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"They're growing!" exclaimed our two youngest children, Rachel and Josiah, as they examined their crops. They picked the seed, prepared the soil and watered the vegetables and flowers in the "pot garden" on our back deck. They created a healthy environment, maintained it on a regular basis, and then trusted God to produce growth. They are now watching the results. Soon we will enjoy the fruit of their co-labor with God.

We need to be reminded of the lessons from the garden. We must cultivate a healthy environment of growth in our churches. We must work intentionally to maintain that environment. And, we must trust God to produce growth. How do we begin to co-labor in the harvest?

As people learn to intercede for one another and the unchurched, their hearts become more sensitive to God's desire to see people saved. Imagine the excitement when someone for whom a large portion of your congregation has been interceding accepts Christ and joins your church family!

James 4:2 reminds us, "You do not have because you do not ask." We could begin by implementing every church program, attending every church growth conference and reading every church growth book. But if we are seeking to cause growth on our own, true growth will not occur. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 16 that He will build His church. We must begin as co-laborers by humbly acknowledging our absolute dependence upon Him. We must also seek to be in constant contact with Him as the Master Builder or none of the church growth methodologies we seek to implement will carry sufficient power to be effective. Our Lord told us in John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."

In this series, I have written concerning our need for intentionality in understanding our purpose, our process and our participation. But scripture tells us our effectiveness will actually be determined by our ability to abide in Him. A primary key to maintaining the John 15 abiding connection is prayer.

This connection must begin with church leadership. How much time do you actually spend in intentional prayer specifically for your Sunday school? How long have you prayed for your workers, members and prospects today? Do not neglect the challenge of Matthew 9:38, "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

Laying the foundation

An environment for growth can be cultivated and maintained when our churches learn to incorporate intentional intercessory and evangelistic prayer into their small group Bible study structure. A church-wide prayer foundation will aid to transform the mindset of the congregation from an inward focus to an outward focus.

Implementing an intentional prayer strategy through your Sunday school will create a healthy spiritual climate in your church and lead to a burden for the unreached. This will make the effectiveness of an outreach process much greater. Participation in personal evangelism training and outreach will be much higher when the membership is passionate and concerned about the spiritually lost in your community. This climate of burden must be developed through a spiritual transformation. As people learn to intercede for one another and the unchurched, their hearts become more sensitive to God's desire to see people saved. Imagine the excitement when someone for whom a large portion of your congregation has been interceding accepts Christ and joins your church family!

Discipleship opportunities

Implementing an intentional prayer strategy through your Sunday school will also create significant discipleship opportunities. Training will not only occur from Bible study about prayer but also through practical prayer experience. Imagine parents and workers participating with preschoolers, children and youth in prayer for their unchurched friends every Sunday. Imagine a class interceding for specific needs in the lives of prospects and members discovered by class prayer leaders making a few simple phone calls. Imagine families praying together in their homes for their neighbors and friends!

In addition, implementing an intentional prayer strategy through your Sunday school will impact the church's corporate prayer life and ministry. Mid-week prayer services and prayer room ministries will be transformed. Intentional, purposeful prayer will attract more participants. Prayer will center on more than health concerns and general needs. Specific, felt need from throughout your community will be lifted before God's throne. Specific answers to prayer will be recognized and celebrated.

Rachel and Josiah cannot wait to smell their flowers and taste their vegetables. They are excited and anticipate wonderful results. How about you? Are you excited about the wonderful results of intentional prayer? Implement a strategy of intentional intercession through your Sunday school. Trust in God for the results and witness your church developing the reputation of being a house of prayer and a church that really cares about people!

See Ewart's previous articles:

The Intentional Sunday School

Church growth strategy should be Sunday school based

Successful Sunday school needs enthusiasm, participation

John H. Ewart is associate vice president of distance education and innovative learning at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.