Date

12-19-2024

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

Robert M. Lytle

Keywords

prayer, intercessory prayer, intimacy, leaders, prayer workshop

Disciplines

Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

Intercessory prayer is a selfless act where believers pray to God on behalf of others, asking for His intervention. This type of prayer is a vital part of Christian life rooted in the example of Jesus, who intercedes between God and humanity. Jesus models the role of intercessor, reconciling mankind to God through His sacrifice. Believers are called to follow this example and pray for others regularly. This DMin research project examines the issue of leaders lacking a comprehensive understanding of prayer's purpose, power, and connection to intimacy with God. It also investigates why some leaders abandon prayer when faced with challenges. The hypothesis was that if leaders participated in an eight-week intercessory prayer workshop, they would experience spiritual breakthroughs, power, and deeper intimacy with God. The goal was to equip participants with the tools to pray boldly, effectively, and confidently, to teach them how to use the Scripture for praying, and to empower them to teach and mentor others how to pray. Fourteen Divine Providence Ministries leaders participated in the workshop, which included Bible studies, prayer exercises, journaling, and group intercession activities. Quantitative data were gathered from pre-and post-surveys, while qualitative insights came from focus group discussions and data from participation in prayer meetings and workshop classes. The results indicated a positive impact on the participants’ prayer life. Other ministries are encouraged to implement similar prayer workshops to enhance leadership skills in seasoned and novice leaders.

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