The Praying Church Handbook--Volume II--Personal: Personal and Family Prayer

This handbook is a collection of substantive reflections on prayer. Contributors include global and national leaders, as well as Church of God authors, leaders and intercessors. The completed set includes 4 volumes: Volume I—Foundations; Volume III—The Pastor and the Congregation; Volume IV—Intercessory Prayer and Missions to be released in 2016. The chapters are sprinkled with prayer quotes, and interjected with prayer vignettes. Each chapter is introduced with an historic note or prayer story. The book is contemporary, relevant, addressing cutting edge issues—contextualizing prayer, prophetic and priestly intercession, spiritual mapping, unreached peoples and prayer, a history of prayer including a special focus on the family and prayer, fathers and prayer. Volume II includes topics such as: Prayer—the Key to Intimacy with God; Humility and Prayer; Living in the Presence of God; The Bible as a Prayer Book; Creating a Personal Prayer Room; Prayer and Fasting; History of the Family Altar; Power of a Father's Faith; Praying for the Salvation of your Children; The Missional Family. It is a relevant book, one that will help you build a strong foundation for the future, without forgetting the past.

P. Douglas Small is a Bible teacher—that is the love of his life. He has served as a pastor and on the faculty of a number of accredited Bible Colleges, but his focus for twenty-five years has been teaching and training in pastor’s events, conferences and schools. He is an Ordained Bishop. And he is the founding president of Alive Ministries. He conducts schools of prayer and consultations for cities wanting to engage in a ‘decade of destiny’, working with pastors, vocational Christians and intercessors. Doug is married to Barbara Ruth with whom he shares five children and seventeen grandchildren. Dr. Williams is the General Overseer of the Church God. He comes to the office of general overseer with a rich heritage and loyalty to the Church of God. Born in Lubbock, Texas in 1963 to W.F. (Bill) and Rose Marie Williams, he is third generation Church of God. His father and maternal grandfather were both Church of God ministers. Saved in Iowa Park, Texas at the age of seven, Mark has been on a path to ministry ever since, even though he did not receive his “call” to ministry until he was a student at Lee in 1984. First enrolling at the University of Denver in 1982, he transferred to the Church of God college in 1983, eventually receiving a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. His commitment to the total package of Church of God education continued in his graduate and post-graduate work at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Besides being well equipped, his youthfulness brings a new level of energy to the highest office in the denomination that includes almost 40,000 congregations. Prior to his election to the International General Executive Committee, and subsequently to the office of General Overseer, he had served as an evangelist, as pastor, and as an Administrative Bishop of California. Joann M. Garzarella ministers at Abundant Life Church of God in Freehold, NJ as a member of the Pastoral Staff under the leadership of Chris A. Fraley, Senior Pastor. Joann serves as Prayer Coordinator, Director of Christian Education, a Leader of Discipleship Training, Open Share Group Leader for Women’s Mixed Issues (spiritual, emotional, relational) in Celebrate Recovery, and Church Administrator, as well as a Prayer Leader for NJ COG. She has previous corporate, small business, and consulting experience and masters degrees from two major universities. But it is her personal relationship with the Lord that she values most. She views prayer as a primary ministry through which needs are met, God’s purposes fulfilled, and relationships with Him enriched. She believes prayer is one of, and most often the most, powerful act of service we can perform as well as the most loving and important thing we can do for ourselves or anyone else. Joann is married and has two precious children whom she keeps in her daily prayers, trusting God to bring forth His will and purposes in and through their lives. Dr. Lee began his education ministry by serving Southeastern University as instructor, then as assistant professor of Bible and theology. He obtained a doctoral degree at Emory University and planted a new congregation in Atlanta. He also served as the Atlanta Sectional Presbyter and as Secretary of the Georgia District of the Assemblies of God. Later, Dr. Lee returned to Southeastern to serve as Vice President for Academic Affairs and assisted in leading the school to accreditation. He also served as Academic Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, where he was Professor of Pastoral Theology and Spiritual Formation. After retirement, he was honored with the title Academic Dean Emeritus. He has served on numerous General Council boards and committees, and continues to serve as Chair of the Assemblies of God Commission on Doctrinal Purity. He is widely published in various denominational books, journals, magazines, and other media. Ron Auch is an author, pastor, and teacher. He founded Pray-Tell Ministries in 1981 and has taught on the subject of prayer holding conferences around the world. In 1999 he planted the church he now shepherds, Prayer House Assembly of God. Follow his blog at prayermedication.blogspot.com. Ron is available for conferences and prayer workshops. Carletta Douglas is a pastor’s wife, mother, grandmother and prayer leader. In these roles Carletta knows that prayer is vital to the good health of the family, church, community and world. Carletta has a heart for prayer that is infectious. She spends a significant daily time in her prayer room and writes with passion about a personal prayer room in her chapter. Her at home prayer led her to become involved in interdenominational prayer groups in Winchester, Kentucky. From this local involvement Carletta has launched a prayer ministry for Church of