MUSTANG-Believing that praying for their children and their schools is one of the most important things a mother can do, Moms in Touch International (MITI) and The Praying Life Foundation have merged their resources to produce a national PrayerForce event and bring it here for Oklahoma women to have the opportunity to come together in prayer as part of a prayerforce for children and future generations. Mustang, First will be hosting the free PrayerForce event, from 6-9:30 p.m., Oct. 11.
To commemorate the importance of the event, Gov. Brad Henry has proclaimed Oct. 11 as “Oklahoma Women’s Centennial Day of Prayer,” and in his proclamation, encourages all women of Oklahoma to participate in the PrayerForce activities that day.
MITI is a global prayer ministry with 17,500 groups of moms meeting throughout the United States for one hour a week to pray fervently for their children and their schools. MITI founder Fern Nichols will be joined by Jennifer Kennedy Dean, founder of the Praying Life Foundation, to speak at the “PrayerForce” event which will include worship led by Christian recording artist Gwen Smith.
Betty Van Horn, MITI state coordinator and the local coordinator for the PrayerForce event, said, “We are so excited about what God is doing in the hearts of women in our state concerning prayer and how He has purposed to bring PrayerForce here. We are inviting leaders and pastors’ wives to join us for a prayer summit preceding the event and praying for more than 1,000 women to participate in what potentially could be the most important women’s prayer conference ever held in our state.
“I love that it is occurring during the year of our Oklahoma Centennial celebration. It could very well be the most important women’s prayer event because we have the privilege as women united in the body of Christ to FOCUS on prayer for the next generation during this one evening. Oklahoma’s children suffer daily from the constant assault of evil in the world, and we can join together pouring out our hearts to the One who loves them far more than we do!
“Many children in our state are growing up without a continual covering of prayer. This is an opportunity for all Oklahoma women to take a bold stand, coming together to intercede for our own children and the children of our state-if we humble ourselves before Him, He will turn and heal our land and answer every prayer offered in this place. We are excited to see how the Lord will use PrayerForce as a springboard for change in the lives of a new generation of Oklahomans! ”
A 5 p.m. prayer summit will be held before the PrayerForce event, giving local and state leaders an opportunity to hear Dean and Nichols share their hearts about mobilizing the church to pray for the next generation. They will be encouraged to pray and to promote prayer as they partner with parents and families, schools, churches and Oklahoma communities in providing solutions for improving the lives of children and youth in our state. Any government, civic or church leader is invited to participate in the Oklahoma Women’s Centennial Day Prayer Summit.
“We are blessed to live in an area of the country where we have so many Christians in leadership positions. We would love to have the godly influential women who serve our state in government, and in our churches joining us to help demonstrate to the women of Oklahoma that they understand the importance of prayer,” Van Horn said.
Nichols, who founded MITI in 1984, and has since seen her MITI booklet translated into 37 language and MITI groups begun in 120 countries, said, “Where prayers focus, power falls . . . our focus is our children. Our children grow up in the atmosphere of our prayers . . . prayers that will outlive us. We must take seriously the mandate to, ‘Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children’ (Lamentations 2:19). I believe our children and schools will be transformed as women take time out from their busy schedules to pray. If we are not praying for our children, who is?”
Dean added, “We have to mobilize the most powerful force God has created to equip the coming generations for their assignment. The unified prayers of the church are the answer. For several years now, I have been incubating a vision for calling the church into concentrated prayer for the generations. I am fully convinced that prayer is the key to saving our world’s children and the generations that are yet unborn.
To register for the PrayerForce event, or for more information, call 405/376-44567, e-mail, PrayerForce@fbcmustang.org.
Nichols also will speak on Friday, Oct. 12 as Mustang, First hosts “Stand Firm,” a Moms In Touch event, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. New tools on how to pray for children and schools will be presented. Nichols, author of Every Child Needs A Praying Mom, will share her heart about the importance of praying for children of all ages, but especially students who are frequently surrounded by temptations, peer pressure, academic and social stress and the fear of campus tragedies. She will encourage moms to “Stand Firm” in prayer for their children. All women are welcome to attend.
The cost for the Stand Firm Moms In Touch event is $25 and includes lunch. Reservations are required by Oct. 5 by calling 405/376-0308, or by e-mail, jonathan_waits@hotmail.com. A brochure also is available at www.momsintouch.org/Email/OK/Images/OKStandFirmBrochure.pdf.
