Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103: 1-5

At my home church – Black Rock Church in Fairfield Connecticut, we have a dedicated Prayer Ministry Team along with a dedicated Prayer Room. Every Sunday in our church and, in particular, in that room (when the church building is not closed due to a pandemic) we see God showing up with amazing power. God’s power to enter in to do physical, emotional and spiritual healing and life restoration has grown to be a regular occurrence.

A significant part of the prayer dynamic is to give God the credit (give testimony) to the power of His work and share it publicly.

Below, Prayer Team leaders Jim and Chioma share several examples of what is becoming a typical Sunday Morning experience in the Prayer Room at Black Rock Church:

---

Story 1

One Sunday morning a woman entered the prayer room looking particularly downcast. We engaged with her and as we talked we learned that she had just been driving by the church consumed with desperation and hopelessness. Depressed and feeling completely abandoned she knew she needed help. An impulse caused her turn into the church parking lot, walk through the entry doors and go straight into the Prayer Room.

In the Prayer Room, we met and she explained that her adult son was in real trouble and she was facing serious financial struggles. She also acknowledged that she had never even been in a church before and had never heard the Gospel.  So, we shared God’s ‘Good News’ that was intended for her and asked if she’d like to pray to receive God’s gift. She responded, “What do I have to lose?” and prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

We continued to pray about the specific issues for her and her son and could see the burdens being lifted off her. She began to smile and even to laugh saying what she was experiencing was, “Too good to be true!” as she wiped away her tears – now tears of joy. She exclaimed, “I feel so much better!”

We then gave her a Bible and suggested that she begin to read the Bible every day starting with the Gospel of John. She turned the Bible over in her hands, soaking in what the Holy Spirit was pouring into her.

Now, this woman has been regularly attending Black Rock Church. She also has been a regular member of an ongoing Bible study as well as attending adult classes offered at the church. She even attended the latest women’s conference and is dynamically growing in her faith. We praise God for another example of His power to heal and to save!

Story 2

A woman who was going through a very difficult divorce that was tearing her family apart started regularly coming to the Prayer Room seeking God’s comfort and peace. For over a year she came in for prayer almost every Sunday. Gradually, she was becoming stronger in her growing faith.

One Sunday this fall, she came in with her adult daughter. Her daughter was depressed and in a lot of emotional pain.  We explained the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel to the daughter, and she prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. As we continued to pray for God’s healing touch, both mother and daughter broke into tears – weeping for the relief and freedom the Lord was showering upon them.

Now, mother and daughter’s relationship has been restored and renewed. Sundays, the two have been seen regularly in the café sharing coffee and enjoying being at church together. We praise God for one more example of His restoration power!

Story 3

One particular Sunday a young man in his early thirties tentatively walked into the Prayer Room. We engaged and he shared that he was filled with anxiety over his job. He was having trouble sleeping and a number of health issues were beginning to crop up. We learned that, though he had been raised Catholic, he had begun attending Black Rock for the last few months.

We probed, “Do you know what being ‘Born Again’ means?” He shook his head. “I’m not really sure.” So, we joyfully explained the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel to him and he chose to pray and make Jesus his Lord and Savior.

Since that day, this young man has been growing in his faith in Jesus. The Lord has poured his spirit of peace upon him – a new peace he did not have before. Now, through Jesus’s presence in him, he testifies to the joy and strength he has to overcome the challenges of this life. We praise God for another example of His overcoming power!

Story 4

On another Sunday morning, a young woman came into the Prayer Room overwhelmed with the burdens of life. Her depression showed on her face and her entire countenance. She said she was a new believer but exclaimed, “My life is crushing me.”

We prayed for her and for the details she shared. She cried deeply – a good cry releasing her burdens. She left encouraged and ready to begin delving into God’s word to hear His voice.

The following week she returned to the Prayer Room and the first thing we noticed was that her face was radiant. Her countenance now reflecting a life filled with new peace and joy. It was a remarkable transformation.

One Prayer Team member said her face was reflecting the light of God something like what Moses must had looked like coming down from the mountain. She shared how she was now filled with peace and that God had done a remarkable thing in her life that week.

Then, about 3 month later she came into the Prayer Room with her boyfriend. They were having problems in their relationship and wanted prayer. Her boyfriend was new to church and acknowledged that he had never heard the Gospel before. Once again, after explaining the ‘Good News’ of Jesus, he prayed to accept Jesus as his Lord as Savior. We were all in tears as the couple forgave each other, with both sharing new life in Christ that morning. We praise God for one more example of His transforming power!

---

The above are examples of what God has been doing Sunday’s at Black Rock Church. However, God’s power to heal and restore does not stop even by a pandemic. Though the church building has been closed, the Prayer Team is available to pray by Zoom on Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

Dial in, even for just a few minutes to receive a real dose of spiritual refreshment or something even greater!

Wednesday, 7-8:00pm – Prayer for your personal needs during this challenging time.

Join Zoom Meeting (use this link each week): https://technoserve.zoom.us/j/92539036173
Meeting ID: 925 3903 6173, One tap mobile: +1 929 436 2866, 92539036173#