Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Julie Arduini
I’m not the first to think of the idea. My inspiration came from Christian novelist Robin
Lee Hatcher. In an undated interview with Focus on Fiction she explained her prayer team and
how she counts on their prayers. She noted it was intercession from prayer warriors that “carried
her through.”
Before I put a word on paper or typed on my keyboard I decided I was going to do two
things.
Four years have passed since I made those commitments and I believe having a prayer
team is key to everything I do. I don’t think prayer teams should be exclusive to writers. Perhaps
you’ve heard of the Presidential Prayer team. Maybe you received updates from missionaries as
part of a prayer coordination. Well, I think the prayer team should be expanded.
I think if you have proclaimed Jesus Christ as your Savior, you should have a
prayer team.
I think you need a prayer team whether you are a pastor or a teacher. A banker or a real
estate agent. A stay at home mom or a corporate VP. Anytime you represent Jesus at home, work
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it
would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of
the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19-20, NIV
Having a prayer team gives what I call “intercession protection.” Matthew 18:20 states,
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” I’ve read the missionary
accounts where missionaries were surrounded by crowds filled with evil intent and suddenly the
crowds disappeared. Turns out believers were praying at the exact time the missionaries were in
peril. Executives who committed to serve God in the workplace felt peace when budgets didn’t
balance. Teachers learned strategies to share Godly principles in a creative way. These are by
I promised God I would write for Him in fall 2006. I prayed and believed I was meant to
create a prayer team. Each fall I pray for names of believing women who might want to join the
team. Since that first year my writing ministry has seen crazy favor.
Most peers seek publication. Months after making the commitment to write for God an
author contacted me and asked to use my story in her book. By fall 2007 I was invited to a book
signing. It took reading the invite three times before I realized I was one of the authors, not the
Take Root and Write, Adding Zest and the Internet Café invited me to join their team.
My own “prayer warrior” experiences have clarity and intimacy with God that I believe
are fueled by prayers from others. Before the prayer team my family was in the midst of chronic
sickness and transition. Within months are daughter moved out of steady therapy to a preschool
program where she became a help to others with special needs situations. I can’t tell you the
times I’ve been anxious and then I’m flooded with peace.
Yet I believe part of the call on my life is to encourage you to build a prayer team.
There are a few things I think set apart a prayer team for success. Please prayerfully
1. Pray about whom to invite. It’s important you only invite people who have made a
soon as one enters into a committed prayer ministry there is an element of spiritual
warfare.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
The Holy Spirit will guide you to the right person or people. I’ve never had the
same amount of people to invite each year and not every person I invite accepts. I
truly believe God leads and I trust Him through the entire process.
2. Only invite people of the same gender. This is obvious and yet the articles I read on
emotional affairs show me women are sharing too much with men who are not their
husbands. Do not think you can keep boundaries by including someone on your
prayer team that is of the opposite sex. Prayer is such an intimate act and this is a
3. Discourage those that want to invite themselves. I learned the hard way accepting
boundaries is not a good idea. I don’t discourage prayer by any means; I just don’t
randomly allow people to invite themselves. If someone wants to pray but you don’t
believe they are someone to invite, thank them and ask they pray for your general
ministry. For me, I ask them to pray for my writing. It doesn’t give specifics and yet
it is a true area I need prayer. By allowing anyone to join even with the best of
intentions I believe boundaries will be skewed. In my instance the person felt they
had the right to tell me what to write or not write and if I became in their eyes
disobedient, they were anger. It’s not the way to have a prayer team. Learn from me
and prayerfully invite your team members. Everyone else, keep it general.
4. I send out invites in November and ask them to prayerfully respond before the
end of December. I emphasize them praying about it. Their praying is a ministry; I
even ask they create a prayer team. I believe prayer teams need a domino effect. My
first prayer team was hit hard in every possible way. It was a battle for them and yet
their prayers yielded so much fruit. I don’t want anyone to accept lightly. I’ve let the
ladies know I’d rather they decline and be honest than think they have to accept to
5. I outline the boundaries in the invite so they know what I’m expecting. My
guidelines are that my praises and prayers are confidential. I do give specifics on the
writing ministry. It is a lonely life and sometimes I share personal details or specifics
on a project that is not ready for public promotion. I let them know I have no
expectation they be on their knees praying every day for hours on end. I think the
most active intercessors are the busy moms praying during a diaper change or folding
laundry. I tell them as my name and writing pop in their heads, lift up a prayer. Each
month I send a list with praises and prayers for their use if they want it. If I’m able, I
send each member a thank you, often a book. So far, I’ve invited each previous team
back for the next year. Most re commit, but not always.
That’s it! It’s not complicated but I believe creating a prayer team is life changing
for the intercessor and the person requesting prayer. You’re worth it. No matter what
your vocation or status, why not take a leap of faith and start your team today?
To read Robin Lee Hatcher’s interview that includes information about her prayer
team, click on the link.
http://www.focusonfiction.net/html/robinleehatcher.html
Ezra 8:23
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Psalm 17:6
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Colossians 4:2
[ Further Instructions ] Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
1 Timothy 2:1
[ Instructions on Worship ] I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for all people—
James 5:15
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If
they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The
prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Julie Arduini
February 2011
http://juliearduini.com
Surrendering the good, the bad, and---maybe one day---the chocolate
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