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Pastor Mark Walton, Twenty Months of Prayer Mentoring!

(Steve Gervasi--Pastor Mark Walton Interview 10-27-2010)

Steve Gervasi
Hi, Pastor Mark, thanks for agreeing to this interview today.

Mark Walton
Hey, Stevo!

Steve Gervasi
I am interested in knowing from a senior pastor's perspective what you think about Shout now that we've had it going in our church for about 20 months?

Mark Walton
The first thing that comes to mind is how it has brought our church closer together. We’re more connected with our youth and more aware of what is going on in their lives. By praying for them and contacting them, it removes the barriers that sometimes exist between youth and adults. Generationally, we are working as one. 

Steve Gervasi
I feel the unity and bond as well. If you could place a value on the bond that's been formed between the adult and younger generations, what would it be?

Mark Walton
The value is in the incredible support our kids feel. It says to them, “We adults understand some of the things you guys are going through! We want to come alongside you with prayer and support as you strive to walk with the Lord in this crazy world!”

Steve Gervasi
Do you think it's making a difference in our kids' lives? Do you think it is helping them follow Jesus more closely?

Mark Walton
I do. The change is evident by the difference in their walk. It has become evident by their actions. Not only do I personally see a difference in our kids, but I hear great things about our students and how many of them are really getting involved in Christian groups in our schools.

We have had some great teachers over the years who have really taken an interest in the students of our church. However, through Shout, that interest has grown throughout the body of our church. And it is still growing!

Steve Gervasi
I think it's fair to say from my perspective that this church has fallen in love with the youth of our church. Would you agree?

Mark Walton
Yes I would agree with that. Here's a good example Steve. While we were on the bike ride from Bristol to Union City shouting for the youth of our town, our church was shouting along with us in a 36-hour prayer vigil at the church. The fact that so many adults were not only willing to participate in a non-stop bicycle ride across the state but also that so many signed-up to pray non-stop for 36 hours is a testament to the love our adults have for the students.

In addition to the increased unity and support our kids feel, we can’t overlook the spiritual impact prayer mentoring has had. When you have regular prayer going out for anyone, there will be a moving of the Holy Spirit. And that’s what I have seen with our students. There is power in prayer. And anytime prayer becomes focused, I believe the Holy Spirit is going to work in a mighty way.

Steve Gervasi
One of the things I love about prayer mentoring is that it doesn't require another meeting in people's already busy schedule. They can pray anywhere, at any time, and it will bring about change in a student's life!

Mark Walton
That exactly right, Pastor Steve. It just fits into the normal flow of the church schedule. 

Steve Gervasi
Do you think prayer mentoring and all that we do to fan the prayer mentoring flame has raised the level of our people's prayer lives?

Mark Walton
I believe it has Steve. Seeing changed lives and answered prayers has opened us to the reality that prayer plays an indispensible part in the Christian life.

Steve Gervasi
I'm with you on that. As you talk, I’m seeing the faces of students whose lives are being changed because of specific answers to prayer on their behalf. I believe in the faithfulness of God in response to his people's prayers more now than ever.

Would you recommend a prayer mentoring ministry to other churches?
 
Mark Walton
Pastor Steve, I would highly recommend this for any church. First, it will bring your church closer together. Second, it will help the adults to truly understand what is going on in the lives of students. Third, lives will be changed through prayer. And last but by no means least, Jesus will be glorified!

Oh, and I almost forgot, it will make the pastor look like a genius!

Steve Gervasi
Ha! And the youth pastor as well!

One final question: Is there anything you would like to say to the prayer mentors in our church?

Mark Walton
I would like to say to our prayer mentors, thank you for taking time to pray for your student or students. The prayers offered up in the name of Jesus are changing a generation for Jesus. As God changes a generation, he will change the world! So, thank you again! 

Steve Gervasi
Pastor Mark, thanks for being so extraordinarily supportive of our student ministry and our students! It’s an honor to serve alongside you.

Dottie Threadgill, Prayer Mentor, Pray . . . before coffee!

(Dottie Threadgill -- Steve Gervasi Interview. August 16, 2010 at 1:30 PM)

Steve Gervasi
Hi Dottie, how are you today?
 
Dottie Threadgill
Great! Glad to hear from you.

Steve Gervasi
Thanks for agreeing to this prayer mentor interview.

Dottie Threadgill
I have been looking forward to our time together.

