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"Prayer is the key to reaching the world
with the Gospel of Jesus.
The greatest forces of power in the universe are
mobilized, and history
is made when we pray. God is looking for men and
women
who will stand in the gap on behalf of the land."
Ezekiel 22:30, Isaiah 59:16, 63:5
There
are three essential elements of a Lighthouse lifestyle:
Prayer, Care, Share. Firstly, we want to pray
for individuals and families in our communities.
Secondly, we want to show that we care through
acts of kindness. Thirdly, these two combined
will open opportunities to share our hope in Christ.
Pray
- Begin
praying for a few neighbors you know who do
not know Christ - Then start praying for
them. You may choose to find a Christian friend
or two to pray with.
- Make
a simple map of your neighborhood - You
may choose your school or place of employment.
- Identify
your neighbors by name - Add your neighbor's
names to the map as you begin to identify them.
-
Begin prayerwalking your neighborhood
- Walk and pray through your neighborhood, or
pray around your map for your neighbors while
at home.
- Pray
regularly as you learn more about your neighbors
- Continue to add information to your prayer
map. You may want to add children's names, etc.
God
gets people's attention when He answers prayer.
We recommend that Lighthouse individuals select
from five to twenty people who are not presently
in Christian fellowship. A simple means of
praying is to make a commitment to pray for:
1.
5 people for
2. 5 weeks
3.
5 minutes a day
4.
5 days a week asking
5.
5 requests
This
5 by 5 plan allows even busy people a way to strategically
minister to their neighbors. The five requests
are based on the accrostic B-L-E-S-S.
B
- Body - For health, safety, and physical
needs.
L
- Labors - For the success and prospering
of their work and/or studies (Jeremiah 29:7).
E
- Emotions - For peace and joy to replace
fear and anxiety (Matthew 10:13).
S
- Social life - For families to function
well together and in their community.
S
- Salvation - For each to understand salvation
in Jesus Christ and grow in their spiritual
lives.
Care
- Be
friendly - Greet the people on your list
and others God sends across your path. Cultivate
friendliness. Many people are very lonely. One
quick wave or "hi" may be their only
contact with anyone all day or week.
- Build
relationships - Allow yourself time to be
outside in your yard when neighbors are usually
out. In an apartment, be friendly while checking
your mail or doing the laundry.
- Be
ready to listen - People need to know that
you care about what is important to them.
- Watch
for needs they have or share
- Let them know you will pray for them.
- Be
quick to reach out with "random acts of
kindness" - Pick up trash on their
lawn, put their paper by the door, or do anything
that you see to do.
- Invite
a neighbor in whenever they stop by - Openness
will make you a real friend.
Share
- Seek
natural opportunities to share your faith in
Christ - Share a portion of God's Word when
appropriate. Pray and ask God for the right
timing and when to share more.
- Be
prepared to share some material with them
- The Jesus video, simple devotional guides,
non-threatening tracts, etc. are excellent materials
to leave with them.
- Know
that God may give you an opportunity to share
your personal testimony
- Make sure that you are ready to share a testimony
of how Christ has changed your life.
- Tell
the people you are praying for about any Christian
events they can attend - It may be a Bible
study, Christian women or men's luncheon, church
event, etc. Invite them to attend with you.
- Take
your time - Know that God will lead you.
Lighthouse
Prayer E-Course Links and Resources
For
more information on the Lighthouse Movement, see
www.lighthousemovement.com.
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