Your Special Assignment
All of us have benefited from the love of Jesus. We are better off with Jesus than we were without Him and look forward to eternity with Him. Second, all of us know people who have yet to be touched by His love. While abiding in Christ's love and sharing that love with our neighbors, relatives, friends and associates, we can be obedient to the great commandment and lead our friends to a more purposeful life. The Prayer Card process is designed to help you.
We've all been given a special assignment (or mission) by Jesus.
It comes from Mathew 28: 19-20 and is often referred to as the "Great Commission." That commission, to help others see Jesus for who He is and to help them follow His teachings. This is ultimately the purpose for Iasis's existence. Iasis has gone so far as to reduce its vision to an acronym, STREETWISE, Spiritual Transformation Results in Edification & Equipping To Witness In your Social Environment.
Face the fact - we are all witnesses to our family, friends, neighbors, fellow workers and even acquaintances. The Prayer Card process is merely a method to help us accomplish the assignment in an effective way. However, as in any assignment it requires action on our part. The Prayer Card process has 3-steps that occur over 9 months starting in September. The process doesn't have to follow the timeline Iasis lays out, but likely the 3-steps are necessary for us to be effective witnesses.
Step One: Pray.
- Before we go to people about God, we must go to God about the people. "Ask and you will receive"
- Choose people from your environment for the Lord to touch and then pray for them daily.
- If you don't pray daily consider starting, before you get out of bed, before you go to sleep, turn off the radio on your drive to work. Think of a time during your day you could squeeze God in. Trust God. You will be glad you did because He will bless you for it.
- If you don't know of anyone that would benefit from the knowledge of Jesus, then ask God to give you names. They will come! He may give you names of Christians who have fallen away.
- Toward the end of this step, two Prayer Cards will be passed out. Write the names of the people God has put in your heart. We hope that God has given you at least 10 people, but if it is only one then that is your assignment. Turn one Prayer Card into the offering basket and keep one for yourself and pray for the people on your list daily.
Step Two: Seek.
"Love your neighbor as yourself"
- Make contact with the people on your list for casual and friendly association.
- Just love on them, accept them for who they are, don't even bring up the subject of God unless they do. This is a time to bond. Go have some fun!
- Attend a sporting event or go out to dinner
Step Three: Ask.
"Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are ripe for harvest"
- Present the people on your list an opportunity to meet Jesus.
- Share to Gospel message.
- Invite them to Iasis on special "friend" days. (If you are insecure about sharing God on your own, this is a good option.)