Pastoral
Transition
Prayer
As we navigate this season of pastoral transition at Pullman Foursquare, we invite you to actively participate in the process through the important work of prayer. Below are 9 themes, each with three days of scripture and prayer to help guide and focus our prayer as a community. Let us know your are praying and share any scriptures or words you receive in prayer with us by clicking the link below.
Prayer Themes
Thankfulness
The Church Family
The Pagels Family
Staff and Council
Unity
Future Pastor
Faith and Hope
Peace
The City
The Campus (WSU)
Thankfulness
Day 1
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all things for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all circumstances.” Father God, we rejoice today and give grateful thanks to You, Oh Lord for all you have done and are doing in and through Pullman Foursquare Church. Even though it is not what we hoped or planned, we believe it you are calling us into a new season. We want to see your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and we believe that You have great plans for our church, for our pastors who are leaving and for the pastor or pastors to come. Thank you that we can trust you to bring good to all of us in the through the process and grant us faith to trust you more. Thank You, Oh God our King. In Jesus name, Amen.
Day 2
Psalm 103:1-2 “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul.” Father GOD, Holy, Holy Holy is your name! We recognize your majesty, glory, and power without holding anything back. We exalt your name on high! For you are righteous, a promise keeper, You are faithful, and merciful beyond our understanding. Oh God, thank you for all your blessings!
Day 3
Acts 13:2-3 “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” Dear LORD, we pray for your servants Jamie and Heidi and their family. We have put all our faith and trust in you GOD. We believe as your word says that you called us by our name for such a time as this. We pray for your mighty protection as the Pagels Family submit themselves to your will. Above all things, guard their hearts from anything that is not from you. Fill them, and all of those around them, with your HOLY SPIRIT. We pray for your peace LORD, to comfort their hearts and we also pray for unity in the body of your church to embrace your will. In your most Holy Name. Amen!
The Church Family
Day 4
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your and lean not on to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” God of the seasons, we cannot see or know the future. As a church we are walking unknown paths and can’t see what’s around the corner. Help us to increasingly fear you, not be afraid of you; to love your glory way more than our comfort. We know you are good and perfect in all of your ways, so, we will trust in your guidance as we navigate this new season, and we will not lean on anything but You Oh Lord. Amen.
Day 5
Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Soon and coming King, you sent disciples on a mission to share your love with everyone they met, and to teach about you. This community is a direct result of their faithful work, and the obedience of thousands of others across time and history. Ignite a new passion for your mission in the world in us as we look forward to new birth as a church and to your soon and sure return. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.
Day 6
Ephesians 4:11-13 “It was he (Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” Providing God, you have placed every gift needed for this community to grow toward maturity right here in this church. In you, we lack nothing. Because of this, we know that your church will survive and thrive! As we search for the right person to lead our community, would you release all of your gifts in this church body? In your overwhelming generosity, fill each of us with your spirit grant us every necessary gift for our common life in you. We ask this in the name of your most generous gift, your son Jesus. Amen.
The Pagels' Family
(Outgoing Pastors)
Day 7
Acts 13:2-3 “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” Father God, You love the Pagels family deeply, and have directed their lives since birth. Now we ask that, as they enter into this new era with excitement and even some anxiety, that You would strengthen and encourage them every step of the way as they move through this next transition of life together with You. We're not so arrogant as to expect all the details. Just take us by the hand and lead the way. Shepherd them, Jesus. Grant them clarity in their next steps and hope that good days are still to come. Amen.
Day 8
James 1:4 “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete and lacking nothing.” God, we thank you for the years of service our pastors have given to this community. We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills with which you have blessed them and us. Now, Father, we place them in your capable hands to continue the work that was begun in them and trust you to complete it so that they become mature, complete and lacking nothing. Amen.
