In this fourth installment of the Easter Prep Series, Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett talk about why prayer cannot be an afterthought for small and mid-size churches. They share a practical “team huddle” rhythm that motivates volunteers, aligns everyone around the mission, and builds expectancy for what God can do. They also outline a simple four-part “Pray for Easter” guide that helps churches pray intentionally for guests, volunteers, salvation, and momentum beyond Easter Sunday.

Key Points In Brief

• Busy does not always mean productive. Leaders often feel overloaded, but prayer and intentional rhythms reset the heart and the mission.
• A pre-service volunteer huddle creates unity. A short, consistent gathering builds energy, clarifies the plan for the day, and centers volunteers on the “why.”
• Keep the huddle prayer focused. Do not turn the huddle into a prayer-request meeting. Create another channel for ongoing personal needs.
• Add “prayer walks” to prepare the campus. After praying together, invite volunteers to pray across the building for a few minutes.
• Pray for Easter early and intentionally. Start weeks (or months) ahead so hearts are prepared before guests arrive.
• Four prayer targets for Easter. Pray for guests, volunteers, salvation, and momentum that lasts beyond one Sunday.
• Freshness comes from feedback and personal health. Invite honest input (including from younger people), evaluate what is working, and prioritize Word, prayer, exercise, and Sabbath.
• Discouragement is common in ministry. Gratitude and authenticity in prayer help leaders reconnect with God’s presence and hope.

Key Takeaways

• Prayer is the engine, not the accessory. Easter effectiveness is not primarily about production, but about God’s presence.
• Volunteers are not just helpers. They are the mission. How volunteers serve shapes first impressions and spiritual openness.
• Structure can serve spirituality. A “loose structure” for prayer keeps teams aligned without becoming rigid.
• Protect the moment. Set expectations up front so the prayer time stays focused on the day’s mission.
• Momentum matters. Easter is important, but so is the Sunday after Easter. Pray for lasting discipleship and engagement.

Notable Quotes

• “Busy doesn’t always mean production.”
• “What you do on a Sunday matters no matter your size.”
• “The volunteers are the mission.”
• “It’s okay for us to have fun. Even in church.”
• “We’re talking about life or death… heaven or hell for someone.”
• “We don’t need to just talk about Easter. We need to pray for Easter.”
• “We don’t need to rest from work. We need to work from rest.”
• “The biggest lie told in church is, ‘I’m fine.’”
• “Jesus isn’t mad at me.”
• “Jesus doesn’t want me to do things for him. He wants me to do things from him.”

Next Steps

1. Start a weekly pre-service team huddle (same time, same place) for the next 4 Sundays leading up to Easter.
2. Add a focused prayer moment in the huddle that prays for:
   • guests
   • volunteers
   • salvation
   • momentum
3. Create a separate channel for personal prayer requests (group text, post-service time, or one-on-one with a pastor/leader).
4. Lead a 5-minute campus prayer walk right after the huddle prayer.
5. Print and post a “Pray for Easter” prompt in a high-traffic area so staff and leaders pray intentionally as they pass by.
6. Invite feedback from a small team (including younger voices) using questions like: What is working well? What is confusing? What is missing?

Call to action: Download/print the “Pray for Easter” guide and start the huddle rhythm this Sunday.

 

Link To Podcast Audio: 95Podcast 330

 

Link To Podcast YouTube:

Q & A Transcript

Joseph: I am a real pastor doing real church stuff… So, I’ve been writing a message today…

Dale: Talk to us about this “huddle” before the service.

Joseph: The team huddle is a way before your service to pump them up… rally the troops… because what you do on a Sunday matters… We gather volunteers, talk about the day, the flow, then a pep talk… a short devotional… the “why behind the serve”… and then we pray.

Joseph: This is not the time to take a bunch of prayer requests… because it changes the direction of the room. God cares about those things, but make another avenue for those requests.

Dale: We’re so guilty of going through the motions… this reminds everybody why we’re here.

Joseph: After we pray, we take about five minutes and pray around the campus… then people go serve.

Dale: Now let’s talk about specific ways to pray for Easter.

Joseph: We don’t need to just talk about Easter. We need to pray for Easter… I made a “Pray for Easter” guide with four things.

1) Pray for Guests. Pray for the guests that God will bring, and that hearts would be prepared in advance.

2) Pray for Volunteers. Pray for volunteers to serve with joy, excellence, and the love of Jesus.

3) Pray for Salvation. Pray for hearts to be open and lives to be transformed by the gospel.

4) Pray for Momentum. Pray that Easter would ignite lasting spiritual growth beyond one Sunday.

Dale: How do you keep it fresh personally and not just go through the motions?

Joseph: Spend time in the Word and prayer… take care of your health… learn to truly Sabbath.

Dale: Many pastors do not take a full day off… We don’t need to rest from work. We need to work from rest… and I’ve had to learn that Jesus isn’t mad at me.

Joseph: Gratitude matters… there is always something to be thankful for… and be authentic in prayer.

Dale: Our prayer for you is that you would humble yourself and pray… and trust God to resurrect your ministry and renew hope.

Joseph: (Closing prayer for pastors and church leaders.)