I saw the advertisement for Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry for the first time in the PRAY! Magazine. Being a fervent lover of prayer, I knew it was a book I wanted to have on my shelf. When my copy was in my hands, I knew it would be one of those books that would support and be a foundational work to the other books on the subject of prayer already on my shelf.
It is, as Dan R. Crawford’s title suggests, a compilation of many of today’s top leaders from around the country on the subject of prayer. It touches on every aspect and angle of prayer known to humankind. Because of that Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry will become - as the contributors had hoped - a well loved and respected resource and text book for Christian ministers, veteran prayer warriors as well as beginners wanting to learn how to pray.
The book was birthed in the hearts of leaders of the Harvest Prayer Ministries and the Church Prayer Leaders Network. They wished to design a book that could be a resource for lay people, those in para-church and church ministries, and also for those being trained to be church leaders in our nation’s Bible schools and seminaries.
Giving Ourselves to Prayer is a text-book, and a reference book. It is a book to read straight through, or in snatches as the need for sound and practical teaching on a certain aspect of prayer arises.
The chapters are short and very readable. They are from the hearts and pens of men and women who are in the trenches of the battle. The sections contained in the book are: The Theological Foundation of Prayer; The Personal Passion for Prayer; The Corporate Expression of Prayer; The Global Impact of Prayer – 80 chapters in all!
What an amazing project to have conceived and birthed! The underlying goal that binds these people together is their desire to “pray more effectively and to lead others to do the same”, as the compiler, Dan R. Crawford states in his introduction.
The beauty of the contributors is that they are from many different denominations, disciplines and backgrounds. I find that so valuable to help me to keep growing in my own life of prayer. We can all be enriched by being exposed to the many different perspectives of approaching God that are represented in the body of Christ.
As a teacher, preacher and ministry leader, I am thrilled to have this book at my disposal. I encourage you to consider this book for your home library, and your church library. It will become a staple resource for ministries and schools for years to come. Thank you for bringing it to us, PrayerShop Publishing! Well done!
Reviewed by Joan Tyvoll
