what is an intercessory missionary?
All those on staff at the international house of prayer live as “fulltime intercessory missionaries’. Which of course begs the question: What is an intercessory missionary?
An intercessory missionary focuses on fulfilling the Great Commission by asking God to reveal Jesus in all his fullness to cities and nations by praying, worshipping God and declaring God’s promises over these cities.
Our priority at the International House of Prayer is seeing God move powerfully in Kansas City, just as you would focus on praying for your own neighborhoods, families or friends. We also have visitors and staff members pray for many other cities in the U.S. and around the world. Our prayer meetings are open to the public and anyone can come, at any hour of the day or night, in order to pray for what God puts on their heart.
Those who are on staff at IHOP are truly missionaries in the same sense that those in foreign countries are missionaries. We raise our own support and give ourselves full-time to seeing the kingdom of God advance in the neighborhoods in which we live. The need for the Gospel to go forth, even here in the U.S., is evident in the continued rise of violence, immorality, greed, and deception that is plaguing many of our families, friends, and co-workers. There is a desperate need for prayer in our cities.
Each IHOP staff member is committed to a 50-hour work week. 25 hours are spent exclusively committed to prayer and fasting. (I’ve committed to 36 hours, 12am-6am 6 nights a week) This time includes leading the prayer meetings and serving on the worship teams that provide a musical backdrop for our meetings. (We call this style of prayer “Harp and Bowl”. The ‘harp’ represents musical worship and the ‘bowl’ represents bowls of incense, a biblical symbol signifying the prayers of the saints found in Rev. 5:7) (click here for more details)
The other 25 hours of admin are spent in ministry. From cleaning the bathrooms to leading our internships and short-term training programs, there is plenty of work in keeping a 24-hour missions base running. Some serve in ‘mercy ministries’ serving the poor in Kansas City, others help with the fledgling Bible school which we have started (Forerunner School of Ministry), and others help with the cooking, cleaning, and grounds-keeping around the IHOP campus. (My admin hours are spent leading the homeless ministry to downtown Kansas City, and planting the church we have there.) Wherever they serve, however, their primary service is rendered to God through the lifting up of their hands as a sacrifice of praise to Him. The foundation of IHOP is that God is worthy to be worshipped 24/7 because of who He is and what He has done for His people.
Any financial contribution helps keep the fires of prayer and ministry burning! As a full-time intercessory missionary I spend at least 50 hours a week in prayer, leading training programs, and in service to the poor in Kansas City. Donations are tax deductible (see info below)