Prayer Room Stories
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Name: Captain Lynnann M. Rivers
Jersey City, NJ
Date:
October 2006
Greetings in the Name of Christ!
A few weeks ago, the Jersey City Corps took our turn with the prayer room - and we never stopped. The chapel was transformed with verses and songs and pillows and candles and crafts and lights and Bibles and handprints and more. For our 'kick-off' event, the corps people came together and had a wonderful time of prayer for several hours. One of our young adults came in almost every day before he went to work for a couple of hours. One of our teens came over after school and spent time each day in the prayer room. Even the littlest ones of our day care were involved as Walter and I traced their handprints and prayed with them. The children of the after-school program wanted to know what was going on in there - and became a part of the prayer room. The Pilipino church that uses our chapel on Sunday afternoons participated. Social services clients and daycare parents and staff popped their heads in to see what was going on.
In the end, we decided to leave our 'decorations' up in the chapel and the people are still writing on the posters and in the log book and praying.
Blessings!
Name: Major Susan Wittenberg
Pioneer Philadelphia
Date: October 2006
I believe [the Year of Prayer] is just the beginning of a "New and Fresh" thing God is doing in our midst. These are two of the words that came to many of us though out our week.
One of the amazing answers to prayer was the coverage of hours. Especially in our neighborhood at night. It was suggested by leadership outside our corps, that we have people pray in there homes during the evening hours. Our corps is in a dangerous neighborhood, and the thought was that we could not have people come throughout the night. Well Kati Burgmayer volunteered to keep and cover the hours and have the doors locked through the night and the police were keeping extra watch on us as well. Anyone wanting to pray during the night would be there by 11pm. and stay though out. By the end of the week we had 7 young women battling in prayer for our city, our community and the Army world wide. We call them our Hallelujah lassies.
One morning when this group left at 5:00, after others came to carry the torch of prayer, a young man yelled from his window across the street "thank you for praying on us". WOW... The people in our neighborhood were knowing Gods' presence through this prayer time. This was such and encouragement to them, as they wondered how the man even knew.
One day we took our prayer time to the streets and a woman named Veronica told one of our teenagers that she would like to be set free from Drugs. Darion ran after me and said, "Major Susan, this lady wants prayer, but I didn't get her name". I joined her and talked a bit and found out that she has a husband, and a life that was being destroyed by the drugs (most likely heroine). She wanted to quit but didn't have the desire to stop. We prayed right there on the street for Veronica, that she would know the power of Jesus Christ, and that He would in fact give her the desire to stop. Tears running down her face she hugged me and not wanting to let go. She was about 75 lbs, wasting away. I am believing that she will weigh 110lbs in the near future.
Another man named Paul came up to the prayer room, (from the street). He shared that he was HIV positive, and wanting to reconcile with his family before it was too late. He confessed great love for Jesus, and wanted to just spend time in the room. He prayed for his son who is in jail, and prayed for a job for himself. He was having difficulty getting a job due to his illness. Within three days he has a job suited just for him, and he is believing for his family, that there will be peace amongst them. He has visited his son in jail, and seems to be getting through.
The last night of prayer the ladies lay hands on me and prayed for healing in my ears. I did not ask for this, it was on the heart of one of our ladies. While in Estonia I got a nasty ear infection and lost partial healing. I do not share this with many people, but she was told to pray for me in this way by the Spirit. I believe God granted His love and healed my ears, making them complete once again.
The room has not closed. People still come by and ask to have time alone in the prayer room. We call it the upper room, as it is situated just above with a window overlooking our chapel. Two weeks back a woman [named Marion] from the corps came in, having been in the prayer room to see it, but not had time to pray there. She walked passed me and fell to the floor and began to cry at the foot of the cross. I joined her, and she shared how her grandson whom she raised, has been back from Turkey having served there in the military. He was seriously ill for 6 months but not diagnosed. He has pain all over his body she said. She knew he was involved in staying in a home and demolishing it after the use of this building came to and end, only to find it was full of lead. We prayed for his healing.
Marion came in two days later full of joy expressing how God answered prayer. This young man called his mom and said.."Mom I have been in pain for 6 months straight, but I woke up at 11:00 completely free of pain"...it was the exact time Marion had prayed for him. WOW God is so good, so very good.
