May 15, 2025
The term “sister churches” refers to communities of like-minded Christian faith and practice who see themselves as united in relationship and mission — committed to following Scripture faithfully and working together to fulfill the Great Commission. In my first ministry assignment I would occasionally hear prayers for sister churches, especially at a Baptist association meeting, and especially those churches without pastors. I am starting to hear those prayers again.
A recent Kentucky Today article notes what it refers to as, “A trend among Kentucky Baptist churches that we pray will continue to develop is how they are cheering and helping their sister churches.” The article goes on to mention one Kentucky Baptist pastor acknowledging the prayers of another pastor and church:
Nick Sandefur, the senior pastor at Porter Memorial Baptist Church, thanked Immanuel Baptist Church and senior pastor Ron Edmondson on social media for taking time to pray for Porter Memorial and other area churches during a recent service.
Sandefur went on to say that he spoke to a man who had struggled with his faith for years. The man, who occasionally did work at Porter, said his wife was at Immanual Baptist when Edmonson prayed for the health and success of other churches. He was so moved that Edmonson would offer such a prayer, that he told Sandefur about it — and that led to a 30-minute gospel conversation, with more to come.
As followers of Christ, we believe in prayer, and we believe that our prayers make a difference. But how should we pray for sister churches? Here are five suggestions:
1. Pray for their pastors, elders and lay leaders: Ministry leadership is hard work. It is not hard work like cutting tobacco or digging ditches — but there is spiritual warfare involved in ministry leadership that may not be found in other occupations. Every pastor, elder and local church lay leader who is striving to lead God’s people faithfully to advance the gospel is under spiritual attack and in need of prayer. Pray that God will bless fellow church leaders and protect them from schemes of the evil one, guide them into His will, guard their families and their walk with Him and that they will lead with integrity and conviction.
2. Pray for their community gospel impact: 80% of Kentucky’s population, which amounts to roughly 3,600,000 people, is not in any church anywhere. Every Kentucky Baptist church has the same mission — the Great Commission — and our gospel- advancing work begins at the front door of our own buildings. Pray that every sister church will have a clear and intentional evangelism strategy for ensuring the people in our church fields are hearing the gospel.
3. Pray for their congregational and missional unity: Unity is a biblical value for God’s people. Psalm 133:1 reminds us, Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! There is an old story told in Kentucky Baptist circles about an annual family men’s fishing trip. When the fishing was delayed by rain the men became cross with each other, argued and even fought. When the rain stopped, they got back to fishing. The moral of the story is that when we are fighting, we are not fishing. Churches need unity because Jesus has given us a mission that requires we work together.
4. Pray for their faithfulness and health: Consider praying this simple prayer for the sister churches in your area. “Father, we pray that all of our sister churches will be thriving churches and that their leaders will be cared for leaders.” Imagine the difference this would make in our state. Lifeway research indicates that 32% of KBC churches are in decline and 52% are plateaued. This reality should prompt us to pray fervently for all Kentucky Baptist churches. These churches were started by believers who loved Jesus and wanted to reach their community and the world for Christ. Pray that each church would be faithful and healthy.
5. Pray for those who are without a pastor: At any time, there are roughly 300 Kentucky Baptists churches without a senior pastor. Churches do not tend to do well without pastors. They can easily drift into conflict, apathy and missional ineffectiveness. One of the best ways your church can strengthen gospel work is by praying for God to send His best to lead neighboring churches.
Imagine a revival in Kentucky where all the 2,350 churches that make up the KBC were thriving churches and where every church leader was a cared for leader. Is it possible that God may bring this revival as we pray for sister churches?
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Todd Gray is executive director-treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. This commentary first appeared in Kentucky Today.
