United Methodists Called to Pray

John Wesley understood this truth well and taught his followers, "God does nothing apart from prayer."

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 16, 2007--GBOD and Aldersgate Renewal Ministries will sponsor “Becoming a People of Prayer,” September 21-22, 2007 at Brentwood United Methodist Church in Nashville.

The purpose of the prayer conference is to call The United Methodist Church to prayer and to strengthen and empower our ability to pray: as individuals, as families, and as congregations.

A prelude to General Conference 2008, the prayer conference is expected to attract some 300-500 persons.

“The Scripture makes it absolutely clear that at the heart of Jesus’ life and ministry was his relationship to God in prayer. To be effective in the Christian life, we must have a vital prayer life,” says Tom Albin, team leader for Upper Room Program Ministries and dean of The Upper Room Chapel.

“Unfortunately, in this post-modern, post-Christian culture--United Methodist still live with the "modernist" mistake that puts prayer in opposition to "doing something."”

United Methodists believe prayer is doing something and that without prayer; all of our efforts produce little fruit if any. This line of thinking says, "Are you going to sit around and pray; or, are you going to get on your feet and do something?"

Albin calls this “the modernist mistake because we can find no such language in the Bible or in the life of Jesus.”

Albin goes on to say that “the future of the Church is directly related to our life of prayer and understanding that our entire life is our prayer.”

According to Albin, John Wesley understood this truth well and taught his followers, "God does nothing apart from prayer."

Those persons who attend the conference will be introduced to a variety of new ways to pray--as individuals, as families and as congregations.

“I believe those who attend the prayer conference will return home with a greater spiritual life and strength. For those who are willing to go deeper, they will have the opportunity to become a partner in a world wide prayer network where we will continue to share the very best ideas and practices--for the building up of the body of Christ and the transformation of the world, said the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, top executive for GBOD.

“This event is a major step forward in the journey of the United Methodist Church ‘becoming a people of prayer,’ ” she said.

The conference design team is hopeful participants will leave with an increased awareness of the importance of prayer in their personal life and in the life of the church; with one goal being to equip persons within the church to establish prayer ministries.

“Becoming a People of Prayer” targets pastors, lay members and leaders in The United Methodist Church and leaders in other denominations.

Participants will hear from a variety of leaders and will have the opportunity to pray together in a rich variety of traditions, including Native American, Euro-American, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian.

The conference includes plenary speakers and interactive workshops on various styles of prayer; times of corporate prayer and praise; and a prayer room, which will provide space for spiritual reflection and private prayer.

Among the plenary speakers are:

Terry Teykl, Becoming a Praying Church,
Suzette Caldwell, Giving My Heart to God, Windsor Village UMC, Houston
Marjorie Thompson, Seeking the Heart of God, GBOD
Taylor Burton-Edwards, Giving Prayer and Worship Back to the Congregation, GBOD

For more information and to register contact, Becky Caudill, 1-877-2780, ext. 7059 or e-mail: bcaudill@gbod.org.

The General Board of Discipleship’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7017.