Pray for Schools

Christians are so good at being activists that we sometimes forget the simple importance and power of prayer. Committing to pray regularly for your local school is a very effective way of getting involved and offering support. Forming or joining a local prayer group makes that commitment easier, providing you with the joy and encouragement of meeting with others and sharing answers to prayer.

Schools are generally very happy to know that they are being supported in this way. You could contact the Head to let him or her know about the group, and ask if there are specific prayer requests. Some prayer groups meet on school premises, others at the local church. You are likely to find support among Christian parents, teachers, governors, pupils and local church members.

It's important to keep confidences. News can travel fast in a school community so it's usually more appropriate to pray about 'a pupil' or 'a member of staff' rather than naming names.

So how might it work in practice? Read these stories of a local church group and a town-wide network and be inspired.

Prayer for Teachers

The Prayer for Teachers Group at St Mary with St Matthew in Cheltenham consists of seven members who are concerned with matters of education and with praying in confidence for members of the church who are involved in education. It has been a real privilege to co-ordinate this group as we have seen amazing answers to specific, persistent prayer. Many have testified to what a difference it makes as the Lord has answered prayer in difficult and faith-stretching circumstances. Meeting three times a term and communicating between prayer sessions by phone and e-mail keeps us current and the meetings are announced regularly in the church newsheet.

We have had some lovely encouragements from the people we have prayed for.

A PGCE student at the University of Gloucestershire. "Thank you a thousand times for your support and prayers. It was so encouraging to know that someone was praying as I worked hard at school. May God bless you as much as you bless others."

A Headteacher. "Once again, thank you for your support and prayer: it is absolutely vital in enabling myself and others to keep going and so much appreciated."

A Primary School teacher. "Thank you so much for your group's prayers. I have gained much strength from God's answer to your prayers for me and am pleased to say I am now facing life with new enthusiasm."

A Secondary School teacher. "Thank you for your prayer backup: it takes the pressure off me."

Wendy Davies

Cheltenham Prayer for Schools Network

The Cheltenham Prayer for Schools Network (CPFSN) started in May 2000.

The leaders of established school prayer groups decided to meet monthly to ensure every school in the town has regular, committed Christian prayer. We began to pray regularly, by name, for every school with a Cheltenham telephone number. We discovered that there were already 12 school prayer groups in existence and we started talking about our vision with Christian teachers and parents that we knew in other schools.

To help launch the prayer network, we invited CARE to lead two Schools Prayer Events which attracted over a hundred people, emphasising the need for a regular larger prayer meeting. Since Spring 2002, we have held a CPFSN prayer meeting once a term - hosted by a different school each time. We have found that praying with Christians from different church traditions is an enriching experience and the input at these meetings enlarges our vision for prayer. Each term a prayer letter is sent to all the prayer groups.

A small team of people support those who want to mobilise prayer for specific schools and we have put together an ‘Ideas for schools prayer groups' booklet. We have invaluable prayer back-up from home intercessors who pray on their own for every school and prayer group leader by name. They receive a regular letter updating them on answers to prayer and CPFSN prayer points.

We praise God that there are now 32 groups praying for 42 of Cheltenham's 70 schools and several more groups in the process of being started.

Sheila Bowden

A National Network

The Schools Prayer Network aims to stimulate and encourage committed prayer for every school in the UK. There are currently over 2000 groups registered.