Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church and executive producer of the Georgia congregation’s runaway hit films
Facing the Giants and
Fireproof, is often asked why God has blessed their efforts in such a remarkable way. His answer is simple: “We have a praying church that is walking in unity. We pray over every ministry and every decision.”
The Power of Persistence is Catt’s invitation to a prayer-without-ceasing way of life. Stories from Scripture and personal ministry experiences attest to the prophetic and profitable work of prayer. Engaging chapters on prayers of penitence, learning from the Psalmist, praying for children, the lost, and in response to spiritual warfare guide us to a breakthrough level of communication with the God who is eager to hear our cries and accomplish His work through us.
What motivated or led you to write The Power of Persistence?
I was greatly influenced on the importance of prayer during the days of the Jesus movement. Our youth group had prayer meetings every night of the week during the summer and two nights a week during school weeks. That prayer meeting grew from a handful to several hundred at it's peak. We saw things only God could do during those days.
I was also influenced by Don Miller, a southern Baptist pastor and teacher who has given his life to teaching churches on prayer. I met Don when I was on staff at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. In both churches I've served, he has helped us launch our 24/7 intercessory prayer ministry which is the backbone of all we do as a church.
If you asked me to explain the key to Sherwood's success, I would have to say the Prayer Ministry is front and center to all we do. From praying over every aspect of Sherwood Pictures to praying over our ReFresh Conferences and ongoing ministries, prayer is the life blood of our church.
Too many churches are prayerless or they only pray in crisis. For us to see the church move forward, we have to learn to move forward on our knees.
What do you want your readers to learn and/or experience from reading your
book?
I hope they are encouraged to pray more. I hope that pastors and laity will sense the need to return to prayer. It's essential not optional if we want power from on high. The disciples didn't ask Jesus to teach them how to witness, heal or preach. They asked Him to teach them how to pray.
In these days of uncertainty, we must learn to bombard heaven. We must lay hold of God and not let go until we see Him move. We can't orchestrate what God wants to do, we have to pray it down.
There are many great books on prayer out there now. I own probably fifty books on prayer. My goal is to help folks understand that prayer is not the last resort, it's the first option. It's not something we have to do, it's something we should long to do. I've never met anyone who prayed too much!
What's one thing you would like to tell your readers before they read The Power of Persistence?
Be ready for God to speak to you. In writing this book, God spoke to me about where my prayer life is as opposed to where it could be. All of us are on a journey. All of us are learning. One thing we have to overcome is our idea that God is reluctant to hear us and answer our prayers. We also have to get over our standard prayers and learn to start praying. By that, I mean, we've got to move beyond the "bless me, my four and no more" kind of praying.
If we are going to be effective as believers and as churches, we have to move into the realm of intercession. We must not only learn how to talk to God, we need to learn to listen. Prayer is a two way conversation.
I pray that the readers will pray, "Lord, speak to me" as they read this book. If it encourages one person, one church to raise the level of their praying or to establish a prayer ministry, it will be worth it.
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