The power of praying together

Local prayer events

April is Child Awareness Month, and on April 14, one million Christians prayed for two billion children. Our country is about to celebrate and recognize the power of prayer this week on May 2, The National Day of Prayer, where many will likely pray for peace in the aftermath of the tragedies in Boston.

I had the chance to recently speak with local community and faith leaders about the act of prayer with others and the inspired changes it can bring. They were interim director Jana Renz of Child Evangelism Fellowship of the Miami Valley (CEF), Rose Bellante, coordinator for Englewood National Day of Prayer and Adopt a School program; Retired Air Force Colonel and Coordinator for Dayton National Day of Prayer Joe Koenig, along with lead intercessor Cyndye Harmon, both of City Gate Ministry.

Children are a gift from God

Renz volunteered for CEF for several years, and then officially became a staff member in and stepped into the position as Interim Director in 2012.

“CEF focuses on assisting kids ages 4 through 14. We work closely with the local schools and teachers, encouraging others to adopt a school to pray for. Many of the issues are discipline and learning problems. We have 24 elementary schools we work with that allow us to take prayer requests from the kids. Here’s a few: ‘my mom escaped from jail and does drugs,’ ‘I have two last names,’ and my father is not allowed to come see me and I miss him.’ Most of the homes are single-parent, which out-numbers the traditional nuclear family with a mother and father. We are so thankful for the grandparents who take care of these kids,” Renz said.

Inspired to action after the Columbine tragedies, Bellante started the Adopt-A-School program. “I have 61 schools participating. We have people choose what school they are willing to pray for on the third week of each month,” Bellante said.

“We have a Christian after-school program called the Good News Club that reported the kids were highly distracted and to hold their attention became a real challenge. We soon had a ‘family’ praying for this club during the times the kids were present. They soon afterwards reported that there was an immediate turnaround. The kids began to noticeably listen. Prayer is the foundation for everything we do,” Renz said.

Unity prayer

This is Bellante’s 11th year coordinating the National Day of Prayer in Englewood. “I received permission from the mayor, and since then we have seen pastors of different denominations form friendships. We also have unity services. Pastor takes turns monthly to pray at one another’s churches.”

Koenig, who has served three years as coordinator for Dayton’s National Day of Prayer, said there are areas of emphasis in prayer, including family, church, government, education, business, military and arts/media/entertainment.

Since the founding of City Gates Ministry nine years ago, Harmon has been a part of and lead intercessor for the ministry. “We have worked together to focus our prayers and efforts on the gates of churches, which includes unity prayer services. The first church was Harvest Grove Missionary Baptist Church. The state of the neighborhood was alarming. There had been drug-related shootings and deaths… Everyone was invited to a prayer fair. There was free food and fun, and many people received prayer and encouragement.”

Harmon says the community has improved for the better since that prayer event.