Prayer Room Stories

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Name: THQ Employee
Date: August/September 2006

Dear Major Munn:
I just wanted to share with you this morning, how grateful I am for you and all these wonderful opportunities that you have afforded us here at THQ.

I have absolutely enjoyed the book club with Lt. Colonel Burr, The Power to Heal. Lt. Colonel Burr is a great lecturer who loves to encourage prayer. He has inspired and improved my prayer life and I am grateful.

It seems as though the theme for me in these past weeks has been gratitude ... I love what you do! THANK YOU!

God is very real and I know that He works in all of us. I know that our hearts crave His Word, His love and His encouragement; so thank you for doing that.

On Friday, August 4th at 7:00 p.m. the first two prayer warriors entered the prayer room. As they began to pray they heard a large commotion outside. An inebriated man waving a knife was demanding entrance to the building. The two men continued to pray as the desk man called the authorities. As the police helped the man into the back of their squad car, the desk man asked the man for his name. He told him his name and that was the first name added to the prayer wall, many would follow.

At 8:00 p.m. tow more men took their place. At 8:15 the pipe in the kitchen burst. The devil tried again and again to discourage our efforts but a strange thing happened. The more the attacks of the enemy came the more steady the resolve of God's people became. They were not going to be denied the blessing god had in store. The few time slots that remained open were quickly filled.

Fellow believers from several of the local churches began praying with the men of our center. Sometimes you would see people praying in the chapel for those who were in the prayer room. Praise music filled the air both day and night. Men began to write praise songs of their own. Men who were once slaves to their addictions were now living their inheritance as children of the King.

One woman, let's call her Sherri, shared that she had heard about the prayer room while at her doctor's office. One of the young man in our program recognized her and began to share how hopeless he felt while in his addiction. He told her of how he had turned his life over to Christ. Although at times life was still difficult, God helped him through those difficult times. He was no longer alone. He also promised that if she came to the prayer room, the Captain would pray with her.

Sherrie came that evening. She stopped and asked if I could pray with her. She began to share with me the ordeals of caring for her addicted grandson who had a child of his own. She feared for her life at times and for his life constantly. His addiction was in complete control of his life. She confessed that she felt so powerless that she had planned to take her own life. When she heard the hope that this young man had she knew she had to come and pray. “I need the strength that God gave him.” The Corps officer is now helping her with her family situation. She has been released from the depression that was deceiving her into thinking that she was powerless. God's word and the testimony of the faithful have shown her where true power lies. (Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.)

On Monday, August 7th , we learned that a 25 year old former beneficiary had dies as a result of an apparent drug overdose. He was survived by a five month old son. We included his parents and son in our prayers. Everyone who came to the prayer room had the opportunity to sign a card of condolence that was sent along with pictures from his time here. Though Satan meant this tragedy for evil, God used it as a wake-up call to those in our building. The devil is a roaring lion that sometimes uses needles instead of claws.

The prayer room has been such a blessing that it remains open. Men and women are still seeking God's face and He doesn't disappoint.Hospitalized children that ere prayed for have returned home. Christians are asking how they can help with our ministry. Family members of those we have lost have called with thanks and blessings. Several men have begun to ask questions about living a Godly life. Most importantly God's wayward children are returning home. They are embracing. Christ as Saviour and friend.

I … signed up for a 1 to 2 a.m. slot in the prayer room at NEOSA Family Camp over the weekend. I noticed that no one (at least at Family Camp) signed up for those late hours. The time I have spent at those odd hours have been incredible. While at the Family Camp prayer tent there was a clock/CD radio. The slot I chose was from 1 to 2 a.m. I got there at about 12:50 turned the light on and began. The next time I look at the clock it was 2:30 a.m. I am writing/e-mailing you because I feel compelled to do more.

The 24/7 prayer emphasis is moving across the Eastern Territory . Every “Good News!” issue in recent times has spoken of the movement of the Holy Spirit in those locations where people established prayer rooms and asked individuals to build a prayer chain of consecutive hours of prayer time. Certainly the officers and soldiers of the Greater New York Division wanted to be part of this powerful movement. There have been a few flames ignited in the division already (i.e. Stapleton Corps Prayer Retreat, Star Lake Music Camp), but the divisional staff felt it important to be a leader in this prayer movement as well.

For 48 hours DHQ officers, employees, area corps officers and soldiers, residence officers and retired officers took time slots to build the prayer chain. DHQ employees prayed before work, stayed after work and sacrificed lunch time to be in the presence of the Lord. DHQ officers prayed through the night in the prayer room so that the chain would not be broken. The directed prayer theme was the acrostic A-C-T-S denoting different kinds of prayer; adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. It was felt this was the appointed time to conduct this prayer emphasis so that the Labor Day Camp Meetings might be brought before God's throne and every registered delegate for the camp meetings might be prayed for, by name.

