The Power of Prayer

Below is an excerpt from a narrative I put together regarding the "birthing process." I hope it explains well the importance of prayer in the birthing process but also in the small group ministry as a whole.

"This process [birthing] could never happen without prayer. Small group leaders need to be praying for their group. Church leadership needs to be praying for the small group leaders and for the effective growth of the small group ministry. Each Home Team should also be praying for the “Open Chair” and for the future of the group as it looks towards birthing. As our group began to discuss this topic, we tried to start and/or end each discussion with prayer.

Prayer has probably been the biggest highlight of the actual birthing process for our groups. At our last meeting together as a whole group, we spent time commissioning the new groups through prayer. This provided a beautiful time to thank God for his work in our group up to this point and to ask for grace and guidance for the new groups."

More recently, it has been awesome to see small group members develop in their own prayer lives. A woman in my small group recently started praying out loud in the group. This may seem trivial, but it's a sign of her own growth and willingness to get out of her comfort zone. A couple of years ago, I remember the ackwardness that happened when I asked her to pray and she wasn't ready to do it.

Different groups pray in different ways - "popcorn" prayer, one person prays for the whole group, prayer assignment, etc. One thing that has worked in our group is ending each time together by standing up in a circle, holding hands, and praying. It's a neat way to unite together as we approach the Lord together.