Circles of Prayer

One of the hardest things to come to terms with in ministry can be the lack of support that we some­times feel.

Mary is the associate pastor at the Stanborough Park Church outside London, England. She is also a writer and speaker. She and her pastor/husband have two daughters in their late teens. For relaxation, Mary enjoys being with family and friends.

One of the hardest things to come to terms with in ministry can be the lack of support that we some­times feel.

We can often feel alone when there are conflicts in our churches or when we are plagued with personal problems that seem to have no solution. In my experience, prayer always helps!

We all know that God has the power and the wisdom to deal with every situation that confronts us, even though we may not always feel His presence. At times, most of us have seen or heard of the most amazing things that God has done in response to prayer. There are times though, when we need to know that others are praying with us and that we are not alone in the struggles that we face. It can be difficult to share personal or church issues as prayer requests with church members, so why not share them with other ministerial wives?

Some time ago a group of pastors' wives and I decided that we were going to pray for one another on a regular basis. We mailed each other once a month, sharing the requests that we had. Once a week, we set aside time to pray for one another, some of us fasting or having a fruit fast during that time. As answers to our requests were realized, we rejoiced with one another.

Our prayer circle consisted of six wives from all over our conference; therefore, distance was not a barrier to supporting one another in prayer. We also tried to meet at worker's meetings or retreats to catch up on friend­ships and praise God together for the way in which He has answered our prayers.

I really believe that being part of a prayer circle can enrich our lives as well as make a huge difference to our ministries. Knowing that others care enough to share my problems and present them to God in prayer has been a great source of strength and encouragement. Knowing that I am supporting a friend's ministry and doing something practical and of value for her by praying for her on a regular basis give me a great sense of satisfaction.

Try forming a circle of prayer for yourself. Contact five other wives with whom you feel comfortable or that you would like to know better and begin. The circle can be less than seven, but it is better to go beyond that num­ber.

A prayer circle will not only help to alleviate the isolation you may feel in ministry, but it will also be one way in which you can share your concerns with those who care for you on earth and the One who cares for you in heaven.

Mary is the associate pastor at the Stanborough Park Church outside London, England. She is also a writer and speaker. She and her pastor/husband have two daughters in their late teens. For relaxation, Mary enjoys being with family and friends.