By Pastor Josh Shaffer

Here at Central, we firmly believe that prayer and spiritual thoughtfulness should undergird all we do. Throughout history, in every revival, we find a dedicated remnant of the church has shown a strong commitment to prayer, often serving as the catalyst for Spiritual awakening within those movements.

In November of 2021, during a lunch with Pastor Rick DuBose, I asked him to describe one of the most impactful actions he had taken over his course of ministry. Without hesitation, his response was, “We started a prayer meeting.” He described how a group gathered on Saturday nights to pray throughout the sanctuary, holding his sermon notes, pray prophetically for the ministry ahead, and interceding for those who would attend the next day's service. I left that meeting knowing that my personal prayer life needed to go to the next level, but also the prayer life of our church.

After sharing this conviction with our leadership, in January of 2022 we initiated a weekly hour-long prayer session on Tuesdays from Noon to 1 pm in the sanctuary. The group started small but we began to feel and sense something changing. There was a palpable increase in God’s presence in our services, leading to testimonies of healing and answered prayers. Our monthly Night of Worship and Prayer began to grow both in number and spiritual depth. Deeper relationships were fostering and spiritual hunger was growing in our congregation. I knew that prayer wasn’t the only factor, but a significant one in what was taking place.

As we move forward, we continue to witness God's hand at work. Our Tuesday prayer group has tripled in size, and we’ve added additional prayer gatherings that have further enriched our spiritual atmosphere, fostering unity among staff and congregation. One of those groups meets Wednesdays from 6:00-6:45pm in Room 125 to pray for our church family, pastors, ministries, and community needs. And beginning on March 7 from 6:30-7:30am in the Chapel, we will start a new group that meets weekly to pray for our Global Footprint at Central, including local, global, and generational aspects. We have over 220 supported missionaries that are taking the Gospel around the world, and countless ways we are sharing the gospel right here at home, so join us as we intercede for those efforts.

As we embark on a new year, I urge you to deepen your personal prayer journey and consider joining us for one or more of these weekly prayer gatherings. Reflecting on the story in 2 Kings 3, where three kings, united for battle, faced a critical shortage of water, they sought guidance from Lord through the prophet Elisha. In response, Elisha instructed them to dig ditches throughout the valley, preparing for the imminent provision of water by God's hand.

Likewise, in our lives, through fervent prayer, we prepare the ground for God's blessings, even when we cannot yet discern His plans. Just as the ditches were dug in faith before God’s provision, our prayers pave the way for His promises to be fulfilled in His perfect timing, regardless of whether we see immediate evidence of His work.

So, let us persevere in prayer, trusting in God's faithfulness and eagerly anticipating the outpouring of His blessings upon us and our community. Join us as we seek His guidance and grace together, knowing that our prayers are laying the groundwork for His mighty deeds in our midst.

You’re welcome to just arrive and join any of the three prayer groups mentioned in bold above. However, if you’d like more information, click here to contact Pastor Josh Shaffer with any questions!