This Tuesday one of our people had there purse stolen from our chapel. There was a man in need, that was being helped with clothing and food, but it seems he wanted more. While songsters were singing he took her belongings. Credit cards, keys to home and car, ID, Bank cards and cell phone plus cash. It was a horrible thing to have happened. We all began to pray. My 6 year old prayed after we read to her the story of the lost coin. She prayed for this man to know Jesus, and that he was in Jesus house. That his heart would not want to hurt Donna's heart, and that Donna would get her things back. Late last night we got a call from Donna. They found her purse on the fire escape next door. Everything in it except the cash. A miracle. In our neighborhood, for it to be there two days with everything in it untouched.
You see, the prayer room has gone beyond the walls and time set aside for Sept 22-29. We are a people who are called even more, to pray. We are seeing God move in amazing and profound ways. Lives are changing. People are coming off the streets for Sunday worship. Every week since 24/7 there are new people joining us, with no other reason but that God directed them here. The altar is being lined. People are moving forward during music numbers at the beginning of the service, and people are coming requesting prayer.
The blessings go way beyond what I have expressed. I know others are sharing as well. It is hard to try to put it all into words; the words don't convey it all. I just know that we have been blessed, and we are called to take the blessing out side where people are drowning in a sea of hopelessness and sin. Jesus is calling us to be His healing waters, like the waters that touch the Dead Sea in Ezekiel 47 and bring it to life. WE must bring life from the throne room of grace and flow into the streets offering life and hope.
Name: Mary Parks - Soldier
Pioneer Corps - Philadelphia, PA
Date: October 2006
"Now, all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more that we might ask or think."
Eph. 3:20
During my time in the "Upper Room," as our prayer room came to be called due to its location overlooking our chapel, God did more than I could ever ask for, and exponentially more than I could ever imagine. I had the privilege of serving on the overnight crew for each night of the week. Because of various concerns, it was not practical to have traffic coming through the building late at night, and it was not safe to have people coming in during the overnight hours. However, God, in His provision, raised up four young women (Katie Burgmayer, Nikki Colon, Nancy Huston and myself) who, due to various circumstances had that week clear from school, home, and work responsibilities and were able to meet together from the hours of 11 PM through 5 AM. Although, as the week progressed, we tended to show up earlier and leave later. Also, throughout the week, God brought others alongside us to worship and pray during the night watches.
It is providential; I think that God would choose four young women because the Pioneer Corps was started through the step of faith of one 16 year old young woman in 1879. If He chose just one girl to change the face of history through stepping out in faith, imagine what He can do with four of us!
Our times in the Upper Room were blessed times of prayer, worship and fellowship. On Friday night, as it was our first night, we felt our way through. With Saturday night came an increase in freedom, both in worship and prayer. However, for me, Sunday night was the tipping point. During the GeneratioNext Corps meeting, God began showing me a word from Psalm 46:1-4. Following the GeNext meeting and fellowship time, the Upper Room crew remained and we shared a time of fellowship among ourselves. We retreated (or, should I say, "advanced?") to the Upper Room to begin that evening's night watch. Sensitive to the Holy Spirit's prompting, we entered a time of prayer, where God led us to intercede on behalf of a member of our corps family who has been facing a rather dark time in their life. Still in alignment with the Spirit, we moved into a time of prayer for each other. After some time, my friend, Nancy, felt compelled to pray for me. Specifically, the Holy Spirit was prompting her to pray that I would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Knowing my comfort level with things of that nature, she asked first if she could do so. Whether it was sleep deprivation or newfound openness to the Spirit is debatable, but I said, in effect, "Bring it!" In those moments, the Holy Spirit filled me and made His presence known. At one point during the night, God's presence was so strong that we were driven to our knees and we could not stand up under it. During this time, as well, some were blessed with the sight to see an angel that was in the room with us. From that night on, we had many concrete experiences of God's presence.
It has been prophesied many times that our corps is a place of healing - specifically that a river of healing runs through our corps. Interestingly enough, our corps is built over a dry riverbed. This word has also been reinforced throughout the week in the Upper Room. Throughout the week, the Upper Room was a place of healing - both physical and emotional. I was among the many recipients of that healing. Later on Monday night, we shared another season of praying for each other. . . God began healing years of emotional scars that had built up through the years.
Since the 24-7 prayer week, God has been moving in amazing ways in all of our lives.
