I am intrigued by the "House of Prayer" concept - Christians banding together in neighbourhoods to pray their neighbours into the kingdom of God.
It involves several people in a neighbourhood or place of work joining together to pray for their neighbours or workmates, help them with their needs, and share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Typically, two or three people get together to pray consistently for their neighbours. They ask their neighbours for their prayer needs and they pray for them. This opens the door to closer relationships.
As their relationships deepen, they offer to help with such everyday needs - perhaps looking after a pet while the neighbours are away.
Then, the neighbours are more open to hearing the gospel.
In one case, van der Griend says the Olive Hills Nazarene Church in Bakersfield, California, "spearheaded a prayer-evangelism ministry that targets apartment complexes in a high-need area".
Police were often called in two or three times a day into these complexes to deal with crime. Drugs were openly sold and unemployment was high. Families were broken and many lacked the basic necessities of life.
Church members prayer-walked the area and planted eight "Houses of Prayer" in the complexes. Members met weekly to pray for residents and their needs.
The results? Drug dealers moved out and the crime rate dropped. The manager at one of the complexes became a Christian. An "out-of-control" boy turned into a straight A student. Ten people became believers. Many others started going to church. Eighteen young people joined the church youth group. Several new Bible studies were launched. Forty-five families received help from the church.
Police now come to the complexes barely once a week, a dramatic drop from the past. And the police have asked the church to plant Houses of Prayer in other tough neighbourhoods.
"Not only is the ministry simple enough for anyone to do, it is also culturally correct for today," says van der Griend. "People, even unbelieving people, welcome prayer."
He notes that a church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, prayed for and visited people in a 12-block area for two years and had only one household reject their offer to pray.
"The door is wide open," writes van der Griend. "God has set the stage for effective prayer evangelism ministry."
It involves several people in a neighbourhood or place of work joining together to pray for their neighbours or workmates, help them with their needs, and share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Typically, two or three people get together to pray consistently for their neighbours. They ask their neighbours for their prayer needs and they pray for them. This opens the door to closer relationships.
As their relationships deepen, they offer to help with such everyday needs - perhaps looking after a pet while the neighbours are away.
Then, the neighbours are more open to hearing the gospel.
In one case, van der Griend says the Olive Hills Nazarene Church in Bakersfield, California, "spearheaded a prayer-evangelism ministry that targets apartment complexes in a high-need area".
Police were often called in two or three times a day into these complexes to deal with crime. Drugs were openly sold and unemployment was high. Families were broken and many lacked the basic necessities of life.
Church members prayer-walked the area and planted eight "Houses of Prayer" in the complexes. Members met weekly to pray for residents and their needs.
The results? Drug dealers moved out and the crime rate dropped. The manager at one of the complexes became a Christian. An "out-of-control" boy turned into a straight A student. Ten people became believers. Many others started going to church. Eighteen young people joined the church youth group. Several new Bible studies were launched. Forty-five families received help from the church.
Police now come to the complexes barely once a week, a dramatic drop from the past. And the police have asked the church to plant Houses of Prayer in other tough neighbourhoods.
"Not only is the ministry simple enough for anyone to do, it is also culturally correct for today," says van der Griend. "People, even unbelieving people, welcome prayer."
He notes that a church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, prayed for and visited people in a 12-block area for two years and had only one household reject their offer to pray.
"The door is wide open," writes van der Griend. "God has set the stage for effective prayer evangelism ministry."
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