Natina and I met in Fort Wayne Indiana at a church function in 2002.  We moved to Kansas City at different times.  I came in 2004 and she came in 2006.  But we both had the same reason for coming.  We had gone to some conferences (mainly Onething) held by International House of Prayer and a youth camp called “Awakening Teen Camp,” and we felt the leading of the Lord to be Intercessory Missionaries as our primary occupation.

The International House of Prayer is a prayer meeting that has not stopped since September 19, 1999.

We are on a  worship team also functions as a type of home group, or family group.  Much like your church may have a small group bible study or a cell group system.  The worship team that we are a part of meets every Saturday for bible study and fellowship, we also have a smaller one hour study of the end times or eschatology once a week.  I have been on this team for over four years now, and Natina for about two.  We have had the gift of making many lasting strong friendships and are very grateful for our team.

Usually there are two responses to what we do.

1) What does “Intercessory” mean?

Intercessory: adjective; having the function of interceding; Entreaty in favor of another, especially a prayer or petition to God in behalf of another; Pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by, intercession; interceding; as, intercessory prayer.

Being an Intercessory Missionary means that we spend our time, energy and money making prayer, fasting and the study of the Word (Bible) an occupation.

2) Why is intercession necessary?  I believe Intercession is critical to our time in history, and I believe it is my primary calling to petition God on behalf of our nation and our cities.  History has always belonged to the Intercessors.  When I lift my voice to heaven God not only hears, but He listens and does something about what I’m asking for. James says that Elijah was a man with a nature like ours and when he prayed that there would be no rain, there was no rain.  And when he asked for rain again God sent the rains again after three and a half years. (James 5:17,18)  It is important to pray and petition God about current events, problems in society (such as abortion, human trafficking, racism, injustice, etc) asking Him to “break in” and make the wrong things right, and lean on Him for strength and guidance because He set it up this way.  You have not because you ask not.  And what we do end up asking for we don’t get because it’s with wrong motives. (James 4:2,3)

But who will ask for the things that are on God’s heart?  Who will sit in His counsel and inquire in His temple?  Who really wants to know what He’s doing and how He wants to do it?  And who will ask God to do what he wants to do? I do.  I want to wait, listen and incline my ear.  I want to know what’s on His heart, I want to know His will, I want to know what He’s doing, and I will ask Him to do it.

Intercession is needed.  Even creation was not created apart from intercession.  All of creation was in the Father’s heart, and the Spirit brooded and waited over the deep.  But it wasn’t until the word was spoken from the Son’s lips, “Let there be light!” that the will of the Father was made manifest, and the power of the Spirit unleashed to create the beauty that the earth is.  Intercession is the one occupation that will go on for all eternity; I have eternal job security.

So that’s a little bit of what we do, and why we do what we do.  It is a glorious job and I don’t think I would trade it for anything.

I hope you are touched and inspired by what’s in this blog.  I don’t plan on making it entirely spiritual, but ya never know.  One day I may blog about cheeseburgers, and the next the Cross.  Random but that’s kinda how my mind works.

Grace and Peace,

-Tom