Pray for church planting

by Brett Newell

Why should we pray for Church Planting?

When Jesus commissioned his disciples he told them to go, make disciples, of all nations, baptize, and teach them. The best way for us to be obedient to this call is through church planting. God’s plan for baptism and teaching is to be done among a community of believers. Unchurched and unreached people groups will then need a church planted where they are to be won to Christ, to grow, and to be sent by Christ. Church planting is not just a program or an extra ministry that the church does, but is the primary method for God’s plan of making disciples of all nations.

How can we pray for Church Planting?

Now that we have established why we should pray for Church planting, let's see what we can pray for. There are many areas that we can pray for within the topic of church planting. Two of the most important areas of prayer include that God’s Glory would be extended through church planting and that men and women would be won to Christ through church planting. We want to pray for all areas of church planting, but we as a church we want to specifically spend some time praying for strength and dependence on the power of the Gospel to change lives in the midst of difficulties. We want to pray for church planting pastors, elders, and leaders to be effective in the call placed on their life in the midst of the challenges and difficulties of ministry. The Apostle Paul when writing to the church of Corinth explains best why prayer for ministry leaders is so important:

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him, we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many (2 Corinthians 1:8-11, NIV).”

Let us then pray for church planting leaders across the world. Here are some ways that we can be praying for these leaders:

• That the truths of the Gospel would refresh and empower them.

• Pastors would grow in Christ-likeness.

• Strength for healthy marriages.

• Protection from temptation and spiritual warfare.

• For the Lord’s comfort and peace during times of trouble.