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"Local congregations are being more profoundly impacted by the growing tidal wave of prayer activity than any other single movement."  Jack Dennison, City Reaching 

Every source relating to church planting, from scripture to academic books to "how to" books, seminars and websites emphasizes the importance of prayer.  Prayer is perhaps the one common thread to all successful church plants.

Why?  Listen to the Apostle Paul:  "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." 

1 Corinthians 3: 6 - 7.

Prayer is our connection point to this wonderful God who "gives the growth."  One key element of this topic is about a special type of prayer called "Intercessory Prayer."  Intercessory prayer "goes between" our new church and God, much as is described in Ezekial 22:30:

"And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none."

The Intercessory Prayer is what "stands in the breach" and opens the door to God's leadership in the new church.

Prayer is our chief weapon in the spiritual warfare we will inevitably face in planting a new church.  It is so important that we need it from the beginning, when the idea of a new church is just a glimmer and nothing more.  And we will need prayer all the way to the end of our involvement.

In starting a new church, prayer is for everyone, not just for a special group, the Pastor or a prayer "team."  No one will be immune from the attacks of the enemy.  And while everyone will need to pray at a depth perhaps never before experienced, God will provide, through His Holy Spirit, who "intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." (Romans 8:26-27)

Why do church planters (the Pastor, the Launch Team and the Barnabas Ministry Team) need special prayers? 

• Satan attacks church planters with special intensity, including temptations, doubts, anxiety, etc.  Why?  Church planting is the most effective method of saving the lost.
• Church planters are visible to others.  The failure of just one will discourage many.
• Prayer can sometimes get lost in the busy-ness of planting.  Church planters may believe it is a sign of weakness to need prayer support.  When prayer gets lost, the church plant becomes a human project, not a God-led one.  Chances of success will be diminished.
• The church planting team may lack experience, or resources, or a vision.  Prayer is needed to link the team to God's leadership so that He can provide what is needed.

"Suppose you wanted to start a mission church in a particular area of town.  you have taken a survey to identify the needs.  you have made all your long-range plans.  you have asked God to bless and guide your work.  Then God begins to bring to your church a group of ethnic people who don't live in the target area.  What would you do?"  Henry Blackaby

Go back to Prayer

Go on to Prayer: How To Start