Many have commented that this emphasis should be conducted quarterly or during strategic times of the year such as Holy Week. Some have suggested that the prayer rooms needs to be a permanent fixture so that officers and employees can avail themselves of this space at any time.

It was the intention of this prayer emphasis to set the tone for future prayer rooms to open up across the division. A DVD has been made available through Territorial Headquarters for every corps to establish their own 24/7 prayer time. The Greater New York Division has reserved a week on their territorial calendar in Spring of 2007 that will embrace all the corps in the division to be united in prayer. More information will be coming from Major Marie Larrinaga, the Divisional Prayer Leader in days to come.

To God be the Glory!

Good Morning:

I wanted to send you a note of thanks. Recently, we were sent a letter addressed to “any missionary”. It was a prayer over our church and our family and our work. It wasn't anything fancy, but it meant a great deal to us. The note arrived on a day when we were in the process of trying to navigate all the government paperwork to keep us in the country.

We were a bit discouraged and tired … This particular day had been one of overwhelming frustration for us. Then the note arrived! What a boost it was to us. What a reminder that we are not alone but even people who do not know our names are lifting us up to the Father. In the note, the person prayed, “As they struggle with the complications of living in a new place, an unfamiliar place, make their paths straight . Uncomplicate the systems that they need to work through.” This is the prayer that I pray all the time. This note was, for me, a reminder that God knows the struggles we are encountering. He knows them so well, that He has placed those struggles on the minds of others, through His Holy Spirit, in a way that I will see Has has me in His hands. I know that this note really should be sent to the person who wrote that letter, but they did not sign it. So, I thought about the return address (THQ) and decided it must have come from the prayer room. Hence the thank you note to you … Without … following of the Holy Spirit, I would not have received the encouragement that I ne4eded at just the right moment. I am not very eloquent, so I will end by simply saying, Thank You for all you are doing. God's Blessings on your day today.

Please know that our prayer room was very meaningful for our staff this summer and the primary reason for why we had such a wonderful summer “Soaking Up the SON” and sharing His life-changing love with the children and teens who visited Long Point Camp. We converted our yurt and established our prayer room before the start of orientation and I'm praying it will remain such for the life of Long Point.

Over the week of the 25th of July, I participated in the 24/7 mission at Long Point Camp. I spent an hour a day over 3 days in our camp's prayer room and what a difference it made. I felt a great change to my day, week and life.

The first day I asked God to open my heart and help my mind to be focused on Him so that I could receive everything God had planned for me. It was so good to have that time of just me and God.

I found a pen and pad and wrote down all the things that were on my mind, questions and areas of concern. Over the next few days I wanted to know more and more about my amazing Heavenly Father; my prayer time was a time of expression and healing. Not only did communication come by words from the mouth but by pictures. Bible reading, book reading, prayer requests and other times just soaking up God's presence.

It says in the Bible that if you draw near to God, He'll draw near to you, and that's exactly what happened in my prayer time. God spoke to me about many different areas of my life and I felt like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It also made me see how little time I had been spending with God, when really He deserves to be praised constantly throughout the day. I really encourage everyone to do the 24/7 prayer mission and you'll see the power of God in just a single hour.

Name: Excerpts from Prayer Journal
Camp Long Point
Date: August/September 2006

Heavenly Father,

Where do I begin . . . You are amazing and miraculous. I want to pray for the staff at this camp and the camps like this around the world. I pray for the young children who come to learn more about You. Let them see You through us. Let our actions and words speak to their hearts, Lord, and give them strength for a better and wonderful future. I pray that you would allow Your Holy Spirit to touch all of us in a way we could not ever imagine. I love You, Lord, and I know that Your will will be done.

Praise be to You in the highest!

God-My Wonderful Savior!

My heart breaks that you love me when I feel so far from you. You meet me right where I am. I praise You for giving me the opportunity to be here at camp and work for you. Lord, I pray that as I work daily you will strengthen my walk with you. Let me pour it all out to you. When I am weak you are strong! When I get tired and feel like I am losing the battle, come so that I can lean on you! When I come to you, you're always ready and willing to listen. Thank you for caring so much – you are a great and awesome love, hope, path, strength, comforter.

Lord, Baptize me in your refreshing strength and renewing glory!

Lord,

Let us always remember that you know best and that we're here to do your will. You're the one who keeps this heart beating. Lord, You're my one true and constant comfort! You've always been there for me and you always will. I pray that others seek to find the comfort you give. I will always love you.

Amen