A while ago, I read an inspiring story about how prayer put a declining, divided church in North Carolina back on its feet - and more.
In her book The Prayer Saturated Church, Cheryl Sacks tells the story of Biltmore Baptist Church in Arden, North Carolina which went through a bad time in 1993.
The congregation of 600 had dwindled to 175 after a series of events including dissensions and a power struggle. There was no pastor and the only staff member left was a part-time secretary.
The church began to call out to God.
"The congregation went through a time of confession, repentance and cleansing," Sacks wrote. And the people began praying for a pastor with a vision that would lead them.
The new pastor, James Walker, and the congregation began dreaming about what their church would look like. They prayed that people would come who would help the pastor fulfill the vision - God's plans for the church, not man's.
"We asked God to do something big that no man could take credit for," said Carolyn Fuqua, a church member and now on the church staff as prayer coordinator.
Within 10 years, the church grew to almost 5,000 members with 80 church staff, including 16 ministers. I checked the web-site of Biltmore Baptist Church this week and saw that it now has three campuses in the Arden area.
"According to Carolyn, the phenomenal turnaround is all because of prayer," Sacks wrote.
Carolyn Fuqua now heads a nine-member prayer ministry team that coordinates prayer activities in the church. The prayer ministry asked for God to provide 300 pray-ers and, within 10 years, it reached 825 people active in the prayer ministry.
But Sacks makes an even more important point: "Every person in leadership is part of the prayer ministry."
"Whether you are a pastor, deacon, or Sunday school teacher, you're either leading a [prayer] group or you're a committed member of one," said Carolyn Fuqua. "We are a church dedicated to and excited about seeking God together."
The church baptizes between 300 and 400 people annually and 500 to 600 join the congregation.
Along with increased fruit, the Fuqua talked about increased harmony and unity and an increased sense of the presence of God.
"Because of the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit, we've been a place of healing," she said.
What a testimony to the power of united prayer to God!
In her book The Prayer Saturated Church, Cheryl Sacks tells the story of Biltmore Baptist Church in Arden, North Carolina which went through a bad time in 1993.
The congregation of 600 had dwindled to 175 after a series of events including dissensions and a power struggle. There was no pastor and the only staff member left was a part-time secretary.
The church began to call out to God.
"The congregation went through a time of confession, repentance and cleansing," Sacks wrote. And the people began praying for a pastor with a vision that would lead them.
The new pastor, James Walker, and the congregation began dreaming about what their church would look like. They prayed that people would come who would help the pastor fulfill the vision - God's plans for the church, not man's.
"We asked God to do something big that no man could take credit for," said Carolyn Fuqua, a church member and now on the church staff as prayer coordinator.
Within 10 years, the church grew to almost 5,000 members with 80 church staff, including 16 ministers. I checked the web-site of Biltmore Baptist Church this week and saw that it now has three campuses in the Arden area.
"According to Carolyn, the phenomenal turnaround is all because of prayer," Sacks wrote.
Carolyn Fuqua now heads a nine-member prayer ministry team that coordinates prayer activities in the church. The prayer ministry asked for God to provide 300 pray-ers and, within 10 years, it reached 825 people active in the prayer ministry.
But Sacks makes an even more important point: "Every person in leadership is part of the prayer ministry."
"Whether you are a pastor, deacon, or Sunday school teacher, you're either leading a [prayer] group or you're a committed member of one," said Carolyn Fuqua. "We are a church dedicated to and excited about seeking God together."
The church baptizes between 300 and 400 people annually and 500 to 600 join the congregation.
Along with increased fruit, the Fuqua talked about increased harmony and unity and an increased sense of the presence of God.
"Because of the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit, we've been a place of healing," she said.
What a testimony to the power of united prayer to God!
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