A Prayer of Dedication for a New Church Plant
For Commissioning Our Core Group Being Sent to Krugersdorp
13 April 2025 – by Tim Cantrell
I began with a brief devotional on the epic significance and history-altering implications of Acts 13, when the risen Lord by His Spirit, through the original Antioch, sent out the first ever missionary church-planters, Paul and Barnabas. We then called up the core group of about 30 adults from our church who will be starting Pillar Bible Church in Krugersdorp on Easter Sunday. I then read Acts 12:24 to 13:5, followed by this prayer:
Our heavenly Father – as we love to sing and have often prayed:
Facing a task unfinished, that drives us to our knees,
A need that, undiminished, rebukes our slothful ease,
We who rejoice to know Thee, renew before Thy throne
The solemn pledge we owe Thee, to go and make Thee known.
…O Father, Who sustained them, O Spirit who inspired,
Saviour, Whose love constrained them, to toil with zeal untired,
From cowardice defend us, from lethargy awake!
Forth on Thine errands send us, to labour for Thy sake.
Almighty and Everlasting God,
You who reign supreme over all the earth, whose purposes stand firm from generation to generation, we bow before You in humble adoration. You have spoken through Your Word, commanding us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. You have promised that Your church shall be built by the power of Christ, our unshakable Rock.
Today, we stand in awe of Your grace as we send forth this core group to Krugersdorp. May it be as we’ve just read, that they are supremely and ultimately not sent by us, but by Your own Holy Spirit, by the sovereign Christ.
King Jesus, You modelled for us that merciful compassion for a lost and perishing world when You ‘saw the people and felt compassion for them, for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’ (Matt. 9:36). And so You commanded us, ‘Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white unto harvest. The harvest is plentiful; BUT the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest’ (Jn. 4:35; Matt. 9:36-38).
Lord of the harvest, we have prayed, and You have answered. We asked and interceded, and You raised up Dom, You provided Emma his helper, and now this wonderful team. You gave them willing hearts, ready hands, and beautiful feet to spread the glad tidings of the only Saviour for sinners. You provided a place for them to meet, word has spread, and next Sunday is the day. We attempt great things for You and expect great things from You, our great God, Who is more eager to answer than we are to ask.
Father of all mercies,
Grant to these Your servants the courage of Joshua, to whom You said, “Be strong and of good courage, for I am with you.” Fill them with Your Holy Spirit, that they may proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ with boldness and clarity, turning many from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. Supply their every need according to Your riches in glory—wisdom to lead, strength to endure, and resources to establish this work—that they may lack nothing in fulfilling Your call.
Lord Jesus,
You who are the Head of the Church and the Chief Cornerstone, guide this flock with Your sovereign hand. Let their words and deeds testify to Your death and resurrection, the only hope of sinners. Build this new congregation, we pray, into a holy temple where Your name is exalted, Your Word is preached without compromise, and Your people are equipped to shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation.
Spirit of the living God,
Move mightily among them to bind them in love, unity, and steadfastness. Guard them against the wiles of the devil, and make their labour fruitful, that through this planting a harvest of souls may be gathered into Your kingdom. May this church rise as a pillar for sound doctrine, a faithful witness, declaring Your glorious salvation.
O Triune God,
We entrust this mission and this church plant to Your faithful care, for You are able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think. Bless us here back home at Antioch as we release our brothers and sisters, and let our hearts rejoice together when we see Your gospel progress.
For all in this core group who’ve been baptised already (some right here on this platform in recent years) – when they were immersed, it was in Your Name and for the advance of Your kingdom – as Christ has commissioned us, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” What a marvellous assurance, Lord, the sweetest of comforts, the strong encouragement of Your unfailing presence.
As 3 John counselled the early church, “You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name…We ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth” (3 Jn. 6-8).
Dear Father, as we’re about to sing to one another, empower them and us all to answer this call:
Love the unloved for the sake of His name;
Like Christ, befriend those whose heads hang in shame.
Jesus did not condemn, but was condemned for them.
Trust gospel pow’r, for we once were the same.
Rescue the lost for the sake of His name;
As Christ commands, snatch them out of the flame.
Tell that when Jesus died God’s wrath was satisfied.
Urge them to flee to the Lamb who was slain.
…In Jesus’ power, preach Christ to the lost;
For Jesus’ glory, count all else but loss.
Gather from every place trophies of sov’reign grace.
Lest life be wasted, exalt Jesus’ cross.
All praise, honour, and dominion be unto You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forevermore. Amen.