Steve Gervasi
You had mentioned that when you first became Justice O'Geary's prayer mentor, you had to seek her out on Sunday mornings, but now. . . .

Dottie Threadgill
. . . but now she seeks me out. We have really bonded, and this Sunday she came to me with a big hug and we talked about how things were at school and home. I had written her a note asking if she would like to get together for lunch or something with Teresa Parker and me. We could go for a hamburger and a milkshake.

Steve Gervasi
Really? So is Teresa Parker also her prayer mentor?

Dottie Threadgill
Yes! We talk about Justice and have prayed together for her.

Steve Gervasi
That is so cool! You guys are ganging up on her for Jesus! Another thing I heard you mention is how much you enjoy getting together with Justice at our Shout Together events. Tell me more about that.

Dottie Threadgill
We have a good time with her at those events; we pray together with her and enjoy learning more about her. She talks to us and we love that.

Steve Gervasi
Does she open up to you about school and home and things like that?

Dottie Threadgill
Yes. We feel that she is comfortable with us.

Steve Gervasi
It must mean a lot to her to have two ladies like you and Teresa to share with and to know that you pray for her every day! I've seen a lot of growth in Justice over the last couple of years. Have you noticed the growth?

Dottie Threadgill
Yes, I have. I am so glad! I start my day, every day, praying for Justice. I get up early and pray for her before her day begins. That way I can lift her up to the Lord before she starts off to school. Her picture is the first thing I see in the morning . . . I even pray before coffee!

Steve Gervasi
No wonder she's growing! She's got a prayer covering before she even starts her day. It’s as if you are spiritually blocking for her. I can't imagine a greater gift that anyone could give to another than that. I hear rumors that you send her lots of notes and reminders and have even sent her a gift or two along the way. It sounds like you have pretty well spoiled her!

Dottie Threadgill
Not enough! I want to do more.

Steve Gervasi
Never enough! I don't think it’s possible to give a student too much encouragement. They have so many things pushing them down. As we wrap up this interview, what words of encouragement or advice would you like to pass along to your fellow prayer mentors?

Dottie Threadgill
We need to lift our students up constantly. They are faced with many daily temptations and an unbelievable amount of peer pressure.

Steve Gervasi
Thank you so much, Dottie. Our church, student ministry and especially Justice are blessed to have you!

Bill Parnell, Minister of Students at Concord Baptist Church, Anderson, SC

Bill Parnell, Minister of Students at Concord Baptist Church, Anderson, SC recruited 205 prayer mentors for 91 students on his recent Shout Sunday—that’s over two prayer mentors for every student on his very first Shout Sunday!

Two weeks after Shout Sunday, Bill followed-up with a luncheon. Here’s what Bill had to say,

Our adults have gotten behind the Shout idea very well.  We have been really pleased, especially with the adult participation. Two Sunday's after the Shout Sunday we had a lunch immediately after morning worship to let students/mentors meet each other, and to walk them through the Shout web page.  We knew we had the potential for over 200 people but also knew it was the first week after graduation and the beginning of vacation season.  We planned for half the number but ended up running out of food.  It was a standing room only crowd. We were shocked at the response.

Things are going really well.  Our people love the strategy.

The Thousand-Year Flood: A Call to Prayer

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. (Psalm 32:6)

Like the middle Tennessee flood of 2010, a flood of God’s wrath is coming. Try as humanity might to factor God out of the equation, he is calling us to call to him while he may be found.

The psalmist speaks of a flood of God's judgment that will sweep away every unrepentant sinner. It's not a question of if the mighty waters of God's wrath will rise, but when.

There is, however, a set time for prayer, beyond which it will be unavailing; between the time of sin and the day of punishment mercy rules the hour, and God may be found, but when once the sentence has gone forth pleading will be useless, for the Lord will not be found by the condemned soul.  —C. H. Spurgeon

With the truth of this psalm in mind, we must approach prayer with urgency!

"Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found. . . ."

Signs of the times are everywhere: Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, the proliferation of deceptive religious systems, disease, famine, worldwide moral decay . . .  Is not each of these screaming a warning from God?

This past April 30-May 2, middle Tennessee, where I live, experienced what experts are calling a thousand-year flood.