Day 9
Psalm 23:6 “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Father God, we pray a special blessing for Pastor Heidi, Pastor Jamie and Amelia. They have poured their lives into Pullman Foursquare Church. Remind them daily that your goodness is coming after them, and that you are always present. Draw them together in You as they continue in their journey. We ask this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Staff & Council
Day 10
Ephesians 4:4-7 “There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You and give You glory for each and every staff and council member at PFC. They are gifts to us from You. Holy Spirit, help them to draw ever closer to You, and to each other, in unity of grace and hope during this season of transition. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Day 11
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Abba Father, Bless the partnership between the staff and council. May they both learn what your heart is for Pullman Foursquare is and follow Your desires and plans. Fill them with your wisdom and power to lead the congregation through this transition. May peace, love and joy abound in their hearts as they serve the Lord and feed His sheep. Amen.
Day 12
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.” Lord God, we lift all our speakers, volunteers, staff and council at Pullman Foursquare before you. Holy Spirit, continually remind the them of Your nearness, Your patience, Your love, as they support and encourage each other to lean into You as they lead us as a team. Amen.
Unity of the Church
Day 13
Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, I am there with them.” Jesus, in this time of transition and discomfort, my heart can say - “what is the point?” “Why come at all?” Yet you yourself clears said that when we gather in your name, you are with us. As we gather, even now, strengthen the faith, enliven the board, comfort the lonely and forgive the repentant. Place in all of us the fresh desire to be with you and with one another. For it is in your name, Jesus, that we gather, Amen.
Day 14
1 Corinthians 12:4 -6, 12 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all people.” “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.” Father God, bind us together in Your Love. Knit us together as seamlessly and intricately as a human body - each part working with the others as one whole. Remind us again and again that we are each indispensable to the body, and give us the humility to faithfully do our part. Keep us focused on You so that Your purpose is ours. We thank You and praise You for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in Pullman Foursquare. Amen.
Day 15
Ephesians 4:2-3 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Lord it is easy to believe as individuals that we know what is best. Yet it is in community that our rough edges are softened, grace is applied and your voice is discerned. Give us the desire and the ability to listen carefully and patiently to one other and to discern your will for our community; to differentiate between our earthly wishes and God given dreams. And, may we find at the end of the journey that we have been strengthened and bonded together in your love and peace. Amen.
Future Pastors (In-Coming
Day 16
1 Timothy 3:1-7 “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap,” O Lord, You have in mind the sort of person it will take to faithfully lead your people. It is a high bar and a high standard; one that might feel like a weight. We ask that you would strengthen the soul of our new pastor, give them the grace both to become all you intend and also to be human. We ask that you would protect them from the traps of false motivation and the pride that comes from the platform. Help us to have right expectations of them, and hearts ready to receive them as they come. Amen.
Day 17
John 15:16-17 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” Father God it is your love that holds us, changes us, keeps us and renews us each day. Holy Spirit move in all of us to stay fully present in You. Lord Jesus, it is you that is calling a new pastor to your church - not the council, not the district team. We believe that even before any of us knew it, you are preparing and equipping him or her to be our Pastor. We trust in you and your plans for all that is good and for your glory. Amen.
Day 18
Jeremiah 3:15 “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.” God, you alone are our good Shepherd. But, in your wisdom you have given us under-shepherds to lead your people with knowledge and understanding. So we ask for you to send us a Pastor full not just of knowledge, but understanding, a person who pursues Your heart for our community and our city. May he or she’s servanthood never be for selfish gain but only for your glory. Amen.
Day 19
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law.” Jesus, we ask for a pastor or pastors who’s lives are full of the fruit of the work of your Spirit. May they not just bring skills, but also those qualities that are sculpted by life lived in your presence. We pray that they would be full of love and that joy would pour out of them. We pray for patience with us and with themselves. We ask that kindness would mark their interactions and that goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control would be evident in their lives. And, we ask also that the Spirit would release these same said gifts here in each of us also. For your Names sake, Amen.
Day 20
Psalm 25:4-7 “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Father God, there is no one else, no other thing, that we desire more than You. So, we ask that the person you send would be a person that seeks your face and who’s only hope is in you. We ask that you would show them your love for this church and this city. Help them to place their hope and trust in You every day. Holy Spirit, reveal to them Your paths. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Day 21
Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight. O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Faithful God, we ask for a pastor who wants to please you in all that they do; a soft and reflective heart, ready to listen to you on our behalf. May his or her words and thoughts like your words and thoughts. We ask this knowing that as a human, they will fall short of that mark sometimes, just like we all do, so we also pray that, when they do, we would be able to give him or her the grace that we would have extended to us. May our church community be a space of grace for our pastors as well as every person who calls this home. Amen.
