George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilization, once commented, “The lack of prayer is the greatest scandal in the church today. It is a greater scandal than the disunity, the immorality, (and) the lack of love.”

What a poignant, accurate and descriptive remark.

This I know to be true: if there is little prayer in our churches and amongst God’s people, if prayer is seen as a preliminary courtesy before we get to the “real work” of planning and being the church, if prayer is not seen as the lifeblood of the church; then you can bet that there is a spirit of self-sufficiency rather than a spirit of desperation and dependence.

Prayer is the real work of Christians because without it we show a spirit of pride, self-righteousness, and self-sufficiency. Basically, everything Jesus detests.

To that end, I hope that you would take a moment and respond the greatest scandal in the Church today and join me in praying for Winchester and Clark County in these specific areas:

Father, we pray for the children in our area. With everything within us, we cry out to you Jesus, for your protection and influence upon our children. May they come to know your powerful love and become great men and women of God who do great things for you.

Father, we specifically pray for the men in our community that they would step into their role as the spiritual leader of their homes and serve, love and care for their families. Forgive us because we have too many spiritual orphans and widows because men have neglected to follow you.

Father, we pray for our public servants. We thank you for their ongoing sacrifice to this community. May you keep them safe, both day and night, as they serve and protect us. Watch over them and guide their steps.

Father, we pray for the elderly. May they not feel forgotten or abandoned in this season of their lives. Lord, we ask that you would grant them a greater awareness of your love and presence that they might never feel alone.

Father, we pray for our teachers (both public and homeschool). Holy Spirit, give them the strength and insight as they do the important work of building up the next generation. We are so thankful for all they do behind the scenes and we ask that you give them energy and patience as they finish the school year.

Father, we pray for our farmers. May the weather be suitable for a great harvest. Grant them the strength for the work that must be done from dawn to dusk.

Father, we pray for revival upon our gospel-centered churches. May you flood our churches with people hungry and eager to learn about you. May you protect our pastors and those in leadership and guide them from illicit and implicit dangers. We pray for the people of our churches that they might be gripped by your relentless and sacrificial love.

Father, we pray for those who are struggling to hear from you. Those who feel distant from you. I am reminded of another time when the heavens seemed to be silent, and that was when our Savior was hung on a cross. Though some may feel distant and are struggling to hear from you, may they be reminded that the price of our spiritual freedom was paid in silence. Perhaps their silence is the soil for a greater work.

Thank you for taking the time to pray over each of these vital areas in our city and respond to the greatest scandal in our church today.

Tony Stang is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church Winchester. He can be reached at tony_stang@yahoo.com.