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Towards an Understanding of Strategic Intercessory Prayer: Implications for Mission Practice

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Towards an Understanding of Strategic Intercessory Prayer: Implications for Mission Practice Towards an understanding of strategic intercessory prayer: Implications for mission practice DT Baetz orcid.org/ 0000-0002-2368-0286 Thesis submitted for the degree Doctor of Philosophiae in Missiology at the North-West University In co-operation with GREENWICH SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Promoter: Prof Dr JM Vorster Co-promoter: Dr IW Ferreira Graduation July 2018 Student number: 25766724 DECLARATION I declare that this thesis has been composed solely by myself and that it has not been submitted, in whole or in part, in any previous application for a degree, except for this one. Except where states otherwise by reference or acknowledgment, the work presented is entirely my own. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Heartfelt thanks are due to the following people: Heritage College and Seminary Library staff for their helpful support; The staff at African Inland Mission (Canada) for their prayerful support; Prayer and financial supporters who have believed in me and this project; The individuals in several countries who participated in the Delphi research project; Ruth Engler, Research Assistant and Editor extraordinaire; Dr. Erich Engler for his support and expertise; Peg Evans (GST) and Tienie Buys (NWU) for their invaluable administrative assistance and positive attitudes and encouragement; Dr. Rob Elkington for his helping coaching and initial supervision; My supervisors: Dr. Koos Vorster and Dr. Naas Ferreira. Their combination of academic rigour, intellectual depth and breadth, spiritual character, hospitality and personal graciousness have been a superb model. Special acknowledgement must go to my wife Bev, who has supported me and this dissertation in innumerable ways with graciousness, custom-made cappuccinos, sacrifice, flexibility and prayer. Gratefully, too, I note my six children: Christopher, Candice, Nicholas (plus wife Cassandra), Rachelle, Joelle and Bradley. They have not only been an encouragement to me, but also my teachers in ‘faith, hope and love’. Finally, I honour the Lord, who (surprisingly) calls and (amazingly) gives grace and strength. For anything helpful that may come from the dissertation, He deserves the credit. iii ABSTRACT North American conservative evangelical missiology does not typically focus on intercessory prayer as a primary tool for missions practice. Several factors have contributed to this, including the implementation of good and necessary practices arising from the study of missiology compared to the more difficult to measure and somewhat mysterious nature of prayer. The research question for this study is ‘How can a theoretical model of strategic intercessory prayer be developed that is scripturally, theologically and missiologically sound for missions practice today?’ This question seeks to be answered through an overview of an understanding of evangelical theology including that of missions, prayer and discernment including relevant passages in the Old and New Testaments. Additionally, significant practitioners from early church and missions history are examined, as well as emerging data. During the study period, a comprehensive three iteration Delphi questionnaire research project was undertaken with expert participants consisting of evangelical missionaries, mission leaders, vocational Christian leaders and intercessors from various countries. The results reveal an emerging consensus pointing to effective practices and approaches to intercessory prayer as it relates to missions. A praxis theoretical model is developed, with the goal of seeing intercessory prayer increasingly ‘strategic’ for gospel proclamation, the birth and strengthening of the church and the transformation of civil society. iv KEY WORDS Strategic intercessory prayer Missions practice Delphi method Leaders Missionaries Prayer v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .......................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... iii ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... iv KEY WORDS .............................................................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................. vi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1 1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT .............................................................. 1 1.2 RESEARCH QUESTION ............................................................. 10 1.3 GENERAL OUTLINE OF THESIS ............................................... 10 1.3.1 The Basis Theoretical Material .................................................... 10 1.3.2 The Meta-Theoretical Material ..................................................... 11 1.3.3 The Praxis Theoretical Material ................................................... 11 1.4 AIM OF STUDY ........................................................................... 12 1.5 CENTRAL THEORETICAL ARGUMENT .................................... 13 1.6 METHOD ..................................................................................... 13 1.7 SUMMARY AND LOOKING AHEAD ........................................... 14 CHAPTER 2 BASIS THEORETICAL MATERIAL ........................................... 16 2.1 BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING AND THE THEOLOGY OF MISSION ..................................................................................... 16 2.1.1 Evangelical Theology and the Authority of Scripture .................. 18 2.1.2 Biblical Interpretation ................................................................... 36 vi 2.1.3 Mission of God ............................................................................. 39 2.1.4 Church History Overview: Bosch's Six Eras of the Theology of Mission .................................................................................... 45 2.1.5 Current Issues In Missiology ........................................................ 48 2.1.6 Summary and Implications .......................................................... 57 2.2 BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING AND THE THEOLOGY OF PRAYER ..................................................................................................... 58 2.2.1 Prayer in Other World Religions .................................................. 58 2.2.2 Prayer Among Israel's Neighbours .............................................. 62 2.2.3 Foundation of Theology of Prayer for the Dissertation ................. 64 2.2.4 Prayer in the Old Testament ........................................................ 68 2.2.5 Prayer in the New Testament ...................................................... 80 2.2.6 Prayer in the Early Church .................................................. 119 2.2.7 Prayer in the Period of the Apostolic Fathers ............................ 152 2.2.8 Prayer in the Ante-Nicene Period .............................................. 154 2.2.9 Theological Challenges and Concepts ...................................... 156 2.3 BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING AND THE THEOLOGY OF DISCERNMENT ........................................................................ 162 2.3.1 Old Testament Examples .......................................................... 162 2.3.2 New Testament Examples ......................................................... 162 2.3.3 Church and Mission History ....................................................... 163 2.4 IMPLICATIONS AND SUMMARY .............................................. 173 vii CHAPTER 3 MODELS AND PRACTITIONERS ............................................. 175 3.1 THE MORAVIANS ..................................................................... 175 3.1.1 Historical Roots .......................................................................... 175 3.1.2 Values ........................................................................................ 176 3.1.3 Sending of Missionaries ............................................................. 177 3.1.4 In Hindsight ................................................................................ 178 3.1.5 Significance of the Moravians .................................................... 178 3.2 HISTORICAL REVIVAL MOVEMENTS AND KEY PLAYERS ... 179 3.2.1 Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakenings .......................... 179 3.2.2 Charles Finney........................................................................... 180 3.2.3 D.L. Moody ................................................................................ 181 3.2.4 Jonathan Goforth ....................................................................... 181 3.2.5 Mission Societies ....................................................................... 182 3.3 EARLY MISSION LEADERS TO CHINA AND PRAYER EMPHASIS ................................................................................................... 182 3.4 KOREA ...................................................................................... 186 3.5 AFRICA…………………………………………………………….. 187 3.6 EMERGING DATA ..................................................................... 191 3.6.1 Prayer and the Social Sciences ................................................. 191 3.6.2 Prayer and Mental Health .......................................................... 192 3.6.3 Prayer: Historical, Cultural and Societal Impact ......................... 193 3.6.4
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