Torch, Spring-Summer 1999

r ~L- Vice President for Development Cedarville College Po•er n.....,,• P,,,rer A series on prayer by E.M. Bounds has become a classic treatise of this most important aspect of the effective Christian life. He penned more than a half-dozen volumes in the series, with titles ranging from Purposes in Prayer to The Essentials ofPrayer. It is a marvelous series and one I recommend highly. If I were forced to choose a favorite volume, it would probably be the one titled Power Through Prayer. In it, Bounds deals with the absolute necessity of prayer to effective ministry, both on the part of those who desire to minister as well as those who desire to benefit from that ministry. Bounds writes: We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan or organization. 2 Torch Gods plan is to make use of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are Gods method. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. Our chapel messages are centering on prayer, many of our student activities are aimed at developing prayer discipline, and now, this publication will deal with the true power of effective prayer. Of course, we all recognize that one of the prime methods that God uses to prepare men and women for His service is through prayer. As Bounds wrote nearly a century ago, ''What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Spirit can use- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer." A popular pizza chain advertises with the theme "Better ingredients, Better pizza." Our challenge ought to be "Better prayer, Better people." We are focusing on prayer as the essential ingredient in the development of Christian character throughout this academic year. Our chapel messages are centering on prayer, many of our student activities are aimed at developing prayer discipline, and now, this publication will deal with the true power of effective prayer. My prayer is that you will be blessed by what is presented here, and that you will join us in fervent prayer for God's continued grace and blessing on our efforts as we provide an education consistent with biblical truth.