Faith, Hope, and Peace
Day 22
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Father God build our faith as individuals and as a church! Make us aware of who You are. Build our faith so that we totally trust You and believe You in all situations, but especially as we wait for the Pastor you are calling! You Oh Lord are our Strength and our Salvation! You alone are our Mighty God! In Jesus Name and by His Precious Blood. Amen.
Day 23
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." God of hope, it is easy to be filled with anxiety, fear and hopelessness as we face the unknown future. Yet, in believing in you we have been filled with your Holy Spirit and power! We ask that you would fill us again, so that our cup runs over and over! Fill us with joy in you; with the peace of your presence and may we abound with hope. May we be a people of hope, joy and peace while we patiently wait for the future you have prepared for this community to become clear. In the name of Jesus, our hope, Amen.
Day 24
Matthew 16:17-18 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Jesus, you promised Simon Peter and the disciples that you would build your church. It is not the responsibility of leaders, pastors, council members or even church members. It is you and you alone who build the church. So we ask you now to build your church to not just survive, but to thrives! Because if you build it, not even the gates of hell itself can overcome it. Help us to trust that you are building your church, even if we can’t see it now and to wait patiently as you take the time to craft a church that will stand before you one day as a pure and spotless bride. We confidently confess that you alone are our savior and submit ourselves to you as the master builder. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The City
Day 25
Psalm 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” A prayer for unity among believers: God of unity and oneness, we recognize that we live in a competitive culture, and that we have allowed this competitiveness to seep into the Church. We have divided over theological ideas, ways of worshiping you, mission statements and more. We have allowed our differences to define us rather than our common confession of you. We pray for the pastors and churches of Pullman and ask that ethnic, cultural and denominational walls would fall down in your name and that Pastors could love each other, pray together and serve each other; that they could together build your kingdom here in Pullman. Amen
Day 26
Matthew 9:37–38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Lord of the harvest! We see that seeds have been planted in lives across our city and that the fields are ready to be harvested. So, we ask you to send workers for the harvest. We ask for a pastor who is ready to work the fields here in Pullman in the unique way you have called her or him. And, Lord we pray for open and soft hearts, people quick to turn toward you. Give us all eyes to see your planting and harvesting, and hands ready to join in your work. With anticipation and excitement, we ask these things, Amen.
Day 27
Jeremiah 29:7 “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Lord, our city is struggling! Business is slow, the university enrollment is down, public schools are underfunded. The business we have loved in this town are closing and it feels like we are edging toward hard times. Yet, you have planted us here. You have set this community right down town! So Lord, we ask for a blessing over Pullman, we pray that good things will happen here by your power and for your glory. And we ask that you would position this church to meet the needs of the people and to be a blessing to the city as we continue to worship you in this place. In the name of our great provider, Jesus we pray. Amen.
The University
Day 28
Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God of peace, the university is an anxious and lonely place. We see students snuggling with emotional and mental challenges that often go unseen and uncared for. We pray that you would use us to bring peace to the anxious hearts; that you would draw hurting students to you in this community and that we may be apart of your healing work. We ask that a spirit of peace would descend on the Washington State University Campus and that you would guard these students hearts and minds. In the name of Jesus, who is our peace, Amen.
Day 29
Colossians 2:6-7 "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Father, we have seen over and over again, students who have grown up in churches and youth groups come to college here and walk away from you. They lose sight of you in all the fun and business of college life. We ask, Jesus, that we would become a place where students can find a faith of their own, be rooted and built up in you, be strengthened in their faith and overflowing with thankfulness. In Jesus name, Amen.
Day 30
Ezekiel 34:16 “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak.” Searching God, we know we are never very far from the lost and hurting. All any of us needs to know is that you love us and that you're with us. You've promised us both, and you do not lie. We ask that you would meet students on our campus right where they are and in surprising ways. Keep turning everything upside down and right side up! Write stories of redemption beyond our wildest dreams and hopes. May we see the lost found and, as we do, rejoice with you in the finding. Amen.