God women in the state of Kentucky called Anna’s Cry. Anna’s Cry focuses on Church of God leadership and state ministry events, pastors and churches. Carletta and David, her husband, are serving as coordinators for the Kentucky Church of God Prayer Commission in Kentucky. She enjoys the opportunity to teach and speak about prayer that equips and propels people forward in their personal prayer life and the church to become a house of prayer. Carletta believes a diligent prayer life is a must for a victorious Christian life. Kathy is a vibrant and anointed speaker who has been preaching the Word of God for over 40 years. Her passion to see the Body of Christ operating in freedom and wholeness of heart is only surpassed by her love for the Lord and His tangible presence. Her heart of compassion for the hurting and needy birthed The Father’s Heart and Hands Ministry. Through this ministry, God is meeting people’s emotional, physical and spiritual needs. Her fiery passion is contagious and will create a spark in your heart to live in the fullness of who God has called you to be for the Kingdom and experience Heaven on Earth for you personally. Kathy is married to Bishop Randy Hamon. Together they served congregations throughout Minnesota through Randy’s role as the Church of God Administrative Bishop for the state, for more than two decades. Bill’s unique blend of Christian commitment and communications insight was at the heart of his success. His Four Spiritual Laws booklet—a four-point outline written by Bill in 1956 on how to establish a personal relationship with Jesus—has been printed in more than 200 languages. Although religious tracts have been published for centuries, Bill’s booklet has become what is considered to be the most widely disseminated religious booklet in history, with more than 2.5 billion booklets distributed to date. Bill effectively employed other communications vehicles over the years as well, including books (he authored more than 100 books and booklets), television and radio, the Internet, billboards, phone banks, movies, videos, and international training conferences reaching hundreds of millions. Bill was considered a major catalyst for the modern-day resurgence of the disciplines of fasting and prayer in the Christian church. In 1996, Bill was presented with the prestigious Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, for his work with fasting and prayer. Worth more than $1 million, the Templeton Prize is the world’s largest financial annual award. Bill donated all of his prize money to causes promoting the spiritual benefits of fasting and prayer. Bill also co-founded, with Dr. James Davis, the Global Pastors Network, an Internet-based training center at www.globalpastorsnetwork.org, designed to equip pastors and ministers worldwide with interactive resources, events, and networking opportunities. Bill Bright died in 2003, from complications related to pulmonary fibrosis, at the age of 81. Ester Calderon is a graduate of Lee University. She serves as the Prayer Pastor of the Cooper City Church of God, and leads the Prayer Force in that formidable congregation. She also serves South Florida as the Prayer Coordinator for Church of God congregations. She is moving toward mentoring relationships with prayer leaders throughout her region. Ester graduated with two degrees from Lee University, is married to Marco Calderon, and has two children –Marco and Gabriel. Dr. Hubert L. Seals is Associate Pastor at the prestigious North Cleveland Church of God located in Cleveland, Tennessee. His primary focus is couples and family ministry and Christian education. The North Cleveland church is reputed as being the oldest continuing Pentecostal church in America and is the mother church of the Church of God denomination. Dr. Seals has just completed his 32nd year of ministry with this congregation. Dr. Seals is also a part-time instructor at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, where he has shared his passion for Christian education and family ministry for over twentyfive years. Dr. Seals is also called upon frequently to conduct weekend couples and parenting conferences and teacher training seminars on the local, state and national levels. He is author of two books entitled Spiritual Renewal in Your Family and Family Ministry Frameworks. He has also written numerous articles for magazines and other publications. Dr. Seals received his B.A. from Lee University, his M.A. and M. Div. From Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio, and his D. Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He has also completed certification training with the Association for Couples and Marriage Enrichment (A.C.M.E.), Intimate Life Ministries Advanced Training, Life Innovations (Pre-Marital and Marital Counseling) and Marriage Savers (Mentor Training). Along with his wife Kathryn, the vision and passion of Dr. Seals’ heart is to help strengthen marriages, equip parents and build strong families at the North Cleveland Church of God and in the body of Christ. Hubert and Kathryn have three children, who are all active in ministry, and seven grandchildren. Debbie Salter Goodwin has made ministry to children and families a focus in her writing and speaking. She is the author of Raising Kids to Extraordinary Faith, The Praying Parent, Empowering Your Child Who Has Special Needs, and six children’s drama resources. She lives in Beaverton, Oregon, with her husband, Mark, who is senior pastor of Portland First Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Mark grew up in a pastor’s home and began preaching at a young age. He has a heart for prayer, revival, and other pastors, and he is involved in the prayer movement in his city and state both within his denomination and beyond it. He counts as one of his greatest blessings the fact that he has witnessed strong moves of the Spirit among the youth of the churches he has served. He and his wife, Jennifer, are blessed with two teen-age daughters. He serves as a Senior Pastor in the London/Corbin area in Southeastern Kentucky.