Catt encourages renewed focus on prayer

SHERWOOD – Michael Catt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. – but perhaps best known for Sherwood Pictures that has produced movies such as Fireproof and Courageous – encouraged Arkansas Baptists gathered for a prayer workshop to “put prayer in the forefront” of all they do.

“To give you a little perspective on Sherwood,” Catt told those gathered for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Prayer Workshop. “In all the churches I’ve been in, I have never been in a Southern Baptist church that puts prayer in the forefront of all it does.”

Referencing one of Paul’s prayers in Colossians 1, Catt said he believes Paul gives us an indication of the kind of heart that prayer leaders need for the church.

“Remember, this is not a church that Paul established, but it is a church that is heavy on Paul’s heart,” said Catt. “He loved them and he has a heart for them. In Colossians chapter 1, he prays for this church he didn’t establish, and he loved them as if they are his own.”

Catt said Paul’s prayers are a great way to pray when we sometimes find ourselves struggling about how to pray.

“One thing you know, you’re not praying anything outside the will of God, because it’s in the Word of God,” said Catt.

“In fact, I encourage Sunday school teachers to take the prayers of Paul and pray those prayers and insert the names of their Sunday school members. Because then you are praying God’s Word on God’s people who may not be walking with God at that moment,” he said. “Or they are, but they just need to continue to progress.”

Catt recounted his journey with Sherwood Baptist that began in 1989 when he was called to become the church’s pastor. The church voted to call him as pastor following a two-week focused time of prayer. The church has continued its emphasis on prayer and now begins Sunday night services with what is called “House of Prayer,” which is followed by prayer and worship.

“I tell you what, it sets an atmosphere for Sunday night church because people are praying,” he said.

The Georgia pastor said Sherwood Baptist believes in intercessory prayer and attempts to model what is recounted in the work of the first century church in the Book of Acts.

“The church in Acts had power because of prayer,” said Catt, adding that prayer teams in the church do things such as pray over every seat in their 2,250 seat auditorium, entrances, the altar and choir loft prior to services.

Catt left conference attendees with a number of suggestions on “how to pray for your pastor, leadership and members.”

For pastors, he said to pray that God would give him wisdom, that he would have discernment, that God would protect his family, that God will use him to encourage other pastors and for their pastor to have a “heart for revival.”

For leadership, Catt said to pray against moral failures, to have a servant’s heart, to have God’s wisdom and “for deacons to be servants and biblical deacons, not a board of directors.”

For membership, Catt said to pray members would understand the Lordship of Jesus Christ, for one another, for God’s vision for the church, for relational evangelism and for giving.