Edmund Salas - The Praying Church: Discovering What the Heart Longs for Through Prayer

Praise for The Praying Church

Our world is desperately in need of supernatural leadership that brings more love, healing, and goodness. Amidst all the brokenness and pain, spiritual leaders must learn to live and lead with wholeness. Ed Salas is such a leader. For fifteen years Ive walked closely with Ed and watched him from a distance. Ive seen how the principles of this book are lived out in his life and carried through his leadership. These practical and powerful words are authentic and crucial for our times. Do yourself a favor. Read these words and put them into practice.

April L. Diaz , Founder and Lead Warrior, Ezer + Co.

This book can be easily described as a treasure map to an amazing prayer life. I have the honor to call Pastor Ed a spiritual father. His authority in the subject of prayer is evident because it is such a strong part of his life. In a world that is desperate for prayer people, this is a must.

Rodolfo Peregrina G. , Equipo Pastoral, Vereda Church, Mexico City

Eds book is an exciting invitation to all of us to participate with the ministry of Jesus, by being drenched in intimacy with our Father and the Holy Spirit. This book lays out an extensive, but practical sight line into the many aspects of prayer. Prayer team modalities are described to develop safe community within which real change can occur in peoples lives. The value of knowing how to start up and sustain a successful prayer ministry at your local church is priceless. The ability to live life within a frame of beauty and power is remarkable. If you want a front row seat to experience what our Father loves doing for his children, namely bringing healing and wholeness to a broken world, this is your book.

Judith Scott Mayer , Pastor of Womens Ministry and Director of Prayer Team, Watermark Church, Costa Mesa, California

This is the book every church leader is looking for! This book takes the mystery out of building a powerful and effective prayer ministry! Ed has helped our church so much, and Im excited now to see this important content get into the hands of many hungry leaders!

Andy Wood , Founder and Lead Pastor, Echo Church, San Jose, California

There is no one on this planet that I trust more and go to when I need advice on how to develop a deep prayer life for myself and my church. Ed is not just a theologian, but an expert practitioner on the subject matter of prayer. The Praying Church will give you practical tools and strategy on how to implement a life-giving prayer ministry that ushers in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a must-read for every pastor and church leader.

Peter Ahn , Founder and Lead Pastor, Metro Community Church, Englewood, New Jersey

This book is a gift to the church. It is biblical, balanced, and practical. It will help you think through the values that undergird your ministry. And it will give you a road map for implementing the value of prayer in your own life and in your ministry. Read it.

Jim Masteller, Founder, The Center for Individual and Family Therapy

Ed offers a thoughtful theological framework, practical teaching that flows from knowledge gained from years of personal experience full-filling Christs call on his life and loving people through the ministry of prayer. This book will equip you for prayer ministry and motivate you in your growth in intimacy with Jesus. Additionally, you will be personally blessed as you read The Praying Church and affirmed in your identity and authority as a beloved child of God.

Bill and Kristi Gaultiere , Founders of Soul Shepherding

Ive known Ed now for over two decades. He is a man that has grown in his love of God and the way he creatively designs and gifts his children. In this book, Ed shares how we as a collaborative loving team (the church) can engage God, one another, our friends, and the spiritual realm with the unique gifts each of us are given. Ed does this in a way that is refreshing, simple, unintimidating, and approachable. Its a naturally supernatural way that even introverts would love. Youll find this book a welcome primer for those you equip to become more like Jesus.

Dave Gibbons , Founding Pastor, Newsong Church, Santa Ana, California

Jesus disciples were wise to ask him to teach them to pray. Likewise, we are wise to pay attention to those who desire to guide us in the way of prayer. Pastor Ed Salas is one of those guides. The Praying Church should serve as a training manual for those who seek to learn how to participate in the ongoing, redemptive, healing conversation that is prayer. Churches who wish to take prayer ministry seriously must put this book on their required reading list!

Michael McNichols , Affiliate Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary

This book is a must-read! Probably one of the most important topics a follower of Christ could ever write about. Eds love for prayer and his experience in training people in this area is a gift to churches. He takes a potentially intimidating and complex subject and writes it like its a conversation from one friend to another. His tone allows the reader to feel safe and curious all at the same time. Ed provides a foundational framework that can easily be adapted into most church communities. A great guidebook!

Rehana Rodriguez , Executive Pastor, Newsong Church, Santa Ana, California

PART ONE

Cultivating a Safe Environment for Prayer

I was in my midthirties, still in seminary and in my first year of being an associate pastor at a megachurch in Southern California, when I began to observe an unexpected pattern that brought me great concern.

Among the many people who would come to the church office to see me for pastoral counseling, a surprising number of them had been deeply wounded by another person in the context of receiving prayer.

Prayer that was powerful and life changing for individuals, and for entire groups of people, wasnt yet familiar to me in those early days of vocational ministry. All I knew in those days was that my own prayer life was anemicdespite the fact that Id grown up in a solid, Bible-teaching, evangelical church since the age of ten.

Little did I know that the folks I met who had been damaged in prayer would one day be instrumental in shaping my own personal development, forming core values that would influence how Id lead ministry teams and a prayer movement in the future.

In order to alter my perspective on prayer and radically transform the way I that I prayed, I had to first learn why so many were hesitant to pray.

What is it about prayer that often triggers a genuine level of anxiety among church leaders, many of whom would prefer not to involve themselves in prayer ministries or even be around prayer people? Here are a few thoughts, from my perspective, on why this often happens.

An Encounter With Spooky Prayer

When our middle child was nine years old, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. For one entire heart-wrenching year, we had to watch our little boy endure difficult, seemingly endless rounds of radiation treatments and chemotherapy.

Early on, some friends of mine offered to come and pray for our son.

Before agreeing to it, I thought itd be prudent to first discuss this with my wife. I mentioned to her that these friends of mine, who were gifted in prayer, wanted to come and pray for our ailing son. Would that be OK? I asked.

Her response was unforgettable: You know hes very frightened already. I dont want anyone coming over who will scare him even more by praying spooky prayers .

Spooky prayers. When I heard this, I knew exactly what she meant.