This past Sunday, our church
had a rather abnormal service. Instead of the traditional songs and sermon, we had
a guest speaker. The Reverend Matthew Barnes. He introduced himself, played a
slideshow/video and begin to explain his purpose for being there.
God called him to go into
full-time ministry seven years ago. He quit his job, or ministry as he called
it, at Home Depot, and waited on God to give him his assignment. Matthew had no
idea what God wanted his ministry to be, but he knew this was what he was
supposed to do.
One day after reading 1 Timothy 2:1-2, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority, he felt God pressing it on his heart for him and his family to start praying for their capitol leaders. Soon after that, he decided to take it to the next level. He wanted to go meet his senator and representative and personally ask them what he could specifically pray for.
So he went to the state house and met his senator, as well as his mission in life. After meeting with him, his senator asked if he was a minister. He told them yes he was. He was then asked to begin their session with prayer, for they didn't have anyone to do so.
Afterwards, Senator Dennis Cruse spent two hours discussing his doctrine, ministry, and personal life with him. This lead to him being the chaplain of the state house.
His next assignment was to be the leader of their Bible study that they had every day before they started their sessions. His first encounter with this was quite humorous.
He had been asked to leave the room because only senators and representatives could be in there for their Bible study. He complied and spent the entire time outside the door studying and memorizing scripture. a little while afterwards the same women who had kicked him out, asked him if he was a minister. When he told her that he was she asked him if he would lead their Bible study. He agreed. He wasn't quite prepared for what he was getting himself into. As he was getting ready to teach, he notice that not only was he the youngest one their, but the Governor was there as well. Fighting off nervousness he tried to pretend that these were merely old colleagues whom he had taught when they were teens. He got through it and has been their Bible study leader ever since.
He founded his ministry, Public Servant's Prayer, in the late Fall of 2004. It has flourished abundantly into a nationwide ministry. His hope and prayer is that he can get a volley of prayers for our nation's leaders. To find out how you can help visit:
Remember, our nation's leaders carry the wait of the world on their shoulders. You can help relieve that stress by simply sending up a prayer for them.
