Recommended Reading
I was asked to write a list of the books I recommend for prayer ministry. I thought it was a grand idea and there are many out there. I am going to send you to places to get training in inner healing prayer counseling, and a book or 2 to read. Keep in mind, that when you read some of these it brings up your own issues which then need to be healed.
1. Elijah House Counseling Center- Spokane Washington www.elijahhouse.org
They do trainings and equip the body to minister to the deep places of wounding in the heart. They have a resource center with many great books and DVDs to help you get trained. You can buy the basic school on DVD…1 at a time which is really reasonable.
Transformation of the Inner Man by John and Paula Sandford is the first book I recommend and is available here. It is the basic training for prayer counselors.
Just as an aside; In the Toronto Airport Church they have 2 types of altar prayer ministers. The first is for filling and basic prayer. If deeper needs are found, they call in the 2nd tier, and they are all trained at Elijah House.
2. Theophostic Prayer Ministry www.theophostic.com
This is a ministry started by Christian therapist Ed Smith. It has been the victim of lots of controversy, some deserved, but much not. They have addressed the legitimate concerns and changed some things. Theophostic simply means; God’s Light. By addressing the lies a person believes due to wounding and trauma, and asking Jesus to show where they started, we then ask Jesus to speak His truth and bring His light into that person’s life. This is NOT guided imagery as some have accused. We ask Jesus to go to that place, allow the person to say what they are seeing and then ask Jesus to minister to that place. The counselor does not make any suggestions, or try to get the counselee to see what they think they should. I have found this very effective and when Jesus speaks a word, it bears much more weight than when you or I do.
They minister very effectively to SRA (Satanic Ritual Abuse) victims, many of whom are DID (Disassociative Identity Disorder or what used to be called MPD, Multiple Personality Disorder).
If you read my testimony, I have some experience in ministry of this kind, and you cannot come at it with confession of the word, and general prayer. It requires much time and work with the victims, and without special care, many never get better.
I recommend their book and possible training with some of their DVD series. I have done the training 3 times, and am going to purchase the set so I can train others.
3. The Bondage Breaker by Neal Anderson
A good book on breaking the chains that bind people.
Keep in mind that all training is nothing but power tools. Each person needs their own individual ministry and not all things work for all people. I believe if we want to really minister effectively then we need all the training and power tools that God provides. There are so many severely traumatized people out there in the world, that we need to learn how to minister to them in ways that will truly set them free and pour Christ’s healing into their lives.
The Divine Romance by Gene Edwards. It is probably my all time favorite book, about the bride of Christ.
Any books by Gene Edwards are absolutely anointed. The Tale of Three Kings is another one.
Here is a review: http://www.therealchurch.com/church_splits/tale_of_three_kings.html
The Practice of the Presence of God - by Brother Lawrence. A little book written by a monk in the 1600s.
Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ – by Jeanne Guyon She was a French mystic in the 1600s, who was put in prison for heresy for suggesting that we can know Christ in our inner most being. Her little book on prayer was banned, because she advocated quietness and contemplation.
The Pursuit of God – by A.W. Tozer The title speaks for itself
My Utmost for His Highest – by Oswalt Chambers A devotional that will make you squirm.
The Cost of Discipleship – by Dietrich Boenhoffer He was killed by the Nazis for standing for righteousness.
God Chasers – by Tommy Tenny – current move of God, and a story of being ruined for anything else.
The Importance of Forgiveness by John Arnott The pastor of Toronto Airport Christian fellowship. A tiny little book about what it means when we do or do not forgive. Anything by this man is a treasure.
The Man of Her Dreams, The Woman of His by Joel and Kathy Davisson
One of the best marriage books ever written. It will make you throw all others out the window and it will also make you squirm. They do not tickle the ears, but speak truth.