing, a job, a place to
live, problems at home, for a member of their family or a close friend.
By first addressing their need and believing God to meet their need,
their hearts are warmed and opened to hear the gospel and respond.
Much has been discussed about the power of prayer in recent years in
magazines and journals, as well as radio and TV. People are aware of the
benefits of prayer and are not hostile to the idea of someone praying
for their needs.
Praying for people on the street as is done with the Prayer Station
Ministry is not a gimmick for the gospel. As was true in the ministry of
Jesus and the early apostles, the prayers that were prayed for the
unconverted were powerful and effective to meet their needs. So it is
important that those Christians that participate in Prayer Evangelism
are prepared to believe God for the miraculous. In this Prayer
Evangelism method we not only pray for the lost, but with the lost.
Prayer becomes something we do not just to prepare for battle, but the
battle itself!
Every Christian can practice Prayer Evangelism since God has in these
last days poured His Spirit out on all flesh. We don't need the gift of
the evangelist, or the vocabulary of a great preacher. We are simply
giving to others the special gift given to us through Christ - ACCESS
WITH GOD! |
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