For several days straight it rained—up to 13 inches in a day. Creeks, streams and rivers rose. Flash floods roared and ripped houses from their foundations. Cars were swept away as if they were Matchbox toys. People were forced to their rooftops. Many were stranded for days in remote, inaccessible places, cut off from clean water, electricity and phone service. Huge chunks of highway were carved out and simply washed away, leaving nothing but gaping holes. All the major roads into and out of the town where I minister were closed. Several counties were declared federal disaster areas due to the loss of life and massive destruction of property.

No one in middle Tennessee was ready for a flood of this magnitude. Things like that just don't happen around here! And yet it surely came and without warning.

In a similar sense, a flood of destruction is coming from the Lord, whether or not anyone is ready.

I fear for this generation because the great power and imminent wrath of God is not in the remotest way a concern to them.

We have an entire generation of youth who have removed God from the "happiness" equation. There is an obvious heaviness upon them like I have never seen in all my years of ministry. In their quiet, honest moments they know it's there, but they do not know it is from the hand of the Lord because of their sin.

They think the heaviness they feel is just the way life works, so they follow in the train of the humanity, doing whatever it takes apart from God to find happiness.

But no matter how much effort they put forth, every effort will be met with diminishing returns.

Until they return to their Creator and become rightly related to him, there will be no happiness. They will continue down the heavy path to sure destruction.

And so my fellow prayer mentors, will you pray, first for yourself and then for them? Will you confess and forsake your own sin first and then pray for them to confess and forsake their sin?

The flood of God's wrath is coming, and only those who humbly seek refuge in the Lord will find relief from heaviness and discover true happiness and protection from the mighty waters of judgment.

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. (Psalm 32:6)

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the NIV, The New International Version of the Bible.

Interview with Jerry Jenkins

Steve Gervasi
Yesterday you said something that caught my attention. You said, “It’s the prayer I’ve received that gives me my connection with God.” 

Jerry Jenkins
Yeah, that’s really how I feel since being involved in Shout. I feel like I’m constantly covered in prayer! That gives me a huge advantage in connecting with God.

Steve Gervasi
I’m glad you feel the prayer covering Jerry. I’m even more excited that you are actually aware of what it’s doing in your life.

Jerry Jenkins
Absolutely! My dad use to tell me, “Do as I say, not as I do,” but I never liked that idea. With my prayer mentors, who are kind of like spiritual parents to me, I can do as they do and as they say. They set a great example for my generation, and we’re noticing their prayers in our lives daily!

Steve Gervasi
Jerry, all I can say is “Wow!” Let’s shift gears and talk about how your Share the Fruit idea came to you while you were praying (For more on Share the Fruit see the downloadable flyer.)

Jerry Jenkins
Well, I had a doctor’s appointment that day and I was really worried what my report would be, so I was praying really hard. Then it kind of hit me: “Share the fruit!” It was like God breathed the idea into me. The primary goal would be to share edible fruit, a creation of God, through the fruit of the Spirit, with the lost and needy.

Steve Gervasi
I know for a while they thought maybe you had a heart problem. I’m so glad to hear the doctor gave you the all clear on your heart! God used that scare to cause you to cry out to him in prayer. And while you were crying out to him about your heart, he began to speak to you about something that wasn’t even on your radar.

Steve Gervasi
Ever since you explained your Share the Fruit idea with me, I’ve been captured by it! It’s amazing how God speaks to us while we are praying!

Jerry Jenkins
It truly is amazing how God talks to us. Even a young Christian, like me, has the ability to connect with God through all the stuff I have to deal with in today’s world.

Steve Gervasi
You said, “It was like God breathed the idea into” you. That reminds me of the Joel 2:28 Scripture we talked about in youth group Wednesday night.

Jerry Jenkins
Well, remember Wednesday we all decided you’re the old man of Joel 2:28! The old man is definitely dreaming my idea. You’ve been so helpful to provide advice on how to begin and in providing prayer.

Steve Gervasi
Ha! That’s what the “old man” is here for. There’s a lot of wisdom to be gained from those of us who have walked down the path ahead of you all. Isn’t it cool how the two generations can work together to see God’s dream become reality?

Jerry Jenkins
You’re right. It is cool, man. The prayer mentor-student relationship has really strengthened the connection between the two generations.

Steve Gervasi
It’s almost as if God’s shouting to you how much he wants to do in and through you and your generation. All it takes is the older generation providing the continual prayer covering and your generation opening the channel of communication through your own personal prayer lives.

