The Summer We Prayed at 100 Schools
Just because a lot of the normal things in our lives have come to a halt, the Lord has not stopped working. He might just be changing the way we do things. And one of those changes might be in how we do ministry – and in the simple invitation to pray.
I was very much moved by Jesus to be praying physically onsite at schools this past summer. This is one of the best ways for us to sow the seeds of the Gospel, to be asking the Lord to do the things that we cannot. It requires more faith on our part. It also can “right-size” our view of ourself when we realize that Jesus can do “immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.”
Over the course of 10 weeks this summer, fellow Young Life leaders and I got the opportunity to pray at over 100 schools in the western and central part of our region. Two of the schools where we prayed, that had no Young Life contacts, now have monthly informational meetings. One of these has five leaders starting the leadership training process!
As the fall starts to wind down, I am going to get back at it and try to cover the schools in the northern part of our region. Allow me to share with you how I am doing this. Maybe you can jump in and start praying at schools as well. Here’s what I do.
- Contact staff in any existing Young Life areas to see how they have been praying for schools and ask if you can pray with them. Call your regional office to see if there is a strategic prayer effort for schools that you can join in.
- Find a partner to go with you. It’s more fun, a great time of fellowship and super encouraging. Road trip with an eternal purpose.
- Make a map and come up with an order for the schools where you want to pray.
- Be aware and respectful of any concerns a school might have about you praying on their grounds.
- Get out of your car and stand on the ground, maybe in the student parking lot.
- Plan on spending at least 10 minutes in prayer. Open-eyed prayer is totally in play if school is in session. Have a verse or some scripture to pray through. Pray for people by groups and/or by name if you know them. Be ready to answer questions if the opportunity arises.
- Take pictures of the school and the school sign. The sign can be superimposed on the school pic for labeling purposes. Pics can be shown at your region’s committee / leader conference or a leadership weekend.
The experience of praying onsite at schools has changed me. I feel a little like Jesus when He wept over Jerusalem.
Keep going. Grow in the Lord and be people of prayer!
