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VOL. 14, NO. 16

NEWS

For prayer

The United Methodist Mens Prayer Center
Phone:
(800) 936-6893
E-mail:

Fax number:
(410) 729-4333

Those interested in becoming a Prayer Advocate, can contact Harrison Johnson at (410) 987-5953 or
e-mail . (Every church in the conference has been provided with a flyer. If your church needs another copy, click here.

Prayer center encourages troubled callers, needs volunteers

By Barbara CowardUMConnection Correspondent

For many centuries, a key mission of the church has been to provide sanctuaries for people to gather together and pray. During the past six years, the Baltimore-Washington Conference has developed an innovative way to deliver prayer services, responding to a 24/7 world where communication is facilitated around the clock.

By leveraging the power of technology in this digital age, the conference has been able to provide its members with a 24-hour prayer center that is accessible by a toll-free telephone number, fax, or e-mail.

The United Methodist Mens Prayer Center, according to Harrison Johnson, who supervises the program, the only conference-sponsored prayer center in this country. He said it has transformed the way people pray all over the region, and indeed, the nation. The success of the center is reflected by the significant growth in call volume as well as the distance served in just six years.

The prayer line received about 1,000 calls in the first year of its operation, and currently handles 6,000 calls annually. People now call in from every state in the country, largely due to the power of word-of-mouth advertising.

The Prayer Center, comprising 16 male and female, lay and clergy volunteers called prayer advocates, enables the conference to reach out to those who are immobile or otherwise would not be able to attend a bricks-and-mortar church in their community.

It is especially relevant for the elderly. In fact, some of the callers who reside in nursing homes say the prayer advocates are like family to them and will call them on a regular basis.

It is an exciting ministry, said Johnson.

Incoming calls reflect all types of situations, including court appearances or financial concerns.

One of the key benefits of the prayer line, said Johnson, is that it allows a certain degree of privacy for people who wish to be anonymous.

Each Monday through Friday, callers can pray with a trained prayer advocate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After regular business hours and on weekends, callers can leave a prayer request on the voice mail or send an e-mail or fax for follow-up.

According to Johnson, the center is not able to counsel callers. In instances where callers need additional help, the prayer advocate refers the person to a local church in their area.

New people are always sought to help staff the line located at the conference center. The busiest months for call volume are July and August.

No experience is required other than a one-hour training session. Prayer advocates gain a spiritual reward for their services, said Johnson, and the satisfaction from callers saying that God has answered their prayers and that the Prayer Center put them on the right track. Consistent feedback reveals how much the service is needed, wanted and appreciated, he said.