I'M NOT interested in attending the annual Week of Prayer, because it is so dry and uninteresting. The week is ill planned, or not planned at all. Often the reader does a poor job of reading. The intermittent comments made as the articles are being read are usually impromptu, long, and sometimes boring. I would much rather read the Week of Prayer readings at home." This was a comment that one member made some years ago. Unfortunately, similar statements have been heard by many pastors in all parts of the country.
A more disturbing attitude than this is revealed by the absence of so many from the Week of Prayer services. They make no adverse comment. They merely stay away.
In some of the larger churches only a very small fraction of the membership ever attends the Week, of Prayer. This in itself is a mute testimony to a sad lack of interest. What should be a spiritual high light in the church year has become, in many instances, no more than a routine spiritual exercise perfunctorily conducted for the sake of the faithful few.
The Week of Prayer was originally designed to be a source of great spiritual inspiration and help to our people. It is the one time of the year when our churches throughout the world unite in a common quest for spiritual refreshment. As we near the coming of the Lord this should become increasingly necessary.
What can be done to enhance the value of this great week to our people? One answer is the Week of Prayer revival. I have used this plan for a decade and its merits have been proved. A successful Week of Prayer is the result of early planning. The Week of Prayer revival consists of two parts, the reading service and the revival service. Early in the spring of the year arrangements are made for a revivalist to conduct meetings every night during the Week of Prayer. He is requested to prepare sermons that will meet the spiritual needs of the church. The pastor can offer valuable help to him by outlining some of the specific spiritual needs of his congregation.
In the event that the services of a revivalist cannot be arranged, pastors of neighboring districts or churches may wish to assist one another. While one pastor makes all the arrangements in his church for the successful planning and publicity of the revival, the other pastor can plan the series of revival sermons to be given in that church. The next week this can be reversed. Thus by scheduling the Week of Prayer in one church one week and in the other the next, the plan can be carried out very successfully.
The advanced plans need not be elaborate. Publicity in the church bulletin, from the pulpit, or through a pastoral letter several weeks in advance is ample. In some instances one may wish to prepare a handbill for distribution in the neighborhood, inviting friends of the church to share in this spiritual feast.
The services are conducted every night Sunday through Friday and on both Sabbaths. The congregation is invited to attend the reading service which begins at 7:15 and continues until 7:55. Either the pastor or local elders with excellent reading ability are assigned the task of reading the articles in the Review and Herald Week of Prayer issue. These are assigned well enough in advance so that they will be prepared to read interestingly. They are read without comment. At the close of the reading a few comments may be made to lead the congregation into a season of prayer for their own needs, for the needs of others, and for the success of the revival. Not only will the "faithful few" attend, but other church members will join them. This meeting is usually held in a smaller room or auditorium of the church.
The revival service is conducted in the main sanctuary at eight o'clock. Fifteen minutes before it begins, soft music, either recorded or live, is begun. There are some who will be coming early to the revival who come too late for the reading service. Among them will be friends from the neighborhood. To have the sanctuary warm, well lighted, and flooded with music makes it more appealing.
The ministers come onto the rostrum at eight o'clock sharp. A brief song service precedes the speaking. The provision of vocal and instrumental musical selections enhances the service. There is no need for many announcements, with the exception of the next night's program.
Since the Week of Prayer runs from Sabbath to Sabbath, it is best if your Week of Prayer speaker can plan to take both Sabbath morning worship services. The final Sabbath service will give him greater opportunity to bring his meetings to a fitting climax.
In the event that the speaker cannot be present for the Sabbaths of the Week of Prayer, the pastor can take these services. However, a reading of the Review and Herald will be less effective than giving sermons based on the Sabbath readings. This takes a great deal of time and is much more difficult than reading what another has written. It is possible, however, to maintain the ideas of the writer of the article and yet give a sermon extemporaneously. It will be found that a large percentage of the congregation will appreciate this method. Visitors will greatly appreciate it. Not many people, either in or outside of your congregation, enjoy listening to a read discourse. A few may not be sympathetic with the revival plan, but the majority will give it approval wholeheartedly.
What can be expected from following the Week of Prayer revival plan? To begin with, you will help many more members of your congregation during the Week of Prayer. You will not only help those who are willing to listen to the reading but you will help a large number of others who would not come to hear an article read. They will be present at the revival service which follows. It will become a time of great spiritual refreshment for your congregation. It will increase the faith of the faithful. It will help reclaim backsliders. It will heighten the spiritual tone of your church and increase its bond of unity. It will also help some on "the verge of the kingdom" to take their stand for Christ, and unite with His church.
The Week of Prayer has proved to be a great blessing to many of our members across the years. Its influence can be greatly widened by using the Week of Prayer revival plan. Why not give it a try?
