The International Prayer Council of Mary Banks Ministries is a group of intercessors who are selected from different locations to intercede for and on behalf of the ministry. Their responsibility goes beyond prayer for Mary Banks Ministries but they are charged to offer up prayer and supplications for all men, governments, nations etc. Training workshops will be conducted internationally, as part of the training and development program for members of the prayer council staff.
The Purpose of the Workshop
1. To establish local prayer councils and/or intercessory ministries and train them to operate in the same manner throughout the ministry.
2. To provide continuous training methods that will enable the ministry of the intercessor internationally to operate in an efficient and effective manner.
3. To provide a platform for ministry designed to enhance the participant’s spiritual development, as it allows them to measure their own growth and maturity as they are called to pray for all types of circumstances, situations and relationships, governments, nations, countries, etc..
4. To provide the leaders an opportunity to observe the growth and development of the different individuals assigned to these areas, as they offer up prayers and petitions for others. A combined team of trained members of the International Prayer Council, along with selected personnel from the local intercessory ministries will conduct workshops. These teams are not only capable intercessors but they are ministers of the Word, knowledgeable in the various aspects of the operations of prayer in the church.
The international president or designee will head the team. It is important that those who are chosen to work in this area of ministry have a comprehensive understanding of the “Vision” of the ministry. They must also know that the prayer council and intercessory ministry fulfill the mandate that “men should always pray”. Generally, the workshop will be conducted as a one (1) day seminar or in shorter sessions over a weekend, depending on the availability of the local members. Whatever the schedule, it will still take approximately six (6) hours to effectively present the ministry of the intercessor in its entirety. The international president or the local president plans the workshop, assisted by the intercessory ministry of the host location.
The Team & Criteria
Being a part of the International Prayer Council is a great responsibility, as one not only has to have a working knowledge of different types of prayer, but also must have the effectual working power of the Word operating in their lives. The team will be taken from members of the International Prayer Council throughout the ministry.
In order to be a part of the team, the individual must meet the following criteria:
1. Must be a member of Bible Teachers International.
2. Must have a good working knowledge of the Word.
3. Must attend prayer at least three (3) times weekly.
4. Must attend Ministerial Staff Development Sessions regularly.
5. Must attend Church Services regularly.
6. Must understand team ministry.
7. His life (character) must be a testimony of the power of the Word.
Each team member must:
• Be willing and prepared to always place Christ on display, despite whatever personal situation they may be faced with at that time.
• Recognize that their participation is not simply to dispense their knowledge of the Word in prayer, but that their experience as a team member is an integral part of their training and development.
• Be willing to be vulnerable to all aspects of the ministry inside of the workshop.
The Plan
In planning the workshop, the team will meet regularly for prayer, as well as assign the area of the presentation for study. They must also send the parts of the presentation to the local team and keep in touch throughout the preparation period. The workshops are always prayer centered. For example: If you are teaching on the importance of intercessory prayer, then at the end of that particular presentation there should be a demonstration of intercessory prayer. In other words, the workshop needs to be practical and instructional. If you are teaching on distractions to prayer, you may want to demonstrate by creating a scenario when an intercessor is being distracted by something or someone. This is not only a time of training, but also a time of fellowship that can only enhance the bonding of the intercessors of the various locations. This is one of the reasons that we share a meal as “time together” allows for vulnerability and friendships to form. Now the persons we communicate with from location to location or at Headquarters are no longer just names, but we can now identify more personally with them. There will be registration at every workshop; this will help to monitor the participation of the intercessors from each location. If the workshop is scheduled for lunch, it is advised to have lunch on-site. This allows for fellowship and staying on track with the schedule. This can be a time of spiritual development as we interact with each other. It is from observing the maturity of the various individuals at these sessions that others may be recommended to the International Prayer Council. The actual details of the presentation can be taught during regular prayer council meetings.
