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Straight from a Youth Worker's Mouth

Prayer Walk for Small Churches | For Large Churches

Explain to your students that you will be doing a Prayer Walk – a walk around the community in which you focus on God’s presence and power in each place and person.  Depending on the size of your group you may want to stay together or split up into smaller groups.  If you split into smaller groups, instruct each group leader to start at a different place in the neighborhood to give everyone some space as they walk.  Give each group leader a copy of the PRAYER WALK guide. (Add other facilities or places within walking distance of your meeting site that you have in the surrounding neighborhood or in the church and adapt the guide to better suit your particular church as necessary.)

After a set amount of time (30 minutes or 1 hour) have the groups come back together in one location so that you can debrief the experience. If you went as one group, still come back to the starting place to debrief together.

Some possible debrief questions for after the walk:

1. As we walked around the neighborhood, did people notice us?  Did you feel weird or was it cool to be out praying?
2. As you walked and prayed what images struck you?
3. Was there a particular part of the walk that was especially meaningful to you? What was it and why was it meaningful?
4. Have you ever thought before about all of the people in our community and what God is doing in their lives?
5. How did it make you feel to pray so specifically for these people and for the various groups here in our town?

The Walk

Walk around the neighborhood with your group.  As you walk think about the people who live here.
 
Possible places to walk to from the church:  Pick some that make sense for you, or add some that are relevant to your setting.

Pastor’s House
Pray for the pastor to be upheld by the Spirit of God so the pastor can teach, preach and lead in ways that build up the body of Christ.
Pray that the pastor will not grow weary, but will be energized by ministry in and with the community of ___________________.

Church Musician’s House
Pray for the God’s Spirit to guide the musician to have plenty of time to practice and to find joy in serving God through the church’s music ministry. 

School Principal’s House
Pray that the principal will seek God’s knowledge and wisdom as she or he leads the school to be a great place of learning for all the students. Pray for the principal’s family that they too may find blessing in relationship with God in Christ.

Community Park
Pray for all the children who play here.
Pray for the families who picnic or cookout here.
Pray that all who come to this park will find re-creation in God and be renewed in their strength.

Youth Worker’s House
Pray for God’s guidance to be on him or her to lead and shepherd the youth in the ways of Christ.
Pray that the youth worker will have plenty of personal time for recreation and study of God’s word.

Barber Shop and/or Beauty Shop
Pray that the fellowship that happens here will bring people joy and laughter.
Pray that the conversations will build up the community of ______________ (name your town).

Bank
Pray for all those who work there, that they will not be tempted to steal or be dishonest with the money.
Pray for those who do business at this bank, that they will use their money wisely to glorify God.

After doing several of these, come back to the church and praying through a few parts (if they exist in your facility) of the building before debriefing like: 

The Preschool
Pray for all the children that come here every day
Pray for their growth, physically, intellectually and spiritually. 
Pray for their families that they will all grow in the knowledge that God loves them and is there   for them. 

The Day Care
Pray for all the babies and toddlers who come everyday. 
Pray for their safety, growth and development.
Pray for their parents as they work.
Pray for the people who take care of the babies. 
Pray for every family that is touched by this ministry. 

The Youth Area
Think about yourself and the many times you have been here. 
Offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for the friends you meet here, and that Jesus meets you here just as you are every week. 
Pray for future youth who will come here, that they might meet Jesus here too.

The Fellowship Hall
Think about all the functions that take place here and the opportunities people have to fellowship. 
Praise God for all the celebrations, dinners, and fun times that have been in this place.  Pray for the families who have gathered here after a funeral, to grieve with each other, with family and friends. 
Pray for the Sunday School classes that meet here each week, that they may learn and grow in their walk with Jesus.

The Music Area
Pray for all the musicians and singers who help us experience God through music.  Thank  God that these musicians serve with their gifts and talents to help lead worship each week. 
Thank God for the gift of music in your life.  Think for a few moments about what kinds of music helps you relax and feel peaceful in God’s presence.  Be grateful to God.

The Office Area
Pray for all the people that work here everyday to take care of the church business. 
Pray for those who answer the phone, create bulletins, prepare the sermons, plan worship, manage the finances and coordinate events that take place here.

The Sanctuary
Praise God for this place of worship!
Be thankful that we live in a country where we can openly worship, gather and pray together.  Even though worship can be boring sometimes, this sanctuary is a holy place – a place we can come and seek God and find him. 

Pray that all who come here will encounter the living God.  Whether they are seeking, hurting, praising, burdened, weary, just getting by…whatever their situation pray that God will be present in their lives and that they will feel God’s love and take it with them when they leave this place.