Jerry Jenkins
God is definitely shouting to us. This whole new prayer channel that’s being opened up by the two generations is allowing me and many others to communicate with our Creator more openly. I love it

Share the Fruit

Interview with Chris Stewart

Chris Stewart is a faithful prayer mentor and youth worker at Fairfield Baptist Church, Centerville, TN. This interview was conducted on February 28, 2010.

Chris, tell us how your prayer mentoring relationship with your student began.
 
Chris Stewart
Well, actually my particular student was on my heart before we started the prayer mentoring program at our church, so all total, I would say I’ve been praying for him for about two years now. I was excited when I got paired with him because he’s my buddy.

Steve Gervasi
Sounds like you have a special connection with your student?
 
Chris Stewart
I know his mom and dad well, so we get to
hang out occasionally and do different things together. 
He recently asked me to help him with math . . . .I’m just trying to help him understand a few things. I don’t know if tutoring is the right word because it takes me a few minutes to get caught up on what he is doing. It’s been a lot of fun and for us to sit down, goof off and do some homework.

Steve Gervasi
So you’re kind of figuring things out together, in between goofing off that is?!

Chris Stewart
Yeah that’s about right!  We normally go down to McDonalds after church on Wednesday or Sunday evening to eat, then we sit in the back and open the books for a few minutes. One night we were actually there till they closed. It’s pretty cool to help him figure something out and to watch him “get it”. Then he comes back in a few days with something else he doesn’t understand; and I think to myself, “Here we go again….hope I’m up to the challenge!”
 
Steve Gervasi
Sounds like he’s keeping you on your toes! Has your student ever opened up to you about other things during your “math” sessions?

Chris Stewart
Last time we were together he began talking about how his dad would be coming home from Iraq soon. He is really looking forward to it! It’s got to be hard to be without your dad for a whole year.

Steve Gervasi
Well, now I think I know one of your main prayers for your student.

Chris Stewart
Definitely! I pray that God brings his dad home safely to a boy and family that miss him!

Steve Gervasi
That will be a day of celebration! Chris, how else do you pray for your student?      

Chris Stewart
I pray for him in school that he will learn all he can while he’s there . . . and that he’ll continue to grow in God’s Word.
 
Steve Gervasi
Amen! Is there a particular time of day you pray for him?!
 
Chris Stewart
I’m a night person, so it might be nine or it might be one a.m., it just depends when I get to that quiet part in my day. It seems like I have all of our youth in my head all day long, but then I also have them in my texts too!

Steve Gervasi
Lol! I know what you mean about having them in your “texts too.” What advice or encouragement would you give your fellow prayer mentors?

Chris Stewart

We get the chance to step into these kids’ lives and to be a positive influence for God, whether we’re helping in math, sending a card of encouragement, answering a text or helping them choose a career path. And most importantly I would say, “Don’t ever give up on your student. Keep sharing Jesus and keep praying!”

Steve Gervasi
That’s great advice, especially the keep praying part! Your prayer mentoring student and all of the students at our church are blessed to have you in their lives!

Interview with Jason Salyer

Jason Salyer is the student minister at First Baptist Church, Bluff City, TN. He is also a faithful prayer mentor. This interview was conducted on Thursday, December 10th, 2009.

Steve Gervasi
Good morning Jason! Let's talk about your perspective on prayer mentoring as both a student minister and prayer mentor. Where would you like to begin?

Jason Salyer
Well there are so many aspects to this thing but I think prayer mentoring is certainly one area where you want to practice what you preach. I was just thinking about the last couple of years with our student (my wife Bethany and I pray together) and how we have seen him grow and mature in his faith. Almost a year ago he actually publicly stated a call to the ministry so I really feel like I know how I need to be praying for him. We also meet each week to go through Scripture on issues of character for those in the ministry.

Steve Gervasi
Wow! So you believe it's important for the student minister to be involved as a prayer mentor right along with everyone else?

Jason Salyer
Yes absolutely! I remember asking you about that when we were first getting Shout started and I see now how critical it is to the ministry. It helps me see the perspective of the mentors and provides a good example, but most of all it's a blessing I'm glad I am not missing out on!

Steve Gervasi
Thanks for the affirmation Jason! I'm learning a lot about what it means to pray persistently and effectively as a student minister/prayer mentor as well! Okay, so tell me more about the growth you have seen in your student and the part you believe prayer has played in that.

