“Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” –James 5:14-16
There are many saints on whose shoulders I stand. Who I am today, in many ways, is because of the special people who have made a significant impact on my life. They were teachers, preachers, parents and mentors who helped guide me, especially as I began the journey to become a pastor.
One of those special people was Doyle Bigham. Doyle was a member of my childhood church in Lawton, OK. He was an active member, involved in so many ministries of our congregation. Although Doyle was 50 years older than me, we shared many experiences in the church together, even going to Mexico on my first mission trip. His presence on that trip was so meaningful to our youth group.
Perhaps the biggest impact Doyle had on my life was through his faithful prayer. While I was in college, I began the process of entering full-time ministry. Doyle, who was a member of the local Gideon International chapter, placed my name on his prayer list and the Gideon prayer list. When they met on Saturdays they lifted my name in prayer. This prayer continued beyond college into my first ministry job. Whenever I would come home to visit, I would see Doyle and he would remind me that they were still praying for me.
Doyle’s commitment to pray for me made a tremendous difference in my life. Knowing that he was interceding on my behalf gave my faith a great boost. Doyle’s prayers brought great joy to me and truly strengthened my spirit. Doyle taught me that prayer makes a difference. His committed life of prayer and service showed me that what we do matters. Who are you praying for today? Prayer is a powerful way to bless our friends, our family, our church, our community and the world. That is why James writes, “The prayer of the righteous is power and effective.”
–Rev Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
