One of the segments in a recent Sunday evening prayer service was a time to pray for specific people who are not believers in Jesus Christ.  The instruction was simply stated, “Call out the names of family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and others that you suspect do not yet have a saving faith.”

We spent some fifteen minutes doing just that. It was impressive that many of the hundred or so people gathered spoke the names of loved ones and acquaintances.  Some prayers mentioned the relationship as well as the name. There were many phrases used in the requests – Open their eyes; call them to yourself; fill them with your Spirit; find them on your list of the elect; cause them to be born again – but each prayer was a heartfelt plea for a lost soul.  This was a good gauge of the burden our congregation feels for unbelievers and our understanding that God the creator is the providential, sovereign decision maker in all conversions.

Other prayers were also offered, for us to do our part as witnesses to the good news and for specific outreach ministries and workers for the harvest.   It was comforting to lay all these requests before the One who can answer.