I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing

Too often we focus on our own power, intelligence, energy, and organization, and forget the power of God. Many of us have been guilty of asking God’s blessing on our plans rather than focusing on what God is blessing and how He would have us work within the framework of His blessing.  Prayer is emphasized at Temple Baptist Church. We have a weekly hour-long prayer meeting on Monday night preceding a visitation time for the church. We pray for our pastor, for the needs of many who are sick, for those who have lost loved ones, and for the many ministries of Temple Baptist Church. With over 100 ministries, there is plenty to pray about as the church family comes together.  Each week on Sunday afternoon there are a number of prayer meetings prior to the Sunday night service.  After church, faculty sponsors and Crown College students lead the student body in a prayer meeting for missions throughout the world. It is a joy to join together in prayer! Other groups, including students planning to travel to Nepal or England, meet together then or at other times for prayer.

Perhaps the most unique prayer meetings at Temple Baptist Church are two 24 hour prayer vigils held every year. Each family in the church is visited by other church members. The visiting individuals pray with the church families and record specific prayer requests on special cards. These cards containing the prayer requests are divided up into small groups and are placed on the altars of two auditoriums, the main church auditorium and at another auditorium in the nearby Curtis Hudson building. Groups of individuals from the church and college choose an hour to pray throughout 24 hours from 5 p.m. Friday night through 5 p.m. on Saturday. Each hour has a prayer leader and alternates between the two locations so that one group praying does not disturb the other. Individuals take one or more piles of cards, prays through the requests, and checks off each card. Then they replace the cards and pray through a new pile.  We had one of these 24 hour prayer vigils on April 10-11, to help prepare our hearts for the 2015 Baptist Friends Meeting this week.  You may wish to join us tonight at 7:00 p.m. or tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. by watching the live-stream at BaptistFriends.org.