Prayer is fundamental to evangelism. It is fundamental because the work of redemption is the work of God the Holy Spirit ('God the Evangelist') even as it is focused on the glory of Christ: the Lamb that was slain for the sins of the world. Prayer acknowledges God's primacy in the saving of lives, human inadequacies ('Not by might, nor by power ...') and fulfils God's command that Christians ask Him to act. In Ezekiel 37, for example, the prophet is commanded to proclaim the promises of God to the dry bones, but Ezekiel is also commanded to pray to the wind - the Spirit. The latter is commanded so that the bones can indeed live. The praying and preaching in Acts 1-6 reflect the same.

This chapter frames the central role of prayer and the work of evangelism in the larger context of 'transformation.' That is, the eschatological end or the completed work of God portrays His intent for all things - individual people, human institutions as well as the created order - to be transformed by His power and grace. If the field of God's activity is for the transformation of all things, then evangelism - the proclaiming of the Good News of Jesus whereby people believe in and surrender themselves to Christ - is a work within the larger sphere. Furthermore, at the core of both transformation and evangelism is God the Holy

Spirit in answer to prayer.

If transformation can be pictured as the whole wheel, and evangelism as its hub, then prayer is the axle. We refer to it as 'The Prayer Core.' This core is also part of the 'guiding coalition' at the heart of both evangelism and transformation in a community, city or nation.

We will speak to the strategies of prayer in the follow progression:

• Relationships: members of a prayer force must be friends with God, with each other, especially between mentors/coaches and learners.

• Communication: using every available media to inform, encourage, delight, challenge, teach, guide and inspire.

• Pray (for more prayer): wanting more prayer across the spectrum, we must pray for a spirit of prayer to be poured out by God.

• Repentance: prayerlessness indicates trust in something other than God.

• Thanksgiving/praise.

• Biblical instruction/theology: The necessity of prayer, the grasp of the commands and the promises of God, and the proper attitudes, actions and motivations of people who pray must be taught.

• Exhortation: preaching and teaching for motivation, inspiration, instruction, and vision-casting.

• Accountability: chaos, spiritual pride, biblical errors and un-Christ-like personal behaviour can occur without accountability.

• The local church: prayer at every level honours what God has ordained, encourages the welfare of congregations, and lifts up the arms of pastors and teachers.

• Unity: modelling oneness in the midst of diversity, reconciling people, clearing up grievances, and working with one mind (the mind of Christ) empowers our prayers.