Praying for Our Church and Our Community

As part of Pastor Sherry and Deacon Loretta's continuing education, we are reading Prayer-walking: Praying on Site with Insight by Steve Hawthorne and Graham Kendrick. Our reading is part of our on going work with a Vital Church Initiative Clergy Mentor Group.

Prayer-walking begins by establishing prayer walking as a biblical practice. Abraham, Joshua and Jesus all prayed as they walked.

The authors, Hawthorne and Graham, suggest that the practice of prayer walking can bring our spiritual focus to our church and community. It can also prepare a community to receive the movement of God's Holy Spirit.

"Ordinary believers are stepping into the streets to pray effectively for their neighbors. With eyes open to real needs and with ears open to the promptings of God's Spirit, intercession becomes an adventure."

I remember Bishop Ott, a former United Methodist Bishop for the Michigan Area, telling the story of walking around and around a new church building with an entire congregation. They prayed intentionally for powerful ministry and outreach in their neighborhood before dedicating their new church building.

What would happen if we begin to walk in our own neighborhood, intentionally praying for our neighbors and asking God for opportunities to connect with our neighbors?