Village Blog

Today was the National Day of Prayer, which provides a great opportunity to increase our emphasis on prayer. Some of you may be part of small groups that added a special emphasis on prayer for our world this week, some participated in the prayer walk across Aurora praying for ministries and city leaders as we passed through, some participated in the prayer service at church this evening, and some set aside special times in their homes to pray.

For several of us, this was the first time participating in the Prayer Walk through Aurora - and the beginning of many more.  It was very well done and was very impacting.  What a great opportunity to unite with other believers to pray for God's people as we walked through the town. We prayed for politicians and policemen at city hall; for seniors in nursing homes and seniors in high school; for the homeless and the jobless; for the elderly and the not-yet born at PIC.

On top of that all, we had a beautiful day!

I'm posting the Beacon News article about the prayer walk below for further details.

One last note: Now that the National Day of Prayer has come and gone, let's not make this a task that we now cross off the list. Let's use the prayer focus of this week to launch ourselves on a new prayer journey!

If you're looking for a fresh approach to your prayer life, here's an idea:  Click Here

Thousands of prayers begin with a single step

May 8, 2009
By MATT HANLEY, Beacon News

Dear God,

Certainly, You were very busy on Thursday during the 58th National Day of Prayer. Your request lines must have been ringing off the hook.

But hopefully, You had a few moments to check in on the group that walked 10 miles across Aurora. They started at 10 a.m. on the far West Side with 12 people and headed straight east on Galena Boulevard.

Along the way, the group added followers. I guess You're familiar with that kind of trend.

For those of us who live in Aurora, we've driven down Galena hundreds of times. But on this walk, the devout group had a chance to really see it. The Rev. Dan Haas said that's why he prefers a walk: you can feel the city's neighborhoods. Are they changing? Are they stressed?

"If you want to understand the needs of Aurora, just walk through Aurora," Haas said.

Some of the walkers felt they were viewing the city for the first time, both its blessings and its trappings. John Ross couldn't help but smile.

"I think you see people, you see God," he said as he ambled past Edgelawn Drive. "You only got to watch out for dogs and cars."

And as the group hiked, they stopped at different spots to offer prayers. They prayed for politicians and policemen; for seniors in nursing homes and seniors in high school; for the homeless and the jobless; for the elderly and the not-yet born.

You might have appreciated their first three stops.

The first was at a retirement home where they prayed for residents who felt alone or helpless.

The second was outside West Aurora High School, where they prayed for students to be strong in their faith.

Third was the Pregnancy Information Clinic, where they prayed more young women would choose life.

Birth, learning and old age. Pretty good coverage, don't You think?

That's what Thursday was about. Even first-time walkers like Ernest Camacho talked about prayer being for all people, from all backgrounds.

"We believe the city needs spiritual support, too," he said. "We believe our prayers make a difference."

And if they needed any motivation, there were reminders. As Randy Schoof, pastor at Warehouse Church, stood outside the high school, he thought about a kid who once stood outside smoking cigarettes.

"I believe people prayed for me," he said.

P.S. Almost forgot. Thanks so much for the great weather Thursday morning. Snow and rain and nasty weather are probably all part of Your grand plan and whatever. But it's so much easier to concentrate on the praying when it's 79 degrees and there isn't a cloud in the sky. Helps everyone see heaven easier.