The National Pastor's Prayer Summit
The National Pastors Prayer Summit took place in Portland toward the end of July. This gathering of pastors and other congregational leaders was designed to both give them an authentic taste of what a Prayer Summit is as well as to help equip them to facilitate “Spirit-led, worship-fed, corporate prayer” in their congregations. There were over 100 people in attendance representing more than 12 denominations (and several other non-denominational streams), over 50 congregations from 17 states and four nations.
At the Summit
During the three days together participants had the opportunity to...
worship together
pray together
open Scripture together
and just fellowship together
The unique feature of this Summit also included training on how to facilitate Summits from veteran Summit Facilitators...
After the Summit
Within days of the summit, we received a note from one of the participants. You deserve to hear a bit of her excitement.
I couldn’t wait to tell you my praise! We had our Tuesday “Connection” tonight. It is a time where our pastor usually teaches, there is discussion around tables and some prayer….usually request based and usually in our smaller groups. His focus is always to get us to “connect’ with God and the style varies each week.
Tonight he did Prayer Summit! He got us started with a focus on the cross then asked people to stand and read a verse about the cross. Then there was a personal response to what does the cross mean to you personally. Then we sang songs about the cross. He used the passage in Luke 24 where the guys talked about how they thought, “he was the one.” He used that as a response time for us to thank God for what we were (they had been downcast) and what we are now (their hearts burned within them). We ended rejoicing in the resurrection through song and prayer and scripture. He got it!!! He used it! He plans to keep using it!
I can barely contain myself I am so blessed by this. God is amazing is he not? I can’t wait to hear how he is working at other churches!
We have heard from a couple other people as well and how their time at the summit is affecting the prayer life of their congregation.
Please share pictures or testimonies from your Summit experience...
At this Summit I saw the true fellowship we can have with the Father as pastors/people from various denominational backgrounds appreciating what the Lord is doing in various ways. Mostly, I am thankful for the Lord's faithful blessing in meeting us again at this summit. What a wonderful time of basking in all that the Lord is and changing me because of that time.
Thank you Lord for giving me a glimpse of what heaven may be like. Thank you for the diversity of worship expression. Thank you for freedom to shamelessly worship you in the presence of brothers and sisters. Thank you for the RICH worship through scripture, hymns and prayer. It was a wonderful time and it restored my soul.
Jesus revealed Himself to me at this Summit in such a clearer way in my spirit, and encouraged me to be open about weaknesses, and restored my focus to the Holy One of heaven. Thank you Lord for those you have gifted with a passion for prayer, the vision of calling people together to pray, and the administrative abilities to get it done. You are so gracious as to allow me to be a part of this kind of event, and for the company of my good friend.
I realized this week that we just need to come before the Lord and lead His people into His Presence. It's more about listening to Him and obeying Him and less about our technique and our performance.
Thank You, dear precious Jesus, for the gift of the cross, and the glorious privilege and pleasure of being loved by You! Thanks for speaking to the clutter of my mind and refocusing it during the times of silence at the Summit and confirming it with Scripture. You spoke to me through Your Word, and I am thankful for that personal response to my need.
He is a wise God with perfect timing. He knows my needs before I know them and He is ahead of me when it comes to caring for me. I went into this summit very dry and He met me there. I had not been diligently pursuing what the Lord had laid before me in ministry, and He was gracious enough to remind me. Lord Jesus, may you be highly exalted in my life and ministry as You work through me to bring about your purposes in my family, in my church, and in this community. I ask these things for Your glory, Lord Jesus.
Thank You Lord Jesus for your presence, for speaking to me and for commissioning and anointing me to lead in Prayer Summits and what ever else you have in store for me.
Thank you God that in spite of my lack of expectation, you DID speak to me, not about HOW to do a Prayer Summit in my church, but how to live 'in You'. I want to abide in You and let You lead me where You are going—for that is the only way worth going.
In looking back at the Prayer Summit, I realize my biggest surprise was what happens when you're in the presence of God for an extended period of time. The fire of His presence begins to burn away some of the dross, hence many of us had unexpected encounters with the Lord over some personal and specific things in our life. It was a good thing.
At this Summit I was surprised how God was ministering in and through the prayers immediately. On Tuesday night, as we prayed around the table, I went forward, burdened for my son. As we prayed, I experienced God's peace amidst the tears. Later that night, I listened to a voice mail from my wife, sent at 7:48pm, stating that our son was in a car accident. The car was totaled, but he escaped unharmed, despite not having his seat beat on and hitting the windshield after hitting a telephone pole. I was able to share with them how God was working through our prayer in Portland!
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