I know that, because of my time in the Upper Room, I am ready to receive all that God has for me! Eph. 3:20 has truly becoming living and active in my life in a powerful way. I can't wait to see what God does next!
Name: John Luby
ARC - Mt. Vernon, NY
Date: November 2006
We opened our Prayer Room on 27 October here at the Mount Vernon , NY ARC. The response was overwhelming. Prayers, answered prayer, . . . open journals, men on their knees, we had seven seekers at Sunday Meeting and over one dozen testimonies and open prayers.
The room has already been declared to be a permanent fixture here at the center. Praise God and His wonderful work, one note stated they could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in the room.
Name: Soldier - Philadelphia Citadel Corps
Date: November 2006
"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." Jer. 29:12-14
Me and my friends were doing 24/7 prayer at Pioneer Corps here in Philly. We would do the night shift (it was from 11pm to 5am). So, before this I was really hungry and thirsty for more of God in my life. I was beginning to get sick of boring stuff. I was getting tired of the dry stuff going on . . . in my life. I was reading in Jeremiah 29 12-14 in the Upper Room [Prayer Room] at Pioneer and after I read that, I [prayed] "God, I want more of you! I'm so hungry in my life - I need more of you and less of me. I'm looking for you in my life”. So on Sunday me and my friends gathered again in the Upper Room [the 24/7 Prayer Room] for prayer and worship. We decided to pray for one other, and when we started praying, God's presence was heavy in the room. God said to me, "Nancylee, pray for your friend, that she will be filled with the Holy Spirit." I was really afraid to ask her, but I did and she was like, "Bring it." I started asking God to come more into my friend so that she will be filled with the Holy Spirit and it happened! She was totally filled with the Holy Spirit and it was like "Wow!! Did God just do that?" The presence of God was so heavy in the room that we couldn't get up for about 2 hours. That was one of the most wonderful God-encounters I have ever had.
Name: Corps Officer
New Jersey Division
Date: November 2006
I just put the finishing "starting" touches on the prayer room here at the corps, and it looks FANTASTIC. People are itching to get in there. One lady was in praying this morning at 9 am, even though the room was still unfinished and the furniture was still in the middle of the room! I will try to send you photos...it's really beautiful. I can't wait to get in there myself now that it's done. We're dedicating the room tonight at our Bible Study at 7:30 PM.
Amazing things happen when you believe God and faithfully wait in patience.
Name: Soldier - Manchester, CT
Southern New England Division
Date: November 2006
This is so exciting! We are really kickin' here! People are really stepping up!
We are filling up as we go. [Our 24/7 Prayer Room sign up schedule] is full days ahead. God is moving. A guy from another church came into the prayer room and as he was leaving we met him at the door and asked how it was [in the Prayer Room]. He began to weep!
[A soldier] set up a little prayer stand in the feeding program [for the homeless]. My heart is to pray for these folks . . . The prayer requests will get into the prayer room today.
So many [prayer requests and prayer art] in the room we may have to expand soon after only two days. Much talk about getting it to continue! My heart desire!
24/7 Prayer.
Folks just keep coming and coming [to the Prayer Room]. Others people from other churches also!
A prodigal from my family is going into [the Prayer Room] on Monday night! Her heavenly father is waiting for her there. The Lover of her soul!
Name: Corps Officer
Date: November 2006
I wanted to respond to the 24/7 prayer room which we had in [our corps]. We focused our prayers on two main concerns that the Corps has had for a few years. Attendance and financial debt. We prayed about it during our week of prayer. We wrote it down for others to help us pray. We left it with God and God has wonderfully answered our prayers. We have had an increase in attendance by 12 this past month in Holiness, Sunday School and Salvation meeting. Our debt was $100,000 and through a recent will which was worded correctly 100% of the will stays in Steubenville to meet needs. That total check was $219,000. God honored our prayer and for the first time in years we will be debt free. God certainly is big enough.
Name: Soldier - PENDEL Division
Date: November 2006
The word I received in the prayer room was to "Now take the prayer out of the prayer room and into the streets." We have since done several "prayer walks", knocking on doors, stopping people on the street, and praying right there for them. A few of us continue to do this [on Sunday mornings] week to week. It is an exciting ministry, and one that is releasing the Presence of God in our community. Very exciting. We pray mostly for healings and personal situations and return for follow-up.