Support teams for you and the young people
We are not designed to go it alone so I suggest that we build a team of youth workers. This post is looking at a vital support team that
I would recommend you begin recruiting straight away [or
encouraging if you already have one] – a prayer support team.
The concept isn’t a new one – we can find it in Exodus 17 – Joshua is fighting while Moses is praying [not that youth work always seems like a battle]. In the story it is, of course, God’s power that won the battle – but more due to Moses’ work than Joshua’s. The battle needed both men and then God did what only God can do.
They key for us is to realise that while we are on the front line of ministry it is vital that we have people interceding on our behalf.
One of my life’s motivating bible verses is found in Ezekiel 22:30 – the concept of standing in the gap. I feel I am required to stand in the gap for the young people in my city, my nation. This is the same concept employed by people praying for my work and me.
We first came across this concept at a family camp held for the staff of British YFC one of the national staff was explaining how they had a group of close friends who they shared issues with and then they prayed for them – specifically and intentionally. It sparked my wife and I to set on a quest that, even several years later, has several intercessors praying for us regularly.
The keys to making personal prayer support teams work are as
follows:
Recruitment
The right people are essential to be effective although
you can have several levels of prayer partner. The closer your knowledge of the people you recruit will increase the trust factor and therefore you will be able to share issues at a deeper level. Of course you need spiritually mature people who pray! When you approach people you can discuss their thoughts before either of you make a commitment.
Information
The second key is providing them with relevant, current material to feed their prayers. A word of caution here – this can become difficult to maintain. We have tried various methods but have settled on a weekly email system. Again the effectiveness will be enhanced by the quality and depth of the material.
Feedback
Two-way communication – feedback from the pray-ers is simply great to receive – encourage it in every way possible. For us, some of our people live 12,000 miles away so email, works here too.
It might have gone without saying – but we should pray for them too.When you have set up a team to support you then I would encourage you to teach this to your young people and provoke them to getting prayer support teams for themselves.
