February 2005

Christians in the marketplace

One of the most exciting things we can pray for at the church’s prayer meetings is you!

That is why we have started a new programme whereby we will be praying for “Christians in the marketplace” on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings.  We have already prayed for church members working in the media and related industries and it was an eye opener to see/hear how many are involved in the world of communication.  This came about because many of them already meet under the auspices of “Communicate” to pray together and encourage each other as Christians in that particular segment of the marketplace and it was an easy step, therefore, to make the link with a Tuesday morning prayer meeting.

In the future, I would love us to focus on other Christian groups such as those working in medicine, the law, finance, education etc.

Paul wrote this “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).  I think the point is that it is as individual members of the church that we can bring the Kingdom of God into our daily lives and we obviously need the prayer support of the church if we are to be effective in doing that.

Of course, we will continue to pray for Alpha, the pastorates and other aspects of our corporate life as well but there is also the reality of life beyond the walls of the church and it is so important to recognise that in our praying together too.  So that’s the plan!