99 Prayers Your Church Needs (But Doesn't Know It Yet): Prayers for Unpredictable and Unusual Times

by Cara Gilger (Editor)

Overview

When the unexpected comes and you can't find the words to pray, 99 Prayers Your Church Needs (But Doesn't Know It Yet) will provide the starting point that will help lead you to the prayer your congregation or pastor needs. From prayers for a family who has lost a loved one to addiction, to a prayer for the new pastor in a new congregation, these 99 prayers will help you respond to a multitude of unexpected prayer requests -- whether celebratory or grieving, or somewhere in between -- in the course of your congregation's life.



99 Prayers includes blessings or prayers for:

-when your pastor is facing criminal charges

-those who have lost a loved one to an overdose

-a member of your congregation formally changing their name

-when your pastor has experienced the death of a child

-when your pastor is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness

-when your pastor has been arrested in a non-violent protest

-your pastor's deployment as a military chaplain

-a member of your congregation celebrating a milestone in sobriety



Editor: Cara Gilger

Contributors: Robyn Bles, Diane Faires, Shauna Flemming, Danny Gulden, Jamie Haskins, Megan Houston, Shane Isner, Stephanie Kendell, Billy Kilgore, Elizabeth King, Allison Lanza, Peter Mitchell, Ryan Motter, Suzanne Kerr Motter, Sunny Ridings, Kim Gage Ryan, Melissa St. Clair, Shanna Steitz, Arthur Stewart, Whitney Waller-Cole, Dawn Weaks, Kory Wilcoxson, Chris Wilson, Mark Winters, Selena Wright

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780827225343
Publisher:	Christian Board of Publication
Publication date:	01/01/2019
Pages:	130
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.28(d)

About the Author

For more than a decade The Bethany Fellowships has encouraged young pastors in their earliest years of ministry. Research indicated 1/3 of young ministers may leave congregational ministry in their first five years. This ministry was born out of the intention of strengthening congregations by helping newly ordained, young pastors transition from seminary to sustained congregational ministry with a strong and healthy pastoral identity. Through The Bethany Fellowships young ministers are better able to navigate the beginnings of a pastoral vocation, as well as crucial young adult life transitions, building confidence and strengthening leadership. Twenty-seven graduates of the Bethany Fellowships have contributed to 99 Prayers.

Editor Cara Gilger is a graduate of the Bethany Fellowships as well as a pastor and mother in Dallas.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Prayers for Individuals In Challenging Times

A family in your congregation has experienced a traumatic death 6

A member of your congregation has committed suicide 7

For those who have lost a loved one to an overdose 8

A member or close relative of the congregation passes away on deployment 9

A member of your community is facing mental health issues 10

A member of your congregation is struggling with depression 11

A member in your congregation is experiencing personal financial crisis 12

A member is placing their spouse into assisted living 13

A member of your congregation has miscarried 14

Social services has become involved with a family in your community 15

For someone beginning treatment for a longterm illness 16

A family in your church is being deported unexpectedly 17

Prayers and Blessings for Individuals

Blessing for a church member who is starting a new job 19

A member of your congregation is celebrating a milestone in sobriety 20

Blessing for a family who is making a long-distance move 21

For the new identity of one who is transitioning 22

Prayers for those who serve behind the scenes in ministry 23

Blessing for students who are leaving to study abroad 24

A member of your congregation is formally changing their name (refugees) 25

A family in your congregation is welcoming a foster child 26

A prayer with a child for the passing of their pet 27

Prayers for Community in Challenging Times

A medical emergency occurs during worship 29

Your congregation is struggling to pay bills 30

Your building has been on fire 31

Your building's sprinkler system goes off 32

Your church has been burglarized 33

Your church has been vandalized 34

Your community has sustained a significant disaster 35

Your community has sustained a significant economic disaster 36

Your congregation experiences a significant drop in membership 37

Your congregation has sustained the passing of a member 38

Your congregation is about to implement a staff reduction 39

Your congregation is letting go of a staff member 40

Your congregation is being protested 41

Your congregation is facing a budget shortfall 43

Your congregation is facing a challenge with government 44

Your congregation is facing negative media coverage 45

Your congregation is facing the loss of a significant community partnership 46

Your congregation is marking a first anniversary since something sad 47

A staff member or lay leader has been discovered stealing from the church 48

Your organist or music leader calls in sick on Sunday 49

Your youth group experiences something frightening on mission trip 50

A congregation member is injured at camp or on mission trip 51

A member of your congregation has been discovered to be a sex offender 52

There has been an act of extreme violence within your town or community 53

There has been an act of extreme violence perpetrated on children in your town or community 54

Organization or business housed in your building has experienced public scandal 55

Your community has sustained a significant social justice disaster 56

A lament for racial inequality and prayer for reconciliation 57

Your congregation is being threatened with a lawsuit 58

Prayers for Community Discernment

Your congregation is participating in new justice work within the community 60

Your congregation is forming a new community partnership 61

Your congregation is considering a merger 62

Your congregation is considering closing 63

Your congregation is considering significant changes to worship (time, format, etc.) 64

Your congregation is considering becoming open and affirming 65

Your congregation is discerning ending a long-standing and historical program 66

Your congregation is discerning adding a new staff position 67

Your congregation is discerning becoming a bilingual worshiping community 68

Prayers and Blessings for Community Celebrations

Your congregation is considering a building addition 70

Your congregation is considering a building remodel 71

Your congregation is seeding another congregation in your building 72

Your congregation is supporting a new church start 73

Your congregation is selling an existing building and relocating their ministry 74

Your congregation is marking a first anniversary since something joyful 75

Your congregation is sponsoring a family (immigrants, refugees, homeless transitioning) 76

Your congregation is celebrating Pride Month 77

Your congregation is hosting worship prior to Pride Parade 79

Your community has received a significant economic benefit 80

Your congregation experiences a significant spike in membership 81

Your congregation has received a significant gift 82

Your congregation has completed a successful capital campaign 83

Blessing for a Habitat for Humanity home 84

Your congregation is celebrating Earth Day 85

Blessing for the demolishing of an existing building, with no plans to rebuild 86

Prayers for Your Pastor

Your pastor calls in sick on Sunday 88

Your pastor has been arrested in a nonviolent protest 89

Your pastor is about to lose their job and they don't know it 90

Your pastor is about to lose their job and they know it 91

Your pastor has resigned suddenly out of conflict 92

Your pastor is adopting a child 93

Your pastor is beginning maternity leave 95

Your pastor is beginning parental leave 96

Your pastor is put on bed rest 97

Your pastor is placed on short-term medical leave 99

Your pastor has experienced the death of a child 100

Your pastor's spouse/partner is diagnosed with an illness 101

Your pastor's spouse/partner passes away unexpectedly 102

Your pastor is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness 103

Your pastor has died suddenly 104

A beloved former pastor dies suddenly 105

Your pastor is divorcing 106

Your pastor is facing criminal charges 107

Your pastor has been accused of sexual misconduct 109

Your pastor has been caught in an embarrassing situation 110

Your pastor is deployed as a chaplain 111

Pastor is transitioning to a new role within the ministry 112

Blessings for a pastor departing for sabbatical 113

Blessing for a pastor returning from sabbatical 115

About the Contributors 116

About Bethany Fellowships 121