Sunday,
July 6, 2003
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Prayer behind the scenes
By REBEKAH SCHMELL
Goshen College Sunday, July 6, 2003
Among the nearly 8,000 Mennonites at the convention, 12 might be considered the prayer specialists. They are the full-time members of a prayer team that is hard at work, behind the scenes, to provide a spiritually uplifting experience for everyone connected with Atlanta 2003. They are joined by scores of others who have volunteered their prayer time in shifts. “Our biggest desire is to see God do all he wants to do during this convention,” said Tim Leaman, a prayer team member. The main focus for the prayer team is to pray for the service leaders during the worship times and the delegate meetings. The prayer volunteers meet during every session behind and to the right of the stage, where they spend the time in constant prayer. Katie Cunningham, another prayer team member, said it is “lifting other people up so God can speak through them.” Tim Shue, a worship leader, said that knowing the prayer team is there, unseen, “means a lot” and “helps put us at ease.” Les Horning, a member of the Assembly 2003 planning committee and the prayer team coordinator, developed a calendar for the three months preceding the conference. Horning said the prayer calendar was to serve as “a small gesture to help us focus our prayer as we planned for Atlanta 2003.” The prayer calendar was broken down so that every day there was one specific prayer concern or person to pray for, with an overall theme for each month. In the convention center there are other opportunities for prayer. Near the youth worship hall entrance, in room B217, one half of the room is set aside for stationary prayer. The rest of the room is a labyrinth, a prayer path. Markings on the floor indicate where to walk and how to guide your thoughts as you pray and reflect. Kevin Clark, a prayer team member, said the room is “an intentional place for people to come to refocus.” Prayer tables are also located throughout the convention center, with forms to be filled out with prayer concerns that are then taken up by the prayer team. A prayer wall is located outside of the prayer chapel for people to write out reflections or concerns. It may also serve as an inspirational stopping place for passersby. “God is moving here,” said Jen Leaman, a prayer team member. “He is speaking to people.”  |
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