Duggin
When I received the call to serve as prayer catalyst for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s new “Prayer Matters” initiative, I couldn’t help but feel God’s hand in this new chapter of my life. After 24 years as an educator and decades leading Bible studies and prayer groups in my hometown of Murfreesboro, this role feels like a natural extension of my lifelong passion.
Prayer has always been a hot button for me. I’ve spent my life being active in church, but I remember a time when I felt totally overwhelmed with my prayer life. I felt like such a failure. That changed when I heard Anne Graham Lotz speak years ago and adopted her structured approach to prayer journaling.
Now, I organize my journal by days of the week, which has helped me become more focused in my prayer life. I don’t feel so overwhelmed anymore because I know that all the things I feel God is telling me to pray over, I will address at some point during the week.
I believe making prayer a priority doesn’t require dramatic lifestyle changes. Even getting up just five minutes earlier to spend time with God can make a difference. During particularly busy seasons, I’ve found incorporating prayer into everyday activities, like while walking, keeps me connected to Him throughout the day.
One thing I’ve learned from years of leading prayer ministries is that for a church to have a healthy, thriving prayer ministry, it has to be the vision that the Holy Spirit has given the pastor and staff. It has to come from them, and then that’s shared with the body of Christ. Without leadership support, prayer initiatives often struggle to take root.
Meeting Of Bible Study Group Praying With Eyes Closed.
I’ve also observed that in many prayer meetings, there’s too much talk and not enough praying. In Bible studies I’ve led, we eventually transitioned from sharing prayer requests to praying them directly. We can often spend too much time talking and sometimes sharing too many details, and then we don’t pray very much.
To pastors who might be discouraged by low attendance at prayer meetings, I would just say: don’t grow weary in well doing, because you’re doing what the Lord has laid on your heart.
Looking ahead to our Prayer Matters initiative, I’m excited to announce that we’re launching an intercessory prayer group in early April. People can join if they’re interested in being an intercessor, and the group will receive weekly emails with current prayer requests from across the state.
Rather than focusing primarily on physical health concerns, our initiative will emphasize praying for issues where people are spiritually ill, where there’s need to grow, and to pray for churches, church plants, and godly leaders throughout Tennessee.
into churches and helping answer their questions about starting or strengthening prayer ministries. I’m committed to working within each pastor’s vision for their congregation, providing resources and support tailored to their unique needs.
When the TBMB was developing their Acts 2:17 team, prayer naturally came first to mind. While they had people in various positions related to collaboration, they didn’t have anyone with the specific assignment of prayer.
I’m honored to fill that role and to help Tennessee Baptists discover that prayer truly does matter — in our individual lives, in our churches, and in our collective mission to serve Christ.
If you’d like more information on the Prayer Matters initiative or want to sign up for our prayer updates, please contact the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. I look forward to praying with you and for you as we begin this journey together. B&R
