Prayer Room Stories
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Name:
FINANCIAL/BUSINESS MIRACLE – AS DESCRIBED BY MAJOR WARREN SMITH
Date: July 2006
The Salvation Army Mass Division submitted a Request For Proposal to construct a Kroc Center in Boston . Approval was given in January 2006 for them to proceed with the development of their plans.
In consultation with City of Boston officials a location was identified as being a worthy and needy area of Boston in the Dudley St/Roxbury section. The city agreed to donate a major portion of the projected site and an additional 11 private owners owning several additional pieces of property all agreed to sell their land to The Salvation Army. All together there were 59 separate parcels owned by both the City of Boston and individual owners.
THQ advised the division that the probability of completing such a transaction on a timely basis was limited. Little did we know that many people were praying for this to succeed.
The deadline for completing this entire transaction was June 15, 2006. On June 5, 2006 THQ officials made a personal visit to Boston to review the site and the plans and to discuss the details with the various committees and advisory board members. THQ officials advised the Divisional Commander along with the Advisory Board members that it would be next to impossible to finalize all these purchase agreements by June 15th.
On June 9, 2006 THQ launched its 24/7 prayer room. In addition the division worked feverishly over the next few days on this project. Late in the evening of Monday June 12, 2006 a letter was received from legal council advising us that all matters with the city had just been worked out and the lawyer gave us the green light to proceed with the City of Boston piece of the agreement.
The Territorial Property Council met at 8:00am on Tuesday June 13, 2006 and upon review of all the documents and agreements just received 11 hours prior to that meeting gave final approval to proceed with the plans to secure all the 59 properties in question.
Little did we know that the impossible dream of the division would be guided by the Hand of God and all parties involved and all plans laid would come together at the 11th hour. God truly works miracles.
Name:
Captain Philip Lloyd - SWONEKY
Divisional Youth & Candidates Secretary
Date: July 2006
Camp SWONEKY – the first camp in the Territory to take a week of 24/7 Prayer in conjunction with the Year of Prayer, has had such a powerful time, with summer camp staff eagerly signing up ‘round the clock to pray in their Prayer Room, that they are continuing on indefinitely. Camp SWONEKY continues its 24/7 Prayer Room into the summer season. One week – not enough.
Janet:
I know Jodi spoke with you on the phone earlier about our participation in the 24/7 Prayer initiative but I wanted to drop you a note as well. We enter our week lacking confidence that we would be able to keep our commitment to this initiative. We began by asking our leadership team to commit to one hour a day and hoping that the rest of our staff would sign up for at least two hours throughout the rest of the week. We did not have a plan for how we would deal with the two day staff break in the middle of our week, but we started hoping that it would work out.
When we began to circulate the sign up list I was amazed to see our staff, high-school and college kids, signing up for one hour time periods everyday. Very quickly, there was a day or two wait to get an open time slot in the prayer tent. If some one could not make their hour for some reason, usually the first person we ran into was more than willing to fill in. There was never any trouble finding people to fill the hours. I continued to be amazed when a dozen or so staff volunteered to stay on camp during the two day break in order to pray!
During the first week our "prayer tent" was blown over twice during severe weather. The first time, without hesitation the staff picked up the chairs and other elements that were in the prayer tent and set them up in a near by pavilion and prayer continued there until the tent was set back up. During the second storm the damage to the tent was un-repairable and the staff said to me, "Capt. we've got to get a more permanent place." The "prayer tent" was moved to one of our guest rooms in SWONEKY Lodge. That same evening staff came to me with the suggestion that we clean up an old tool shed that sat behind the maintenance building and pull it out into a central location and make it our permanent pray chapel.
Our week of prayer officially ended last night, but our prayer chain is still going on in SWONEKY Lodge while staff are volunteering to fix and paint our "new" prayer chapel. The impact this initiative is making on our summer probably will not be full realized for some time to come. I thank God for give us this special sacred thing he has given us even before we knew how much we needed it.
Name:
Captain Everett Henry
Divisional Youth & Candidates Secretary - NNE
Date: July 2006
FROM CAMP SEBAGOFollowing the sending of [an] e-mail [requesting prayer for camp staffing needs] it was suggested that we list the open positions in the prayer room. It has been 24 hours from posting it and we have filled three of the slots.
We are "Jumping & Leaping & Praising God" for His provision. I was in the Prayer Room last night and it is a place of peace and comfort indeed. We have begun discussion of what we shall do following Friday Night at 7 PM. We are planning a Staff Vespers to share and plan for the following and will keep you informed. I hope to forward some photos in the next 24 hours.