Jason Salyer
It is really like joining them in a battle. I get to see what areas he is struggling in and pray specifically for Him to depend on God's grace through those areas. Then another issue or battle comes along and I pray for Him to grow through that as well. Looking back over the course of several months, I can see not only how God has worked in His life but how He is developing something in our student through all these things that will be used for His glory.

There's an old quote that said something to the effect of if I could hear Jesus praying in the next room for me then I would not fear a million enemies. While I'm obviously not Jesus, He has given me that responsibility to pray and I hope it gives our student that same kind of boldness to know I am praying for him.

Steve Gervasi
Jason, that is a very insightful perspective... I mean that prayer is like joining your student in the battle! It makes me think of the older generation represented by Moses lifting his hands and staff to God while the younger generation was battling against the Amalekites below!

Jason Salyer
Exactly. God was showing us something there. As a student pastor I've also encouraged the church as a whole to be the supporters (Aaron and Hur) holding up the hands of Moses. It has to be a joint effort from everyone in the body of Christ.

What a humbling and amazing responsibility to know that the battle was not won by their strength and abilities but by the intercession provided for them!

Steve Gervasi
Amen! And with your above quote in mind, we are joining Jesus before the throne where He ever lives to make intercession for us! And, as you say, it is humbling and sobering to think the battle this generation is fighting against the culture, at its most basic level, will be won or lost depending upon the prayer support we as adults give to them!

Jason Salyer
I think, in the midst of the church vs culture battle, the priority of prayer can sometimes get lost. Don't get me wrong, we need to speak to issues in the culture and offer hope in the gospel to everyone. But we also need to realize that real change is only going to happen through this next generation and we shouldn't spend more effort trying to shape a "Christian subculture" than we do praying for these students to be transformed by the power of the Spirit and, in turn, to change their world. I think that's what we see Jesus praying for His disciples as well, that they wouldn't be taken out of the world but that they would endure and be found faithful.

Steve Gervasi
Jason, it is such an encouragement to have a brother like you who sees things so clearly. If the adult generation, student ministers and pastors across this land could grasp the concept of where the battle is won and lost, we would devote ourselves to prayer along with the ministry of the word like the early church did!

Thanks so much for your time. One last thought, if you could give one piece of advice to prayer mentors and one piece of advice to fellow student ministers about prayer mentoring, what would that be?

Jason Salyer
To prayer mentors: I would encourage them to keep in mind that prayer is not unlike many other areas of the Christian life in that it comes down to faithfulness and endurance. Prayer is powerful. We know that. But so often we can get discouraged when we don't see immediate results the way we want them to be. Jesus is joining us in this prayer and intercession and He was even praying for His followers when they weren't acting like His followers. He has a purpose and a plan we just have to join Him in that.

To student pastors: I would say, “fan the flame”. In student ministry we are constantly evaluated based on the many outward things we think people want to see and we can forget we will ultimately be "evaluated" by our obedience to what God has called us to do when we stand before Him. Remember that, and encourage your congregation to keep that fire burning because we know God is up to something.

Steve Gervasi
Advice that goes right to the heart! Thanks Jason! It's been a pleasure. Now I'm off to middle school lunch! Love ya man!

Jason Salyer
Love you too bro! Thanks for the chat, always encouraging to talk with you!

Interview with Marian Conant

The following is an interview conducted by Steve Gervasi with prayer mentor Marian Conant regarding her prayer mentoring experience with her student Timi Lynn:

STEVE-- Marian, thanks for your willingness to share your prayer mentoring experience. Let's start by talking about that situation where God laid it on your heart to pray for Timi's grandmother.

MARIAN-- Well, I didn't know much about Timi, but I was praying for her. And I would have a thought come to me out of the blue to pray for her grandmother. I wasn't sure if she even had a grandmother, but I prayed anyway. I felt impressed to pray for her health and safety. This continued for a couple of weeks. Then one day I ran into our church’s shout coordinator, Beth Harlow, after church and asked her if she knew much about Timi and if she had any grandparents. Beth knows her step mother Pam. And she knew that Timi spends a week with her Mom and then a week with her Dad as a regular schedule so that she can have quality time with her father. I asked if she would contact Pam and see if it was ok to write to her there and see if Timi was ok as I had not seen her in church for a while. Beth spoke with Pam and emailed me with the address, it was Beth who let me know that Pam's mother was in Honduras and due to the trouble and unrest there needed to get safely out of the country. Isn't GOD good? He will even impress strangers to pray for each other!

