In his book, Sticky Church, Pastor Larry Osborne (Zondervan, 2008) says that the best way to “Velcro” people to your church is to “Velcro” them to the two things they need most to grow as disciples: the Bible and other Christians. We have found VCI’s Pray Daily devotional booklet to be a simple yet significant way to Velcro people to the Word of God and to each other. Which has the added bonus of Velcro-ing them to our church’s mission and ministry.
It’s simple: groups of three people commit to the 90-day adventure in prayer, reading a short passage of Scripture each day, reflecting on some aspect of their life in the light of that passage, and then lifting to God whatever is on their heart that day. Each day’s reading, reflection, and prayer can be completed in about 15 minutes, but can fill as much time as one wishes to devote. Sounds like any other devotional book we might recommend, right? But here’s the difference: once a week, the triads commit to meeting face-to-face for one hour. In that hour they:
· share which was the most meaningful Scripture from that week’s readings and why
· share one blessing they experienced that week and one prayer request; and
· have the opportunity to pray aloud for each other, though no one is required to pray out loud.
It is these face-to-face meetings that have been so significant. Here are just a few comments I’ve received from our folks:
“I have found the weekly meetings to be so special as I get to know my partners a little bit better and we get to pray for one another. When one tells you that they almost didn’t come the week before because they were feeling down and then come back and tell you that after that get-together their whole week fell into place and they feel so much better it makes it so worthwhile. It’s amazing how many of the Scriptures are just what you need on a particular day!”
“Pray Daily has been good for me, as I am doing a much better job at being disciplined. It probably would not have happened otherwise. Plus, it is wonderful getting to know your partners better and having them specifically pray with and for you. All in all, it is terrific!”
“This 90 day adventure has been most meaningful because of the sharing and praying with each other and discussing the scripture passages as they relate to our relationship with God and one another. We also act as accountability partners in our faith journey as a result of being together each week.”
We used Pray Daily coming out of our annual Leadership Retreat with our elders, deacons, and staff. We just had people count off by threes and put them together in groups. The only rule was that they must not be related to each other or already in another face-to-face group, like a LIFE Group or ministry team. Some of the groups include people who might never interact with each other on this level in any other way in our church. What a simple way to get people reading and reflecting on Scripture, discussing it with one another, and praying with and for each other. This 90-day adventure in prayer engages our folks in the principles of Witness-Prayer-Care-Word and With-Me. Then each week, they Send one another into their families, workplaces, and neighborhoods with prayer and blessing. Simple, but oh so catalytic for spiritual growth.
In Christ,
Kathi Busch
