a time to pray

A couple of months ago, we launched an experiment. We set up a place for people to stop and pray with us, in front of the church's property along the busy thoroughfare. One of our men had seen this at another church and he thought it would be worth trying. We set up a tent of sorts, signs, a table and chairs and a few volunteers...and waited. It didn't take long for some to stop to find out what was going on. One woman asked about the cost for the prayers. Another made an illegal u-turn in the middle of the street in order to pull in and talk to us. A gangbanger came down the street to request prayer for the upcoming birth of his son. By the end of that first afternoon, five people sat, shared and prayed with us.

Since that day, each Wednesday afternoon the tent has gone up, signs set in place, and people wait to pray. Some days one or two arrive, some days more. Today, as Robert (my assistant and cohort in mischief) was preparing, we wondered if there was enough value in this experiment to keep it going. Early on, there had been excitement, and several indicated interest in helping. A couple months later, that expression of involvement had been supplanted with the busyness of life and schedule for many. Was this activity worth the time it took to prepare and operate?

Before today's session was complete, Robert had shared with a man who had been walking down the sidewalk when he saw the signs. He sat and talked about the pain of his current broken marriage, about infidelity and poor choices, and he asked for direction, wisdom and prayer. Robert told him that there were no magic words to change the situation, but that regardless of the outcome he needed to make his relationship with Christ. They prayed and he went on, thankful that someone had taken time to listen to his story and pray with him about it.

Robert came in to relate this encounter, and as we looked at each other we agreed that even without a lot of helpers, this kind of ministry needs to continue. There are far too many around us crying out for someone to care for them, someone to listen to them, someone to share guidance, wisdom and love with them. But they usually don't break down our doors asking for it, do they? That man, in all likelihood, was not going to walk into the church and request counsel and prayer. But having someone within his reach made such a connection easier and possible. And we each need to make ourselves available in as many ways as we can so people can make that connection with those who care...and with God Himself.

So the Prayer Tent will continue to stand on Wednesdays (for now, at least), and people will be able to find someone who cares in a more direct, more accessible way. And why not? Isn't that what God did in sending His Son to connect with us?