Year-Long Courthouse Visits
Let me just tell you, that as the Georgia State Coordinator for the National Day of Prayer, I have met some GREAT people.
This week we look at a soft-spoken ROCK of an NDP Coordinator who is COMMITTED to Courthouse work. Enjoy, and be challenged.
You can see ALL of our Georgia NDP events by CLICKING HERE or going to www.NDPGeorgia.org
let’s celebrate a 2021 NDP event
Year-Long Courthouse Visits
It is always exciting to me, the various prayer streams I run into, as I work with the National Day of Prayer.
Here is another one. On the outside you may say, “Mark, he does the NDP at a courthouse, most of us do the same thing?”
I would respond, “NOT EXACTLY.”
Every year I try and get around to a number of NDP events. That’s how David and I met a couple years ago.
But being at his National Day of Prayer, Courthouse event, does not tell the whole story. What David and his team does, THE REST OF THE YEAR is the real story.
I interviewed David Burgher from Bridge the Gap Ministries with 3 basic questions:
- What do you do?
- What do you want to see done?
- How can you help?
Interviewing David was a Holy occurrence. I know that sounds weird, but it was. When I do my prayer calls, there is traffic in the background, when I’m with guys like David, there are birds tweeting behind them.
Seriously!
His calm demeanor required me to slow way down, which I am so glad I did, because I got to enjoy our time together much more than I otherwise would have.
Everything he does is immersed in the Word of God, every teaching, every conversation, and every picture he leaves in your mind’s eye. When you are able to reach him, take the time with him, don’t rush it!
One more thing, if you want to do this in your courthouse, may I suggest that you arrange to shadow David at his, for a day. You’ll be glad you did.
Do you want to know his ministry in a nutshell? Read the first line after the first question.
Below are my notes from our conversation, not a verbatim recitation of it.
So, I asked him to tell me in his own words, “What do you do in the courthouse?”
I mingle with people that the Holy Spirit leads me to.
That’s it folks! If you’re in a hurry and can’t read the rest of this, you got all you needed.
David went on to say that he introduces himself to random folks he sees and then he tells them he is there to serve them by praying for them.
“And their response is phenomenal,” he said. I asked him why and he said, “Mentioning prayer causes a light bulb to go off in their mind. They are usually at the mercy of the courtroom. It’s over their heads and they know they need prayer.”
Then he added, “Nearly every connection is a one-time thing. I get as much follow-up information I can, but I rarely see them after this one encounter.”
After David said this, he hastened to tell me, with absolute holy-humility, “But there have been times when people looked for me and found me, just to tell me how much they appreciated the prayer.”
He then explained to me what is needed to do this kind of a ministry. “It’s not for everyone. Not everyone has the gift of compassion, prayer and boldness. You have to look at people thru eternal eyes, because you will probably never see them again.”
He said he sometimes runs into people who want to debate, but he just walks away from them, because they are still running from God.
Do you want to reread the last half of that sentence? I did! And then I felt bad I didn’t say to him, “David, that is GREAT insight!”
Every week, he and other prayer warriors meet at the courthouse and then pray for leaders, judges, attorneys, “Where decisions are made which impact the entire county, and thousands of people.”
He said the conversations he engages last anywhere from a few minutes to 30 minutes.
“God is engineering the conversations.” David says emphatically.
He has a flyer which he takes, hands to people and then asks them to read it for themselves, “Out-loud, if you will,” he tells them.
He says, “It is powerful, having them read it.” He uses it as a discussion starter, and you can find this, as well as print it, below.
Secondly, I asked him what he would like to see at other courthouses?
Dumb question. I know. What he wants to see is pretty obvious. David and his ministry want to see others take up the challenge and go to their courthouses on a weekly basis, and just engage in prayer, people they see.
I have to tell you, I really resonated with this, because it is what I do in D.C. on each of my visits. I engage congressmen, senators, staffers, janitors, food service workers, capitol police officers, even other guests who are just walking the halls.
“If people want to do this,” David said, “They begin by committing to pray, inside the courthouse building. And then, once you’re there, just start walking the halls and talking to people.”
Our interview was winding to a close, so I asked him, “How can/will you help people do what you do?”
Over the phone this quiet natured rock of a man thought about it and then said, his team will add pages to the website with tools to help. “And my phone is always available for people to call.”
How do I close this article?
I decided the best way to end this article is with some adjectives that describe this ministry . . . exciting, immense, insightful, powerful, impacting, and scary (which is okay to admit, because you’ll get over it). Let me add 1 more word we rarely use as an adjective, but it fits David Burgher well…ROCK. The man is a solid rock.
Love you guys. I hope you are as encouraged as I am by reading about David Burgher from BridgeTheGapMinistries.
Mark
Folks, remember our Wednesday morning, 15 minute, NDP Prayer Conference Call, which all of you can join.
Folks, remember to visit our NDP Website:
NDPGeorgia.org
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