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BY RICK KNOTH ONE THING that should really grab our weapon carrying. from the world's value system, or do attention is the horrendous pace of soci- The maniacal character of American they see Jesus' principles lived and etal change over the past 30 years. As a culture over the past three decades has talked in ministerial and parental lead- kid growing up in the sixties, I vividly done nothing to ennoble the human ership? recall the days of 5-cent candy bars (five condition. Instead, there has been a On this sobering note, consider these for a quarter), lO-cent Cokes@, IS-cent gradual dismantling of the traditional words of admonition from Hebrews McDonald's hamburgers, and $10 mem- institutions of church, home, and fami- 10:24,25*: "Letus consider how we may berships at the local Y. The popular TV ly. It has become increasingly clear that spur one another on toward love and programs of the day were Lassie, Mr. Ed, lives of multiple generations are being good deeds. Let us not give up meeting My Three Sons, and Mighty Mouse. Kids impacted by an amoral culture where together, as some are in the habit of played kick-the-can, hide-and-seek, and only opinions matter. The right and doing, but let us encourage one another, tag unmolested under neighboring wrong choices of the day are guided by and all the more as you see the Day streetlights. Traditional family roles cultural precepts rather than moral approaching. " were dramatized by June and Ward absolutes. Consider Josiah's leadership: The Cleaver in the popular family sitcom, What does all this have to do with the Scripture says, '1\s long as he lived, they Leave It to Beaver. Public schools pro- issue's theme on the minister's private [Israel] did not fail to follow the Lord" (2 moted love of God and country and con- life? Everything. With the erosion of Chronicles 34:33). Jesus' strong rebuke of sidered talking, chewing gum, running Christian values in our culture comes the Pharisees for "neglecting the more in the halls, and getting out of turn in the greater responsibility of ministers important matters" should remind us line to be the most serious student and Christian laypeople to model scrip- that we who are called "will be judged offenses. tural values and offset the mind-set of more strictly." The high calling of the This dimension of my past will be for- permissiveness which is prevalent in the ministry demands our best efforts. We ever snagged on the branches of my world. must give unparalleled attention in our memory. Inasmuch as I [we] would like Teens in our churches today were chil- private lives to the disciplines of prayer, to turn back time, I know it's impossi- dren yesterday when human frailty and fasting, and devotion to the Word of God. ble. What I wouldn't give for my two flaws in high-profile ministers shocked The success of your personal life and young boys to experience the innocence both the church and secular worlds. ministry depends on it. of growing up in a culture where loss of Comedians continue to bandy those *Scripture quotations are from the New virginity, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, names in television entertainment. International Version. abortion, drug abuse, and homosexuali- Christians blush with shame. Teens look ty were all matters of national shame. at local ministers with questioning eyes Instead, they will be subjugated to a per- and try to make sense out of human verse culture that has abandoned its failure. "Why is it wrong for me but spiritual. God-centered heritage. They right for you?" they ask. will have no choice but to be raised in a At heart young people want role mod- society where they're told it's unconsti- els to emulate. With a steady diet of tutional to engage in public religious television, which often portrays anti- expression; where perversion and bla- Christian values, teens want their min- tant sin are glorified in the media isters and parents to set boundaries and through such programs as Roseanne, live up to prescribed behavior. How close The Simpsons, NYPD Blue, and M7V; they live to the edge of all-out commit- and where the mild-mannered student ments to Jesus Christ depends on what offenses of the past have been replaced they see at home and in the church. Do by rape, robbery, assault, arson, and they see those who do not differ greatly ENRICHMENT Fulton Buntain David Bryant Dick Eastman and wonders, and all the rest God wants to do to bring our churches alive and to see our cities reached for Christ. When prayer is presented in that respect, pas- tors are strongly responding. For example, several months ago over 80,000 pastors gathered in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the express purpose of spending 21/z days praying together for the nation, one another, and how to give churchwide and citywide leader- ship in movements of united prayer-all under the sponsorship of the Promise Keepers but endorsed by a coalition of churches and denominations. I believe it As YOU TALK WITH PASTORS AROUND was and is a watershed because, in a THE COUNTRY, WHAT'S THEIR HEART- sense, it's giving and has given pastors BEAT CONCERNING PRAYER? the permission to do what they've want- DAVID BRYANT: Having worked with ed to do all along: to take up the call of pastors and having been one myself a Acts 6:4 and to make prayer and the number of years, I sense that prayer is Word top priority once again in all they probably one of the hottest topics do in ministry. among pastors everywhere I go. Prayer really is the fountainhead of God's DICK EASTMAN: I certainly echo what renewing work-new dreams, visions, David is saying. We travel in many of labors, energy, empowerment of signs the same circles and see an awesome 4 . SPRING 1996 interest. In the fall of 1976 we began to small prayer groups in every city and critical areas He has led me to pray change the world's focus to prayer, and town, which is a miracle in itself. about. Thus I know where to start look- we're still going; however, while we ing for the answers. He will answer the were thrilled at the response in the MOST MINISTERSAGREE ON THE SIG- prayers He's stirred up in my heart. beginning, it seemed rather isolated. NIFICANCE OF PRAYER AND WOULD Furthermore, I will be able to look back Now the difference is pronounced as far LIKETO PRAYMORE OFTEN. IN REALI- on that 30 days and discover the ways as the interest and the spread of the TY,HOWEVER,MANY THINGS KEEP US God has spoken in the place of prayer. If movement. For example, pastors prayer FROMTHE PLACEOF PRAYER.WHAT anything would make me want to have summits are drawing 30 to 40 commu- WOULD YOU SAY TO MINISTERS WHO an appointment with God, it is to know nity pastors of practically every denom- ARE STRUGGLING TO MANAGE PRAYER I am not going to do all the talking- ination; they come together for 3 or 4 IN THEIR LIVES? that He is going to share himself with days solely to seek the Lord in prayer. EASTMAN: Educators say if you do me. This was unheard of 20 years ago. anything exactly the same way for 21 3. At least one of those appointments There is also a denominational prayer days in a row, it becomes a habit. Then each week will be with a couple of other leaders network and a prayer network if you don't do it after that, you'll miss it people. Thus we hold each other for youth. Leaders from many different in such a way that it'll leave an impres- accountable. Unified prayer lends power streams are meeting on a regular basis. sion on you. to being together in prayer. My personal These indicate a phenomenal interest in One of the things that radically revo- private prayer life has risen and fallen to prayer. lutionized my own life was when I the degree that I have had a significant, began to make prayer an appointment meaningful, corporate prayer life going FULTON, OVER A THOUSAND OF every day just like I would with virtual- on at the same time. For example, even YOUR LAYPEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A ly anyone else. Of course, my prayer once a week praying with two other pas- COMMITMENT TO PRAY WITH YOU AN time and appointment with the Lord, tors for an hour and a half in the early HOUR A DAY.IS THAT INTEREST STILL begun some 20 years ago, became the morning affords a kind of in-depth pray- GROWING? DO YOU FEEL IT IS MORE most important. ing that builds accountability and wash- ALIVE TODAY? es back into my own personal prayer FULTON BUNTAIN: It is in place and BRYANT:Along with these thoughts, life. It brings a vitality that I could get growing-doser to 2,000 now. three practical things help to buttress no other way. Through our ministry in the church this formation and sustain the habit of and television, people send their prayer prayer in a spiritual leader's life: PASTORS STRUGGLE WITH HOW requests in-hundreds of them every 1. Pray through the Scriptures. TO TEACH THEIR PEOPLE TO PRAY week. Not only do we publish the prayer Working through a book of the Bible- EFFECTIVELY.

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