Churches Join Restoration Revolution in Prayer
Restoration Revolution is encouraging churches to commit whole weeks to prayer through the Light the Fire emphasis. Dave and Kim Butts of Harvest Prayer Ministries International are helping churches, campuses, and mission organizations focus their prayers on world evangelization and kingdom purposes, including the crucial Restoration Revolution prayer.
This initiative is more than just prayer; it is a call to action for congregations to unite their voices and hearts for a common purpose. Churches are encouraged to not only engage in prayer but to also share testimonies of their experiences, inspiring others to join the effort. Each church’s participation adds to a growing movement aimed at reigniting passion for outreach and evangelism in communities everywhere.
- Restoration Revolution includes prayer, church planting, resources, and recruiting workers.
- Light the Fire challenges churches to spend every hour of a week in prayer.
- A 30-day prayer guide supports churches participating in the effort.
By Mark A. Taylor
One of the most encouraging aspects of Restoration Revolution is the way it is motivating some churches to pray.
Restoration Revolution and the Prayer Torch
You’ll remember that Restoration Revolution is a 10-year emphasis challenging Christian churches to share Jesus worldwide via four main strategies: prayer (“Almighty”), launching church-planting strategies (“Churches”), creating and distributing needed resources (“Tools”), and recruiting more workers (“Servants”).
Churches that participate in the ‘Light the Fire’ initiative are not only deepening their own faith but also impacting their communities positively. For instance, one church organized a community service project as a direct result of their prayer week, demonstrating how prayer can lead to action and change.
Moreover, this prayer initiative encourages collaboration between different churches, allowing them to learn from each other’s strategies and testimonies. By sharing resources and experiences, churches can amplify their impact and support one another in their evangelistic endeavors.
As Kim Butts highlighted, the act of passing the prayer torch serves as a metaphor for sharing burdens and joys in prayer. Each church’s unique experience adds a layer to the collective narrative of the Restoration Revolution, reinforcing the importance of unity in prayer and purpose.
Expanding the Vision of Prayer
Additionally, the prayer guide serves as a practical resource, offering structured daily prayers that churches can adapt to fit their unique contexts. By emphasizing themes relevant to their community, churches can make their prayer efforts more impactful.
Incorporating community-specific prayer requests into the guide can foster deeper connections between church members and their surrounding neighborhoods. As churches pray for local needs, they become more attuned to the challenges and opportunities present in their communities, encouraging active involvement.
As the Restoration Revolution continues to gain momentum, it is essential for churches to remain vigilant and responsive to the needs of both their congregations and their communities. The stories and testimonies emerging from this initiative can serve as powerful reminders of the transformative power of prayer.
Ultimately, the Restoration Revolution prayer initiative is not just about the act of praying but about igniting a passion for God’s work within the church. As congregations commit to this cause, they stand on the precipice of witnessing a profound move of God’s Spirit.
Revitalization through prayer is a recurring theme in the church’s history. By looking back at significant movements of prayer, congregations today can draw inspiration and motivation. It serves as a reminder that when God’s people join together in prayer, extraordinary things can happen.
Prayer should not be viewed as a solitary activity; rather, it is a community effort that draws believers closer to one another and to God. Encouraging shared prayer experiences, whether through small groups, communal gatherings, or inter-church collaborations, can significantly enhance the church’s outreach efforts.
Dave and Kim Butts of Harvest Prayer Ministries International are spearheading “Light the Fire,” an emphasis challenging churches to spend every hour of a whole week in prayer as a part of this emphasis.
“Churches, campuses, and missions organizations are each committing to pray towards kingdom purposes of Almighty God, specifically finishing the task of world evangelization, for one or more weeks during this 10-year period,” according to a note on the Restoration Revolution Web site (RestorationRevolution.com). “A ‘torch’ of prayer will be passed from location to location either physically or virtually as we join together in unity to seek the face of God.”
This passing of the prayer torch is happening “in person, by phone, and via Skype,” Kim Butts said. “Thanks to an elder at Northside Christian Church, Albany, Indiana, a physical torch . . . has been hand carried or mailed to every venue except one so far,” she reported in March. “Every group is attaching some kind of card” to list and/or describe their week of prayer.
A Prayer Guide for Churches
Revolution on Our Knees: Thirty Days of Prayer for Neighbors and Nations is a 64-page prayer guide supporting this effort. “Many of the churches participating in Light the Fire are doing one of several things with the book,” Kim said. “Some are reading it devotionally for 30 days either before, during, or after their week of prayer.”
For more information about when your church could host its own week of prayer, find the link under “Almighty” at the Restoration Revolution Web site. To learn more about the 30-day prayer guide, click on the book’s cover at the Christian Standard Web site.
Meanwhile, we hope to have a fuller report soon, with testimonies from churches who have participated so far in a Light the Fire week of prayer.
The Restoration Revolution Web site reminds us about what’s at stake: “The clear message of human history is this: if we are to see God work powerfully in and through his body, the church, it will happen in response to the passionate, united, intergenerational prayers of his people. Prayer always precedes a mighty move of God’s Spirit.”
As more and more churches join this commitment to prayer, our anticipation heightens to see how God’s Spirit will move through the united efforts and the fervent prayers of His people, reinforcing the importance of the Restoration Revolution prayer.
Author: Mark A. Taylor
Mark A. Taylor, who served as Christian Standard editor from 2003 to 2017, retired in June 2017 after almost 41 years with Standard Publishing (Christian Standard Media).