Here is an update!
The Spirit of God continues to minister His grace and peace for those in the Prayer Room. It is amazing (not unexpected though) the transformation that is occurring. The location itself (Rec Hall) for many years was a place that caused division and strife for the staff. It was a key decision to use this location as the base camp for Prayer. One journey entry described the Prayer Room as a place of security and comfort. That no matter what the world throws at them that this is a place to run to for shelter. "The Lord is my strong tower" has become a tangible thing for them.
We are running strong and have a corps coming for the 11 PM through 6 AM shift for tonight. This will be a real blessing for the staff as they will have time to rest and restore their need for rest and sleep.
A theme for the summer has develop through many ways and the Prayer Room time has produced the fruit:
"COMMUNITY AND UNITY"
Name: Captain Chip Johnson - NEOSA
Divisional Youth & Candidates Secretary
Date: July 2006
FROM CAMP NEOSA
The amazing thing for the staff is how much they have enjoyed the time spent in the prayer room and how anxious they are to get back there and to spend another hour. Each time I have gone back there is something new. The prayer log book has been such a blessing. There are prayer notes for different staff members, letters to people at other Corps, notes of encouragement from one staff to another, prayers for children all over the world, and commitments from people for incorporating prayer into their daily lives!!! We are going to keep the prayer room up and going for the entire season. It is something that we should have done a long time ago and will definitely keep using for a long time to come.
Thank you again, and may the prayer continue all year long!!
Name: Unknown
Greater Columbus Area Corps & Greenwood Lake Camp
Date: July 2006
A prayer board was filled with notes of requests and victories as clear evidence of God's work being done. There was a great moving of the Spirit in the Worship. Let's all keep praying as the "Prayer Torch" is passed.
Name: Major Bonnie Kirk's Blog: - June 29, 2006
Date: June 2006
Praying 24/7
This has been a great couple of days. I had the privilege to spend time at Camp Sebago in the 24/7 prayer room. The peace and serenity of that place was juxtaposed against the laughter and banter of staff and campers outside. It was an odd feeling - submerging myself in the holiness of that place while still having foot in this world as I chuckled over the sounds outside.
The prayer room is in the old Rec Hall - a place where a lot of history has been made. As I prayed I lifted my head and saw on the old wood ceiling names of staff members from as long as 25 years ago. Being from this division and a staff member once myself, I knew many of these "couples" proclaiming undying love for each other in the carvings of the old rec hall. Many are officers or have simply married other people. Some like my very own son, Joel, actually married the girl whose name is carved on the ceiling (Jen). Nine years almost and they love the Lord and serve him faithfully. Some names I knew faced sorrow and tragedy over the years. As I looked at all the prayers from the heart of current staff members, their prayer requests, and dreams for the future, I realized that in a way those names on the ceiling represented hopes and dreams as well. I found myself walking around the room and praying that God has found a way to bless and enrich each of their lives.
The prayer room has been set up to speak to all the senses, a candle center to sense the aroma of God, a craft center to express in creative ways, praise and love for God, a world focus center to pray for others in hard places. My two favorite areas are described below.
One corner of the room is all white with clear lights and a basin of water and a cross. There are also kneeling benches here and the theme is cleansing, purity, holiness. It was a beautiful place to confess and renew purpose with God.
The other place I liked was the Jolly Rancher table. That's right - the Jolly Rancher table. Here you were invited to suck on a fruit candy as you considered the fruits of the spirit. Particularly you were to pray about those fruits of the spirit that were lacking in your life. I was praying for more self-control and gentleness of spirit.
Today Vanessa joined me for a while in the prayer room - a little 7 year old girl who loves the Lord. This grandmother and that little girl formed a bond this morning as we prayed together for prayer requests that have been posted around the room. She even journaled in my journal!
I hope this continues. I want to visit a lot of prayer rooms this summer.
Go and do likewise!
Name: Captains Tim & Evelyn Clark
Date: July 2006
It has been such an unbelievable blessing to receive notes from people praying for us as part of the 24/7 prayer initiative!
Name: Cadets Daryl & Erika Calhoun
Date: July 2006
During our time of prayer; the Holy Spirit's presence was evident . As we were praying for the needs that were posted on the prayer board; we felt led to continue the prayer time outdoors. So, we did. With courage in our hearts and our bibles in our hands we marched out of the corps and into the streets. We began to pray the scriptures and proclaim that God should have the victory on East Main 's streets. The streets mainly consisted of prostitutes and drug dealers who tried to avoid contact with us at all costs. That didn't work. We were out there at 4:30 in the morning and we were determined to share the gospel with at least one person.
