Intercessors Arise is a book birthed out of a life time of Christian ministry, and more importantly, a lifetime of personal experience with intercessory prayer. Debbie Przybylski is a missionary, speaker, teacher and founder and director of Intercessors Arise International. She has literally travelled all over the globe in those capacities, so she has credible experience to back up her teaching on prayer. That kind of authentic life style “preaches”.
In her introduction, Debbie Przybylski speaks of her conviction that a world wide movement towards passionate prayer is spreading rapidly and growing in intensity. She explains her reason for writing this book on prayer: “My desire is to help train and motivate [readers] for this worldwide prayer movement.”
By her own description, Intercessors Arise is a manual and a “How To” book for those who feel the desire to pray growing in their hearts, but are not sure how to go about it. As Pryzbylski says, as a manual it is helpful for both beginners and seasoned intercessors.
I would agree that this book is a manual. It gives a broad overview of every aspect of intercession that one could need. In each of the chapters Pryzbylski provides a solid, Biblical foundation for each component. She gives the reader motivation for each kind of prayer by referring often to her own extensive experience. She then goes on to give practical ideas about how to make that kind of prayer a part of the reader’s life.
This book would be valuable to any individual wanting to grow in prayer. I can also see it as an excellent small group study book. The section at the end of each chapter – “Personal Application” – provides journaling, study and prayer exercises for individuals and groups. These exercises are designed to take a person deeper in their own walk with God and prayer experience, and they encourage the journey to be shared (as it ought to be) within the fellowship of the rest of the body of Christ.
Intercessors Arise is suited to an older age group as the illustrations Pryzbylski uses are classics – quite recognizable to those in the Baby Boomer age group. (I have heard them used many times over the years.) The quotes she uses from classic books on prayer by (for instance) AW Tozer and EM Bounds transcends generations however, and may appeal to younger people as they are drawn into the discussion on intercession by the experience and wisdom of these old giants of the faith.
Bottom line: Intercessors Arise is worth having on any church library shelf.
Reviewed by Joan Tyvoll
