PRAYING TOGETHER again
This week I have re-read a book that I published in 2002 named PRAYING TOGETHER. The book told true stories about 22 ways people pray together in local churches prayer ministries. I had not read it since it was published, being so tired of proofreading that I felt content to never see it again. But recently I have discovered in poking around on the internet that the book is still in use. I found it in a reading list for a Walk to Emmaus group in Hong Kong. That reference noted that it is out of print, but still available from Amazon. A second reference was a lengthy quote in the newsletter of a Presbyterian church, I think in Pennsylvania. I concluded that if it is still proving useful, perhaps I should read it again and consider re-publishing it with a new publisher. So I read it this week, and liked it much better than back in 2002. Some of the stories moved me to tears. I couldn’t believe it! Some of it is startlingly out of date – especially two chapters on use of media for sharing prayer. A lot has happened in that field in 12 years. A complete re-write is in order! New research is on my agenda. If anyone knows anyone who is “praying together” with other people via social media, I would deeply appreciate hearing about it. Are any updated versions of the time-honored telephone prayer chain around? I don’t know of any other resource for churches interested in developing prayer ministries that feature multiple options. This book has chapters about 22 different settings where people regularly pray together. Good book, if I do say so myself. I am looking forward to this new project.