My wife Erika began to compel "the women of the night" to come and journey down a different path and see what God has in store for their lives. As she began to speak to them they began to cry out and tell her what they needed. One of the women was a prostitute who maintained a job at an insurance company and lived on the other side of Columbus ! She would frequent this area only on the weekends in order to make enough money to get to work the next day. She was told about the A.R.C. in Dayton but she was not willing to quit her job. This woman had tried many avenues toward happiness and she was tired of this lifestyle, yet she was not convinced (that night) to make a change. Her name is Renee and our prayers are continually with her.
It's been a long time since I evangelized in the streets like that. This was Erika's first time. We have been touched with a unexplainable sensitivity towards God's people who live a bleak life and feel that "wanting" is all they'll ever be. This prayer experience has increased our love for God's people and our desire to serve him all the more. To us, this is a praise report!
God Bless You
Name: Captains Wilder & Dora Garcia - GNY
Date: July 2006
It was a victory on every aspect. The challenge opened the eyes of the Corps people to the many difficulties to overcome when we want to make prayer the first priority, even for one week only.
Name: Major Edgar C. George, Jr.
WPA Divisional Youth & Candidates Secretary
Date: July 2006
We will be filling those dates during staff break in July (I'm not sure of all the dates we are covering) and August 9 -August 14 during Teen Camp Week. This comes out to a full week of prayer. Also we will have a prayer room at our Family Camp August 25-27. Blessings!
Name: Unknown
From the New Jersey Division:
Date: July 2006
Praise God! We thank our newest prayer partners who have answered the call to 24/7 prayer: Kearny NJ Corps September 15-22, 2006, Flemington NJ Corps October 27-November 2, 2006, and Altantic City NJ Corps December 29, 2006-January 5, 2007.
These prayer partners are added to : NJ Korean Corps, Trenton NJ Corps, Camp Tecumseh , Montclair NJ Corps, Jersey City NJ Corps, New Jersey Ironbound Corps, Morristown NJ Corps, Plainfield NJ Corps & DHQ.
We give praise to God for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are passing the torch of prayer during this marathon year of prayer.
Name: Excerpts from the Prayer Log Book at Camp NEOSA logged during the 24/7 prayer week
Date: July 2006
Dear Lord,
I thank you fro bringing me to a place like this, this summer. Being surrounded by Christians is the thing I need most in life right now. I have fallen so far away from you. Please just help me be a strong person for the rest of the summer. I pray that you will help me be a good witness. I pray that you will shine thru me. I pray that you will be a shelter thru the storm. Help me stay calm and give me the patience that it takes to handle the campers. Give the campers good, clean hearts.
Lord I thank you for listening!
…Let our staff be united! Help us to not talk about each other or be judgmental. Amen
O Lord, we thank you for hearing us. Thank You for caring & understanding. Your Word says You love us with an everlasting love. Your Word says we can cast our cares on You. Your Word says that you delight in our praises. How can it be Lord that You-Creator & King of All would delight in me? I don't understand it – Your ways are not ours & Your thoughts are higher than ours – yet you are mindful of us. I marvel at your mysteries & yet we can grow in knowing You everyday. Thank you Lord, for being Big enough to handle the biggest thing & compassionate enough to handle the smallest.
Lord, I just want to say thank-you for being such an awesome God! Your power is so mighty! …So far the devil has been working overtime to try to kill this summer, but Lord, this staff is way to strong to fall at his feet, and I just pray that you continue to give us that strength for the rest of the summer.
Dear Lord God, I find myself struck tonight just by the perfection of your plan and your sovereignty. How amazing that your hand is on all the little details of our lives!
A message from Captain Chip Johnson, director of Camp NEOSA :
The 24/7 prayer room was a true blessing from God during our first days on camp. While we were in the transition of moving here in a new appointment, it was a blessing to know that the camp was being bathed in prayer 24 hours/day. That first week was so smooth and I feel the credit lies entirely within the hands of God hearing the heartfelt prayers of His children.
We have continued to keep the prayer room open and I truly believe that it has provided a sanctuary and a place that people can open up and intercede on each other's behalf. I am so thankful that Camp NEOSA could be a part of this year long effort. As I have read the prayer journal that we all participated in creating, I see many places where people have been able to let go of bitterness or anger about someone or something. I also see pleas for family members to receive Christ into their heart. The hearts of our staff seem so sensitive to the Holy Spirit and for that I am thankful.