To the Thousands of Disciples Praying - Thank You!

Every Monday at noon a small group of people at Disciples Christian Church in Bartlesville, Okla. meets to pray. They pray for the needs of the community and the world - and they write notes to those for whom they have prayed. The scene is repeated here and there around the church. Untold comfort and encouragement is received as those notes are opened and read.

The actions of that small prayer group in Bartlesville, where I formerly served as pastor, are representative of the individual prayers and prayer support groups taking place throughout our Church. At the time of this writing, more than 6,000 of you have agreed to join in daily prayer through 10,000 Disciples Praying. I am overjoyed that so many people have agreed to pray daily for the church and for its leadership. Through prayer, we can accomplish many powerful things, and reach a better understanding of our common mission: "to be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps - to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

In a way, the number of those who have become part of 10,000 Disciples Praying is irrelevant, of course. But attaching a number gives us a sense of being involved in something larger than ourselves. It encourages people to join in. It helps people feel part of a community.

What is more important than the number is knowing that there is a group of Disciples who are joining hearts and minds and seeking the direction God has for our Church. I know that daily prayer for the Church is nothing new for many of you. However, reading the growing number of those becoming part of 10,000 Disciples Praying is for me, like receiving the note from the prayer group. It says, "We are praying for you. We are praying God's guidance for all of us as we seek to be faithful to our calling to be and to share the good news of Jesus Christ."

I celebrate that more than 6,000 people who care deeply about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have made known their daily covenant of prayer in less than two months. I await with anticipation the thousands more who will join this effort to more deeply ground our life together in prayer.

God bless you!

Sharon Watkins
General Minister and President