The church needs to reach out to its local, small businesses for prayer. This campaign does not necessarily include the larger corporations in your area. Instead the emphasis is on small, local business owners. This can be done by the following steps:
Direct Contact with Local Businesses
- Prayer intercessors can visit each local business in their community by going directly to the business entity. Two by two in a team is considered appropriate.
- Ask to speak to the owner. If you speak with the owner introduce yourself and hand deliver the prayer request. Most business owners will be impressed that someone took the time to meet with them to ask for prayer.
- If the owner is not available – leave the envelope with the contact person. Emphasize the importance of making sure the owner is made aware of the letter. The envelope should have “confidential” stamped on it. There should be a greeting from the pastor and a prayer request card enclosed in the envelope. A return envelope is beneficial but optional.
- Ask if you can leave blank prayer cards on the table in the foyer for customers. All prayer cards should indicate a return address.
Indirect Contact with Local Businesses
- Research the names and mailing addresses of your local businesses.
- Print out an original cover letter from the pastor. Volunteers can help to sign each letter. Attach a prayer request card to it.
- The enclosed prayer request card should be stamped confidential.
- Each mailing envelope should include the owner’s name and business address. If you do not know the owner’s name – simply type “owner” or “sole proprietor”. The mailing envelope should have “confidential” stamped on it.
- Include a return envelope indicating the church’s address. The return envelope should also have “confidential” stamped or printed in it.
- The intercessory leader should frequently mention to the prayer team the need for confidentiality on all prayer requests.
Follow-up
- If deemed appropriate a “thank you” note should be forwarded to the business owner letting him/her know that continual prayer will be dedicated to his/her prayer request.
- The intercessory leader should determine the best method in distributing the prayer requests within the prayer team. Strict confidentiality is required for local business prayer requests.