STEVE-- Yes! Wow, that’s what God can do when we follow the promptings of the Spirit. So, did you ever get to write Timi?

MARIAN-- Yes, I send her the cards you send me, and notes from time to time and e-cards from Dayspring. But, I really appreciated the Shout together meeting we had recently.

STEVE-- Yes, you mentioned your Shout Together experience, tell me about that again.

MARIAN-- It was very easy to learn about each other and to share our own salvation stories. I was so happy to hear that Timi had given her heart and life to JESUS CHRIST while at YEC. She did not attend chuch at all and one of her friends at Fairfield invited her to YEC

STEVE-- So, when you guys discussed the question about what you are doing now to grow spiritually, what was it she said and how did you respond?

MARIAN--For the first time, I felt like Timi and I were really connecting. Thank you for following the LORD in this prayer ministry. Back to your question...I asked Timi what she did in her everyday life to help herself grow spiritually. She related that church was the only thing that she does. So that gave me the information to know what and how to pray for her. WOW! It is sooo important to have people praying for our kids! I told her that on my part that I love to worship the LORD, and that reading the Word is very important and prayer, (something like that anyway, don't remember exactly what I said).

STEVE-- That is soooo extremely cool! Not only did she honestly open up to you, you connected at a deeper level, were able to mentor her a little and now know how to pray for her better!!!! One last question: What advice or encouragement would you give to your fellow prayer mentors?

MARIAN—Pray even if you don't know your student yet. I have Timi's card in my kitchen window, (where I spend a lot of time washing dishes the old fashioned way lol) on the borders I have some prayer suggestions " feel loved and connected, to love and follow Jesus, safety and health, school- friends, grades, cheerleading, pure relationships, freedom from fear, powerful faith, peace and love in all family relationships, quality time with her Dad, grow in grace and knowledge, stand strong against temptation, stay in church, enjoy life, accept herself and have healthy self esteem, read the WORD daily and pray, to know the Truth!" Do I pray all this every day? Not yet, but GOD has answered some of my prayers already...High School was a smooth transition :),  grades are great, she's on the cheerleading squad, having quality time with Dad... I'm looking forward to when she tells me, yeah, I'm reading the Bible a lot now :) . GOD is GOOD and I am not, there is nothing good in me but Jesus, Blessed and Holy and Wonderful is HE! Thanks Brother Steve

STEVE-- Thank you Marian! You have encouraged me! I am blessed to have you as a sister and ministry partner! I'm praying for you and your family. Nite!

David & Carrie 10-13-09

Steve,

We hope and pray that everything is going well for you. The power of prayer is so awesome and so needed. Your program has inspired us to a level of daily prayer that I don’t think we would have without you. Thanks! Carrie & David

David and Carrie Dhanarajan serve in student ministry at Mt. Wesley Akin Nazarene Church in Santa Fe, TN. They have been involved in the Shout ministry for nearly 4 years now.

Sid & Norma Yates 8-31-09

My husband and I met our student Ashley for the first time 3 weeks ago at a Shout Sunday luncheon at church.

With a difficult family situation, relocation, telephone change, and other factors, she had not responded to our attempts to communi­cate. We continued to pray for a name and a picture on a card and trusted the Lord to meet her needs. I sent cards and notes for spe­cial occasions, whether she received them or not, and hoped she would reply sometime.

What a joyous occa­sion to meet her in person and what a dif­ference it makes in our prayers! We felt drawn to her and liked her shy, sweet smile immedi­ately.

She responded to us warmly, and openly shared several prayer requests and concerns, among them family concerns, a job, transpor­tation, finances to meet graduation needs, deci­sions, etc.

We are unable to meet her every need, but we know The One who can, and we continue to intercede to Him on her behalf.  - Sid & Norma Yates

Mollie & Gracie 7-24-09

Mollie’s Perspective: (Mollie Chessor)
When I found out I was matched with Gracie as my Shout student, I was excited because I have known Gracie since she was about ten years old and so I felt like God had purposely put us together.  I have lots of fresh memories of what high school is like. Because of that I want to connect with Gracie to be an encouragement and a good role model for her as she now enters into her high school years.

Gracie actually took the first step in our relationship. She wrote me asking if we could write once a month. So we started writing back and forth. As our relationship develops, I just want her to know that if there is no one else to talk with, I will be there for her to let her feelings out.

