For Fair Oaks pastor: Prayer ministry emerges from Facebook
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 12:59PM FAIR OAKS – While it seems every week there is a new spam or “phishing” attack on social networking sites, a rural Arkansas pastor is using Facebook as a platform for effective prayer ministry.
Brodbent“About a year ago, I was spending a lot of time reading gossip, garbage and solicitation on Facebook,” said Al Brodbent, pastor of Fair Oaks Baptist Church near Wynne. “I was ready to quit using it, and then the next day (I) saw where two people had requested prayer about a matter. I decided to pray every day for their request and let them know I was praying. It had a positive influence on me as to, ‘Maybe I am onto something,’ … as well as influencing that person on the value of prayer.”
Perhaps most significant was a word Brodbent received from a pastor for whom he had been praying. It confirmed for him that God had given him a significant new ministry assignment as a sort of “cyber prayer warrior.”
“That week a pastor asked for prayer, and after two weeks of, everyday, praying and sending a message, he sent me a message stating, ‘In my 30-plus years of ministry, I have had many people commit to pray for me but never have had someone that did.’”
About that same time, Brodbent explained, Kentucky pastor Kevin Ezell was announced as the new president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and was talking about the need to downsize ministry assignments and staff at the domestic mission entity.
“This touched my heart. Being a counselor, I knew there would be many employees with frustration and anxiety during the process of determination (of) who would and who wouldn’t be cut,” said Brodbent, who is a certified professional pastoral counselor with the American Association of Christian Counselors.
“I immediately started contacting NAMB personnel to add to my daily prayer list, committing to pray for them every day,” he said. “Approximately 50 responded, and I would get up at 5 a.m. and pray for them and their families and every couple of days send them a word of encouragement.”
Brodbent made a decision to dedicate his Facebook page to people in ministry.
In the ensuing months, the pastor’s prayer list has ballooned to more than 600, and now, in addition to NAMB staff, includes a number of state executive directors, other denominational employees, college presidents, seminary professors, pastors and church staff.
Brodbent’s prayer effort takes a great deal of commitment and perseverance.
“I get up at 2:30, and it normally takes till 5:30 to finish the prayer and send a message once a week to each person,” he explained. “Some get messages twice a week, as they serve in a position and then preach on Sunday morning. It appears like I will have to back up Sunday morning to 2 o’clock, as I have 237 pastors and about 75 others. I need to focus on preparing for church at 7 o’clock.”
Brodbent believes his efforts are paying off and are having an eternal impact.
“Since the beginning, I have had many comments (from ministers) about the fact they have never had anyone before continuously pray for them and receive some kind of verification,” he said.
“God has really used this ministry in my life to bring me to a realization that prayer is at the foundation of everything we do or attempt to do. Most plans fail because of a lack of foundation of prayer.”
Brodbent may be found on Facebook by typing in, “Pastor Al.” To listen to an audio interview with Brodbent about his Facebook prayer ministry visit www.arkansasbaptist.org and click on Audio/Video.
Reader Comments (3)
I am one of the Pastors blessed to have Pastor Al praying for me. I look forward to hearing from him each week and reading his prayer for me, my family, and my church.
I have never met Pastor Al, but I have felt his prayers for me. I know there is a new sense of urgency to fulfill my calling as a pastor. I have been a pastor for 53 years. One of my churches prayed faithfully for me. That was the best ministry I had. The prayers of Pastor Al have encouraged me to pray more earnestly and extensively for my friends in the ministry.
Thank you Brother Broadbent. I am now praying for you to be upheld in this ministry which has already blessed my life.
Just want to add my thanks to Pastor Al for his prayers. I have been moved by the prayers he offers up on fb and thank God for him and his work.