Here are a couple of stories from Prayer Sponsors in 2011:
Being a prayer sponsor is an extremely rewarding experience. I have had the pleasure of getting to know our high school students through Sunday School, youth group and through my job at the high school. We have an amazing group of young people with incredible potential to make a difference in the world. Just sitting back sometimes and listening to them talk teaches me more than I can teach them. They are filled with ideas and dreams and hopes for the future. Some of them are very confident in their place in the world, while others feel very much alone. But the one thing they ALL have in common is the need for prayer. I am amazed at the awesome power of a mighty God who puts people in our lives for a reason. I have begun to recognize when he puts a teenager right in front of me and says “pray for this person”.
When I signed up to be a prayer sponsor, I knew that it was a random selection. In my own mind, I picked out a girl that I thought I was supposed to be partnered with. It turns out, that’s not who God wanted to pair me with. Before names were even drawn, I had an amazing conversation with a beautiful, sweet girl at a youth group event. It started out as a casual conversation, and turned into a life-changing moment. As this girl talked and shared her story, I realized that I was listening to myself as a teenager. Her life experience up to this point mirrored my own at her age. Inside, my heart broke for her because I knew exactly what she was going through. And I was reminded again at that moment that God is much smarter than I am. He picked the perfect person for me to pray for. I also realized that everything in my past prepared me for this moment. And I was thankful.
I pray daily for EVERY teen in my Sunday School class, youth group and high school. Of course I especially pray for my own two incredible children. But God has given me a responsibility beyond what I thought I was supposed to be doing. My prayer now is that He will continue to use me how HE sees fit. I trust Him to guide me in helping these kids. And I am so thankful that I became a prayer sponsor.
Dawn Townsend
I have had the wonderful opportunity to be a prayer sponsor. At first, I did not know exactly what that would look like or the type of relationship that would transpire. I prayed that God would show me how to pray for the person that was chosen for me. One day at work, I saw my student (prayer partner). She was helping out in another classroom. I walked up to her and told her I was her prayer partner and if she ever had anything she wanted me to pray for just to let me know. She right away had several things and I said, “Ok, let’s pray now” and we did. I was excited that my student was going to be in my building for a few hours each day. The next day she came up to me and asked if we could pray every morning. We have met almost every morning since I first made contact with her.
Being a prayer sponsor has been a blessing because I start my day with prayer each morning. I enjoy our prayer time because we invite God’s presence into our lives each day. I am thankful that I have had this experience because we have been able to encourage one another. I have seen significant benefits as we are building strength, peace, and calm during her tough times. God truly listens, guides us, and if we are willing opens doors when we least expect it. I am thankful for my prayer partner and our church’s vision in supporting our youth.
Trish Groeninger
To return to the page with information about how to sign up to be a prayer sponsor, click here.
