God Moving At Maranatha

Praying for You

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  (James 5:14)

One of the responsibilities of the elders is to pray for the spiritual and physical needs of the congregation.  Because Maranatha’s elders take this responsibility seriously, they have dedicated the last Wednesday of each month for the next three months to praying for individuals and families in the church who want prayer.

The elders, joined by the pastor and several of our intercessors, will travel in groups of three to the homes of our members who have needs.  They will listen to the members' concerns, offer to anoint them with oil, and then pray for them.

The elders will start by visiting those members of the congregation who have the most debilitating conditions.  (Rennie VanderWal, the leader of our Pastoral Care Team, is extending Council’s invitation to everyone on her pastoral care list.)  Once they have prayed for the congregation’s sickest, they will spend the remaining evenings praying for anyone else who would welcome a visit.

This initiative on the part of the elders says two important things about our church.  First, it says we are committed to being a church that “loves one another sincerely,” as our vision statement declares.  Second, it says that we are a community in which the Spirit of God dwells—not just a club or human organization.  We believe that God’s Spirit moves among us!

Do we expect everyone who receives prayer to be healed?  Yes and no.  The Apostle Paul, who was used of God to heal so many, also experienced disappointments (see 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Timothy 4:20).  We have to be prepared that God, for His own perfect purposes, may not grant physical healing in answer to our prayers.

At the same time, we believe that God always hears us when we pray and that He works through our prayers, even if we cannot immediately see how.  In this sense, our prayers are always healing.  That healing may come in the form of a deepened reliance on God, or it may come in the form of a deepened love for Him and for one another.  But God will use all of our prayers as He moves history toward the Day when full healing will come. 

If you would like the elders to pray for you, don’t hesitate to contact Rennie VanderWal 613-403-7781.  –Pastor Tom