Do Not Give Up Meeting Together

Written by Angela Thavaraj

Reflections on the past 7 months for the Bristol based Nurses Prayer group

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews certainly knew the importance of meeting with fellow believers for encouragement and to ‘spur one another on towards love and good deeds.’ Although we might not always feel our day-to-day work fulfils this high calling of love and good deeds, meeting together regularly can be an active step towards developing our spiritual growth as Christians.

The Bristol based prayer group was set up in October 2001 with the aims of meeting for encouragement and fellowship and to enable us to grow in our knowledge and love of God. It is intended as a forum to discuss a Christian response to issues in nursing and to support and pray for each other in our work and witness as Christians. We are also committed to praying for the work of CNM nationwide and for the committee.

I moved to Bristol in August 2000 and was prayerfully considering the opportunity to start a group locally. I had been involved with the London based prayer group a few years earlier, before CNM was officially launched and had experienced the benefits of meeting together on a regular basis to support and pray for each other. I also gained much enthusiasm and inspiration from the weekend conferences away and the day conferences in London. I made contact with nurses from my own church and advertised in a few other local churches. At our first meeting there were 5 of us and we planned to meet on a monthly basis. This however proved to be too much of a commitment for most people. In the New Year, we resolved to meet every other month and include a meal at the start of each meeting. This has proved much more successful. At the last few meetings the average attendance has been 7, but I am in contact with over 20 nurses (from an initial number of 7).

After the meal we spend time reading the Bible together and have been working through the book of Philippians. Spending time in God’s word first, ensures that we are concentrating our minds on His agenda, before praying together. I have been greatly encouraged by the response from many in the group who share the view that the prayer meetings are a great source of encouragement and benefit. The group is still in its infancy but for all of us involved, it is a precious and valuable time to meet together to bring before God and each other the burdens and joys from our profession. We are trusting God for His leading and guiding in the future of this group and continue to pray that it might be used for His glory.