Jerry Wiles on Prayer Walking, Sight Seeing, and Fact Finding

In recent years “Prayer Walking” has become an important topic in relation to ministry and mission strategies. We like to emphasize that it is more than prayer, and more than walking.  It is an integral part of the “Prayer-Care-Share Strategies.”  It can take on many forms of expression, and is an activity every believer can engage in.  In this context, “Sight Seeing, and Fact Finding” is about observation and being alert to the needs and interest of the people we connect with in our normal traffic patterns.

Sometimes, simply greeting people, making a comment or asking a question can connect us with people and begin a relationship.  As followers of Jesus, we should have an awareness that God is at work in all places and at all times.  When we realize we are “On Mission with God,” we can expect to often have some divine appointments, those spontaneous and natural witness and ministry opportunities. The late Manley Beasley use to say, “Find out what God is up to, and get in on it.” Henry Blackaby put is this way, “Identify the activity of God, and join Him.”  Sight Seeing and Fact Finding are ways of doing just that.

Fact Finding for Discovering the Activity of God

Several years ago I had the opportunity of being part of a fact finding delegation to a foreign country.  On that trip our group met with and interviewed business and church leaders, government officials and others. It was during a time when the news media was not giving accurate coverage of what going on in that region of the world.  It was a great learning experience and also insightful regarding ministry and mission strategies.   

When you think about it, each of us can and should be on a continuous sight seeing and fact finding mission. Wherever we go, we can be in a spirit of prayer, we can observe people, listen and learn, and make spiritual connections.  A key factor is being aware of our spiritual union with Christ, recognizing His presence and power that is available to us.  As ambassadors of Christ, we are to be salt and light to those around us.

The Solution to Removing Barriers

I am often around those who are struggling with spiritual growth issues.  Many true believers are often trying and striving to be mature and become fruitful in their witness and ministry to others. However, there are often barriers to entering into the fulness of life in Christ and living the abundant life He has promised in His Word.  The answer to this dilemma is no secret, and the solution has been expressed in many different ways over a long period of time.

Ultimately, it takes the Spirit of God to reveal to us that it’s “not I, but Christ” living in us that is the key to abundant living and fruitful ministry, according to Galatians 2:20.  There are actually many other places in Scripture that affirm this truth.  God faithful to use many different ways to show us the futility of our own self effort.  For me, it was during the Jesus Movement of the early 1970s.  The Lord used several different individuals in my life.  One of those was the late Major W. Ian Thomas, founder of Torchbearers International, and author of “The Saving Life of Christ” and other books.

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SOURCE: Assist News, Jerry Wiles