• The president/vice president should have an agenda of each meeting. This keeps the meeting on course and is a safeguard from going off into areas unrelated to the purpose of the meeting.
• Open in Prayer
• Scripture/Minister Word – 15 minutes
• Discussion of the word is purposed to allow those who may not be in the right posture to pray to allow the word to purify their hearts. It should not become a ritual that at each meeting the leader must ask how all are doing. One criterion of the intercessor is that he/she should maintain a walk in the Spirit so God can always call on them to be in the right posture to intercede for others.
• Ask how each one is doing physically, spiritually, and mentally to be clear to pray on one accord?
• Discuss prayer requests, issues, situations of the ministry, pastorate of your location, (The secretary should document prayer requests to keep track of the status for future meetings and any other business minutes)
• A copy of each meeting’s agenda should be submitted to the church secretary.
• Praise and Worship (should be limited)
• Go into Intercessory Prayer for the prayer requests, issues, situations of the ministry, etc.
• Set Next Meeting Date and Location
• Close-Out
Meeting in prayer (The secretary should try to get the prayer requests to the other members within two to three days so members can keep the requests lifted before the Father in their individual prayer times as well)
28 Training , Quarterly Reports & Required Study Guides:
• Prayer in the Church
• Praying in the Spirit
• The Spirit of Prayer Mandatory Courses:
• Lord Teach Us to Pray Part One - Fast Track
• Lord Teach Us to Pray Part Two – The New Intercessors – Fast Track Quarterly Reports Quarterly Reports are due to the International Prayer Council.
Please send reports via email to: prayercouncil@bibleteachers.com, or you can submit it online at: www.bibleteachers.com/prayer-report.html Quarter Report Due by August, September, October November 5th November, December, January February 5th February, March, April May 5th May, June, July August 5th
Information to be included in Quarterly Reports:
• Who is the President of your Board?
• Who are your members, email addresses, telephone, etc.?
• Must be a Written Report – No Phone Calls. The Report should include:
• Members’ participation in the council meetings?
• The intercessors’ dispositions/spiritual locations?
• How often do you meet: once a week, twice a month, once a month, etc.?
• Did you have a shut-in/transmittal this quarter?
• If you need any spiritual assistance or a visit from the International Prayer Council, please let us know by email or by checking this box.
• Report written by or completed by _____________________.
• Date of Report _______________.
29 Meetings, Shut-Ins & Transmittals Meetings
• The Prayer Council Board will hold prayer meetings at least twice a month for no more than 90 minutes.
• These meetings keep the members informed of the mandates that are to be followed by the council.
• The purpose and vision must be thoroughly taught, and each member should understand his or her responsibilities and functions. Job descriptions of each officer should be included in the training manual.
• This is where problems or concerns are discussed and ideas to make the prayer council more efficient are voiced.
• The meetings are a platform to enter fervent prayer and intercession for the ministry and for each other.
• In these settings, negative mindsets that are a hindrance to effective prayer and spiritual growth are exposed.
• There is no spiritual movement without confrontation which is the catalyst for change.
This is one of the tools we have been given for our continued development. Shut-Ins & Transmittals These are group meetings held to discuss spiritual issues. Shut-ins and transmittals are held at least three to four times a year and usually, but not necessarily last overnight. The Holy Spirit sets the agenda for the sessions and specific situations and spiritual dispositions may be dealt with during these settings. The greatest deliverance can take place during these sessions because of the time allowed to informally sit and deal with the mindsets that would oppose our ministry. Remember that this is a shut-in of the prayer council and therefore this can be a time of discipleship of some of the principles and hindrances to prayer. This will set the tone for the remainder of the session. Each person will then examine themselves by those principles. This is the basis for the confrontation. Confrontation is the catalyst for change and is crucial to spiritual development.
• It allows us to come face to face with those things that cause us to walk contrary to God’s will.
• It identifies the negative mindsets and dispositions that have become so much a part of us.
• Spiritual wickedness is addressed and dealt with directly.
When these negative mindsets are exposed and we submit to the truth, we move from one spiritual location to another – this is maturity. To shut-in takes discipline. The role of an intercessor takes much discipline. Therefore, as a part of the initial training, you will need to schedule shorter periods for the shut-ins and gradually move the new intercessor into the all-night sessions. Without discipline, one cannot be an effective intercessor. The Holy Spirit may wake you in the middle of the night to intercede for someone. Therefore, discipline is not an option, but it is mandatory for the intercessor.
The flesh does not want us to make this sacrifice. Normally, sleepiness or negative attitudes are our greatest hindrances. The fleshy mind will produce excuses, ranging from not being able to stay awake to not seeing the reason for meeting for that length of time. Whatever the reason, the enemy will try to manifest his presence, as he realizes how effective this method of purging has become within the ministry.
Administration: Prayer Council Members All board leaders and officers are appointed to these positions for a one-year term and are expected to submit in all areas to the counsel, guidelines and directives of Bible Teachers International.
1. The international leadership of the prayer council are recommended by the senior staff and approved by the chief apostle.
2. The local members of the prayer council/intercessory board are appointed by the senior pastor.
Job Descriptions.:
The International President Is responsible for:
• Being trained by the BTI Deputy Director or the outgoing president and must submit to the council and directives of the ministry.
• Receiving spiritual directives from the apostle or the senior bishop relative to special prayer requests as it relates to the chief apostle, the whole ministry and the Body of Christ.
• Being a part of the core prayer council of the ministry.
• Assisting the senior pastor in establishing the prayer council board for their location.
• Working in close relationship with the local pastorate.
• Training the international vice president and all the presidents of the prayer council boards.
• Helping the senior pastorate with the spiritual development of the president.
• Ensuring that the board presidents have a comprehensive understanding of their manuals and the operations of the prayer council and can effectively minister it to the membership.
• Internationally overseeing the spirituality of the boards.
• Being in submission to the pastorate at each location and may conduct transmittals and shut-ins from time to time.
• Overseeing the prayer council responsibilities at all international functions, ensuring that the coordination of the prayer session schedules is submitted to the locations in a timely manner.
• Maintaining contact with MBM Global Conferences prior to as well as during conferences about the prayer session schedules. The International Vice President Will serve in submission to, as an extension of, and under the direction of the International President by:
• Assisting the president in the fulfillment of his/her duties.
• Assuming the duties and responsibilities of the president in his/her absence.
The Local President Is responsible for:
• Working in submission to the senior pastorate and the international president.
• Training the members of the local prayer council board.
• Making certain each member of the board understands the manual, not only the letter thereof, but also the spirit of what is written.
• Helping the senior pastorate with the board members spiritual development.
• Overseeing the board both spiritually and naturally.
• Supporting the local pastorate spiritually.
• Praying regularly with the other leaders of the prayer council.
• Conducting regular shut-ins and transmittals with the board.
The Local Vice President Will serve in submission to, as an extension of, and under the direction of the President by:
• Assisting the president in the fulfillment of his/her duties.
• Assuming the duties and responsibilities of the president in his/her absence.
The Secretary Is responsible for:
• Working in submission to the senior pastorate and the president and vice president of the prayer council.
• Recording and keeping copies of minutes for meetings.
• Keeping records of materials that pertain to the prayer council.
• Maintaining contact with and communicating information to each member of the board.
