Prayer Focus: For The Wesleyan Church to boldly live as a holiness movement in our day and time.

Scripture: John 17:15-19

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (v. 17)

I’m not sure if I’m still ordained. Full disclosure, I am one signature short on my certificate. It was there when I got ordained but has completely faded away over the years.

Something else has faded away within our movement. It’s the connection between a holy life and effective evangelism. In John 17, Jesus is praying that his followers will live in the “sent mode.” Then he notes that the most effective “sent people” are those who are sanctified (holy) — set apart. He’s quite clear on the connection.

These favorite phrases — holy life and effective evangelism — seem to be often used but rarely connected. That wasn’t always the case — we used to have a sharper understanding of this vital link.

The foundation of our Wesleyan belief is that Jesus wants to do more for us than provide a future ticket to a pleasant eternity. We want people to know the full truth — that he desired to do a second work in our lives — a work of the Spirit that empowered us to be able to say no to the sins he saved us from so we might live a holy life. We recognized that it was confusing for people to be rescued from sin and set free only to find that their new lease on life had not removed their trials and temptations.

I think my ordination is secure — even with the faded, missing signature — but I don’t believe evangelism will fare as well without a clear holiness message and messengers who are holy and set apart.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, you have not only called us to live as sent people but as a holy people, set apart for your purposes and glory. Awaken us to our need for your sanctifying work and perfect love within us, individually and corporately. May we seek this sanctifying work so we might be empowered to boldly live as a holiness movement today. Amen.

Jerry Lumston

*This entry is part of the “EMPOWERED: 15th General Conference Prayer Initiative,” created to guide Wesleyans in 30 days of intentional prayer for The Wesleyan Church and its 2026 General Conference.

Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.