Pray for the New Church Plant

1. Pray that our Core Team would walk intimately with Christ (John 15:5; Colossians 2:6-7).

     John 15:5→ I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

     Colossians 2:6-7→ Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

     Pray that our Core Team would prioritize time with God over everything else. Apart from Christ, they will accomplish nothing. Pray that they will stay in God’s Word and in consistent, fervent prayer. Pray that they will be able to serve and minister to others out of the overflow of this personal walk with Jesus.

2. Pray that our Core Team will fix their eyes and find their identity in Christ alone (Galatians 2:20; 1st Peter 2:9; Ephesians 2:10).

     Galatians 2:20→ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

     1st Peter 2:9→ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

     Ephesians 2:10→ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

     The Core Team will be tempted to gauge success and purpose in results. Our church planting team is essentially trying to reach the unreached in the community and start something from the ground up. The temptation the Core Team will face will be finding their identity in what they’re doing and/or how well they do it. Pray that they will find their identity deeply rooted in who Christ is and what He has done.

3. Pray for a strong marriage and family (Ephesians 5:22-25; Ephesians 6:1-4)

     Ephesians 5:22-25→ Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her

     Ephesians 6:1-4→ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

     It will be a challenge for our Core Team to balance family and ministry. Pray that our planters are sensitive to the needs of the family and make shepherding the family a priority in the midst of the church plant.

4. Pray for wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 2:6; Proverbs 3:13; James 1:5).

     Proverbs 1:7→ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

     Proverbs 2:6→ For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

     Proverbs 3:13→ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.

     James 1:5→ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

     So many of the decisions regarding the Church Plant will be difficult. Many of these decisions can affect the growth of the plant-for better or for worse. Pray that God would give His wisdom generously and without approach to leadership and the Core Team.

5. Pray the Core Team will have God’s favor in their community (Acts 2:44-47; Psalm 90:17; Proverbs 3:3-4).

     Acts 2:44-47→ And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

     Psalm 90:17→ Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.

     Proverbs 3:3-4→ Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute
in the sight of God and man.

     Pray that the Core Team would find people in the community with hearts sensitive to the gospel and God’s Kingdom. Pray that local businesses and local leaders would give of their influence and resources to help connect our Core Team with the community. Pray that our Core Team would form great relationships with people in the community.

6. Pray for the faithfulness and unity of our Core Team (1st Samuel 12:24; Hebrews 10:23; 1st Corinthians 1:10; Acts 4:32).

     1st Samuel 12:24→ Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

     Hebrews 10:23→ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

     1st Corinthians 1:10→ Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

     Acts 4:32→ And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

     Church Planting is hard work. It will be exhausting, draining, and even discouraging at times. Pray that our church planters will stay faithful to the call God has placed on their lives throughout the ups and downs of difficult ministry. Also, pray for the team to be united in vision and mission.

7. Pray that God will save souls and disciples will be made (Romans 10:1; Acts 26:18; 1st Timothy 2:1-6; Matthew 28:16-20).

     Romans 10:1→ Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

     Acts 26:18→ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

     1st Timothy 2:1-6→ First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

     Matthew 28:16-20→ But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

     Gateway is planting a church because we have a passion to see souls and communities transformed by the gospel. Pray that God will have His way in men and women in our church planting community as well as across the globe. It’s God’s grace alone that takes dead people and makes them new and alive in Christ. Pray that God would bring people to faith and repentance and pray that people would call on the name of the Lord and be saved.

     Planters plant churches because they have a passion to see individuals and communities transformed by the gospel. Pray God will have His way in men and women across our land. Only Jesus can save lives. Pray He will transform hearts and lives. Pray that discipleship will be the primary mission of the church.

8. Pray that the new church plant will plant a new church plant (Matthew 28:18-20).

     Matthew 28:18-20→ And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

     In these verses, Jesus called His disciples to “Go, make disciples, baptize, and teach.” No other organization has been called, commanded, and commissioned to baptize new believers, make disciples, and teach them to obey all the things Jesus commanded except for the church.

     The apostles responded to these words of Jesus by planting churches. They made disciples of Jesus all over the known world. Born again believers make up churches because according to Christ, they are the bride of Christ-the church.

     While it might sound unreasonable to pray that our new church plant would plant a new church, that’s exactly what we desire to see happen. We want to reach and make disciples in a new community and believe the best way to do that is by meeting the people where they are-planting a church!