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"Pray for me," someone says. How seriously do most Christians take such requests?

"The request 'pray for me' is one that I have learned to honor," writes Kenneth Carter, a pastor for nearly 30 years. "It is a cry for help, however it is expressed. It is an acknowledgment that we are limited and fi nite creatures. It is a trust placed in a higher power."

Using a beautiful metaphor, Carter compares the person in need — whether it's because of illness, a broken relationship, unemployment, grief, or another crisis — to a full bucket. That person's bucket is fi lled with emotion, grief, confusion, and disappointment.

The intercessor comes alongside the person with an empty bucket. Intercessors take into their "empty bucket" the person's needs, and they begin their ministry of praying for that person.

In "Pray for Me," Carter lays a scriptural foundation and introduces readers to the ministry of intercessory prayer. Interspersed through the 6 chapters are brief, practical exercises that lead the reader to pray for others in various situations. Appendices include a small-group guide, contexts for intercessory prayer, personal and congregational models for intercession, and suggestions for further reading.

This book is a must-read for groups and congregations that want to explore intercession more deeply, or feel the need to pray for others but don't know how.