Prayer Shield How to Intercede for Pastors, Christian Leaders, and Others on the Spiritual Frontlines

Rating:
Summary: Seminal Book on Personal Intercession
Review: A seminal book on personal intercession. I've used Prayer Shield as a textbook, and I've sent copies to several ministers to help them initiate prayer support for their own ministry.

The concept of intercession being one of the gifts of the Spirit is ground breaking. Wagner's treatise on the different functions of intercession is vital for any serious prayer ministry.

The bottom line of this book is if a pastor fails in ministry the congregation needs only to look at their amount (or lack) of prayer support to answer the inevitable question of "Why?"

Rating:
Summary: Prayer Shield
Review: Prayer Shield covers the topic of personal intercession.. e.g. of those who are commited to pray for and cover an individual (such as a pastor or the leader of a ministry) in prayer. It begins by sharing some true stories of the power of prayer, and also develops what the Bible teaches on the subject of intercession and prayer partners.

The second chapter explores intercessors from every angle.. I feel that one of the most powerful insights in the book is the concept of different types of prayer assignments, and how to determine which type you fit into as an intercessor. E.g., some people specialize in thoroughly praying a request through, and they desire details and feedback and keep prayer lists and prayer journals detailing their requests and how/when God answered them. Others tend to be more prophetic in nature. They find it hard to take requests from people and do not like to keep lists.. they prefer to come before the Lord and get their prayer assignment directly from Him. You need to give lots of details and feedback to those who specialize in praying a request through, but you don't want to bog a prophetic intercessor down with too many specific details and requests. Peter identifies 4 types of intercessors. The book help leaders to determine which prayer-type their intercessors are so they can give them prayer information/requests in a manner that works best for them.

Subsequent chapters develop why pastors and leaders need personal intercession, and how they can begin developing and mobalizing personal intercessors. It teaches leaders how to recieve intercession and how to develop relationship with their intercessors and how to supply them with the information they need to be effctive.

(A personal note.. I used to be one of Peter and Doris Wagner's personal intercessors, and I can attest that they live what they teach in this book.. and as an intercessor, I found their system very workable.)