One of the ways Gracie expresses her feelings is through poetry. She really has a way with words. One Wednesday night after youth group she came to the room where I was teaching the 3 and 4 year olds to share some of her poetry with me. I felt privileged that Gracie would open up to me like that.

A few weeks ago my mom, who was Gracie’s former GA teacher, and I took her to the Farmhouse Restaurant on our town square for her birthday. I just wanted to do something for Gracie that would encourage her and make her feel special about herself. So we ate lunch and cake, laughed and shared. Then I gave her a necklace inscribed with the word “Potential.”  On the card that came with the necklace were the words: The Lotus flower is an ancient symbol of one’s true potential. Its inner beauty is revealed as its petals open, just as one’s hidden potential is fulfilled over time. Wear it as a symbol of the potential that lives within you.

Gracie has told me on more than one occasion that she can feel my prayers. It’s a blessing to know that I’m on her mind as she is mine.

I find myself praying for Gracie mostly at night and in the morning but then there are also those times when God brings her to mind during the day; when He does I stop and lift a prayer for her.

I pray that Gracie will find happiness in the Lord, that she will trust him for everything and find confidence in Him. I pray as she enters and progresses through high school that the Lord will give her strength and that she will learn to abide in Him. Young ladies want to look pretty and it’s a hard thing to trust God with in high school. So, I pray that God will give her security and contentment in Him and not in guys or the other places teens often turn to for acceptance.

Quotes from Gracie’s letters to Mollie:
"This whole prayer mentor thing gives me a sense of security."
"I'm happy that you're my prayer mentor, because I feel that I can relate to you in ways"
"I wanted to say thank you for taking me out to lunch and getting me the "Potential" necklace.  I wear it all the time.  I rarely ever take it off."
"I sincerely appreciate your prayers.  I can feel them working through God each and everyday.  I am thankful for your prayers."
"I am so thankful for your prayers along with the others.  There is really no way for me to explain how much they can change a life. I thank you for praying."
"I feel God and hear him telling me that everything is going to work and we will make it through it all."


Gracie’s Perspective: (Gracie McClearen)
I was very excited when I found out that Mollie was my Prayer Mentor. She's very easy for me to relate to. Going into high school this coming up August I'm very glad that I will have her to ask about her high school experiences. That way she can guide me through the hard times. But I feel so blessed having Mollie as my Mentor, and I have told her plenty of times that I can feel her prayers throughout each and every day. I can feel God's hands reaching out and carrying me through the day because of her prayers. I have known Mollie for a little while. I can remember being 10 and being in her mother's GA class and going over to their house and her showing us all of her trophies and sashes. I highly respect her and I think highly of her in every way. She's my role model to make it through high school and on through my future college years. I mean she is very successful with her life. She has a great husband and a job that she loves and that is my goal for my future. Mollie and her prayers also give me a sense of security for myself. A sense that yes I can make it through the day and through the rest of the week.

Mollie and Mrs. Michelle, her mother, took me out to lunch for my birthday. We shared stories and ideas on particular things. We laughed and just hung out like friends. She gave me the most amazing gift that anyone has ever given me. She gave me a necklace that had a lotus flower and one single word engraved in it..."Potential". That necklace just made me feel like, "Yeah I do have potential. I can do this". A lotus flower symbolizes "potential" and "inner beauty". That made me feel a lot more secure about myself. It made me more secure because I pick out every single flaw about myself I can find. I don't have the perfect body. My face isn't as beautiful as I would like. My Freckles are disgusting. But my relationship with Mollie through God's wonders is extremely strong. We have a very close and strong bond….

I am so thankful for Mollie and this whole "Here's My Shout" thing. You just don't realize how much someone's prayers and thoughts help until you know that so and so is praying for you every day.

Quotes from Mollie’s letters to Gracie:
"Just remember God is always there, and he has a plan for you".
"Take Life's challenges and use them for the good".
"You are a bright and beautiful girl; you will succeed in life".

Come Along With Me--A Poem by Gracie McClearen
Come along with me to his kingdom.
A kingdom where everything is okay.
Come and follow me to worship in his presence.
In his presence, all the suffering goes away.
Come Along with me to the perfect world.
A world where we can worship as one.
This world, this kingdom, it’s our escape.
Its our escape, Our hiding place.
A place to hide from all the tears.
A getaway from the wear and tear of these years.
So I say Take me away.
Take me away with you to his kingdom forever.