I was asked in a comment on one of the posts “how do we collect the prayer requests and what do we do with them?” I thought the answer was worthy of its own blog post. So here it is…
The way we collect prayer requests is by asking, “is there any specific way that we can pray for you and your family?” This is step two of our three step approach. Step one is to ask for a food donation. And step three is to share the Gospel with them.
I carry a clip board with me when I go door to door. Among other things, on the clip board is a stack of prayer request forms. When I get a prayer request I complete information like data, name, address, request and general comments. I also have a place to mark if the person is a Christian or what other religion they belong too.
Once we have the prayer requests, we have a prayer meeting on the 1st and 3rd mondays of each month. At those meetings we pray for the prayer requests that were gathered. Normally we do this by dividing up the prayer request forms amongst all of those present at the meeting. Then someone opens in prayer. Wew each then pray over the cards we have. The cards can then either be put into the center of the table for someone else to take or passed left or right (as agreed in advance) so that everyone can pray for multiple requests.
Some requests it is appropriate to follow-up with the people. We have a separate team of people that are involved with the follow-up.
Normally, we will keep the prayer requests from previous meetings in future meetings for 2-4 months depending on the request and the follow-up feedback we receive.
For more information on the Carrollton for Christ Door to Door ministry please see the Bezeugen Door to Door web page.
This is simialar to the follow-up strategy used with the prayer station evangelism ministries. They use the Way of Master biblical evangelism model as well. I am not going to have a group of christians that i will have a prayer meeting with, so I may have to just pray over these requests myself as I collect them. I am going to have to trust God to enlist some other believers in my area to commit to door to door outreach with me.
David, I think you can still say, "I'm having a prayer meeting at my house" and then take the prayer requests and go home and pray. Maybe someone you know might not be up to door to door but would be willing to pray. That would be a way they could be involved.
Also, one more word of encouragement for you as you go out. I met a guy going door to door who is now witnessing with us. Another guy that I witnessed too at a restaurant is now witnessing with us. Be faithful to do what God has called you to do. It's not always easy. We will support, encourage and pray for you from a distance. In God's time, he will raise up more soul winners in your area. Until then just go and be consistent at what God has called you too.