Cincinnati Mission Team Brings the Kids Prayer Covenant to the Children’s Center in Kenya.
The Prayer Covenant equips churches and ministries in North America and throughout the world with resources that disciple children and adults in prayer and evangelism.
Today’s story is about a team of five from a church in Cincinnati, OH, that journeyed to Kenya to minister to orphan children at Hope Community Center founded by Lucy. Lucy rescued their 200 children from the streets. The younger ones came as infants, some of them literally thrown away. They were lifted from dumpsters and from under cars, survivors of abortion. Now they are healthy, happy and thriving. They gather three times a day, before each meal, for devotions.
The team led the evening devotions using the Prayer Covenant for Children as a guideline. They brought 500 Prayer Covenant cards. The children of the Center treasured these cards and walked around all week long holding them. Each child received two cards, one in English and one in Swahili.
One of the highlights for Erwin Goedicke, pastor of the visiting church, was having the primary grade children teach their grown-up visitors the Prayer Covenant for Children in Swahili. They corrected their pronunciations and cheered them on. “The primary school kids became our tutors,” Erwin said, “It was a great joy, and a blessing!”
But what really spoke to his heart was the way in which the children were praying. Erwin got sick on the trip and was really feeling unwell by mid-week. He shared, “We had just finished a meal with the primary and elementary school, after which they gathered around and laid hands on me. Instead of the adult leader praying over me, the children began praying!” He was profoundly touched by their powerful prayers of faith.
As a parting gift, each child received a Prayer Covenant comic book.
Hope Community Center is a living model of Acts 2, where Paul wrote, “They devoted themselves to fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer.” It is important to note that this is not limited to adults. It is wonderful when children are encouraged and empowered to lead in prayer, knowing their prayers are being heard and answered by the Living God.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, how we praise and thank you for rescuing these precious children. You have saved their physical lives, but also brought them to a place of safety and spiritual life. Thank you that they know you, love you, and spend time each day worshipping you. Thank you for those who gave sacrificially, financially and in time and travel, so that these children could be given prayer cards and booklets to help them mature spiritually. Please lay a strong foundation in their hearts and minds, that you will build on in years to come.
