7 Ways to Pray for Communities

 

This week, pray for communities as they prepare to allow participants and summer staff to be a part of their story this summer. Here are 7 specific ways you can pray for communities:

 

1. Pray for reconciliation for communities experiencing racial tensions. In some of the communities we serve in, there exist racial divides that create barriers between people. Pray for unity among all people in these communities, and that these barriers would be broken down.

 

2. Pray for indigenous leadership. We desire for community members to rise up and lead movements in their own neighborhoods. We have seen at YouthWorks that indigenous leadership is far more powerful and effective than outside leaders coming in.

 

3. Pray against corruption within leadership. Many problems and conflicts in our communities are a direct result of corruption and manipulation by those in a leadership role. There is a lack of training and accountability for leaders in some of these communities, which can create a cycle of corruptive leadership.

 

4. Pray for resources. Many of our communities are not connected to sustainable resources as basic as healthy food, clean water and everyday utilities. Pray that when a need exists, those individuals would be connected to the right resource.

 

5. Pray for energy for local leaders. We work with many local leaders who do incredible things in their communities, but the reality is that they cannot do it alone. Pray that these leaders would not burn out, but rather be energized.

 

6. Pray for hope. In many communities, there is a feeling of hopelessness. This hopelessness is coming from a lack of job opportunities, the cycle of poverty, the lack of educational opportunities, etc. Pray that locals would see opportunities for change and hope for the future.

 

7. Pray for healthy connections as churches and YouthWorks staff enter these communities. Pray that on mission trips we could enter into these communities as listeners and learners. Our hope is that church groups and staff teams would be ready to enter humbly and become part of the community’s story.

Here are 7 ways you can be praying for YouthWorks and churches.

 

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Annie Grell is a full-time Area Director with YouthWorks. 2016 will be her third summer with YouthWorks. Annie’s favorite part about being an Area Director is seeing and getting to know the beauty within the communities.