Prayer

The first step involves Prayer. Prayer is the engine room of all healthy local churches and districts. Many superintendents encourage their churches to set their phones for 10:02 am and 10:02 pm every day as a reminder that we should “ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field” (Luke 10:2).  Every potential planter’s first step is to pray that God will confirm His will to them.  Within the Nazarene movement, everything begins with believing prayer.  We have the example of the boy’s father who came to Jesus.  His son struggled with an impure spirit nearly all his life.  

He pled with Jesus, “if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-24).  Our faith grows when we practice believing prayer.  “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”(Romans 10:17, NKJV).  Building our level of faith is what Jesus planted in the hearts of His disciples and it is also what a leader plants in the heart of a healthy, multiplying church.

After spending time with Jesus, the early disciples quickly recognized their need. They asked Jesus for help in the “faith area” of disciple-making.  They said, “Lord, increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5). As followers of Jesus, we recognize our same need. This is our prayer as Nazarene church planters who are hungry for Jesus to increase our faith today!