Archbishop Writes: Prayerful planning needed

by Peter Jensen

The other day I was using the Mission prayer requests page on the new website. I was struck by a number of new ministries that are planned or have begun. In various places it is a new service or a new Bible study group or a new men’s meeting or a even a new church.

These initiatives don’t just happen. They need careful planning. This is a good time to ask you therefore what plans you have for next year. Is there some new ministry which can start? We should be thinking of this every year.

Often, the new work will be inspired by a person. It is a matter of looking at your existing church and seeing a person who because of gifts and talents, or experience, or capacity to network will be able to begin something new.

They themselves may not be aware that they have this capacity. It is up to others to offer the challenge and to support the venture.

We should not neglect the senior members in all this. Often there is a lifetime of Christian experience and talent awaiting direction and support. Perhaps they could be asked to staff an after-school literacy club to help local children. Perhaps they could start a discussion group for seniors. Perhaps they could form a Mission prayer group to pray for new initiatives!

Which brings us back to prayer. Now that we have a wonderful new web site, the Mission prayer requests are instantly available. For those not on the internet, the prayer requests can be mailed out to your address. Please contact Diane at Bishop Piper’s office on (02) 4225 2800. There is a small army of people who have volunteered to pray consistently for Mission matters.

Please do two things. First, as you plan the new initiative or initiatives for next year, submit the details to the prayer coordinator (through the website or via the phone number above) so that we can pray with you about this. So far, the main use of the Mission website has been from the Southern Region of the Diocese. The blessing has also belonged to them! From now on, we need to pray for initiatives throughout the diocese.

Second, please enrol as one of the prayer warriors, to join in the experience of praying for Mission. At the moment there are over 150 people who pray regularly. Great though this is, the moment has arrived for us to take on this service as a whole Diocese.
As I indicated in my presidential address to Synod, this is the moment in the life of the Mission when we must grasp the opportunity to pray more fervently and more specifically. We have now developed two tools which will make it focused and possible. Let’s undertake to start!

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