A prayerwalk training and ministry effort, “Crossover Cherokee County,” held Jan. 22 at East Gaffney Baptist Church, opened the eyes of the 59 people who took part.
Missions consultant Debbie McDowell leads Gaffney-area churches in a prayerwalk training event.The participants came from seven churches in Broad River Baptist Association – Park Hills, Providence, Midway, Nazareth, Draytonville, East Gaffney and Grassy Pond – and one church plant, Awaken. Two church members from North Spartanburg First Baptist also participated.
The ministry was a vision effort of five pastors in the Gaffney and Blacksburg area – Keith Harrill, Jamie Billings, Tim Nugent, Everette Peterson and Vernon Craig – along with Donnie Padgett, director of missions for Broad River Association, and myself.
Debbie McDowell, missional church consultant, provided the training. She shared examples of prayer efforts she has been involved in from South Carolina to Taiwan and offered helpful hints on walking (and, in cases where walking was not an option, driving under the theme “Praying Onsite with Insight.”
Following the hour-long prayerwalk, many returned for a time of testimony and idea sharing.
Testimonies of God at work
There were at least two gospel presentations reported. As the pizzas were being delivered for lunch, the delivery man was asked if he had any prayer concerns. As a confessing Christian he agreed to prayer before departing.
When the delivery bags were returned during the prayerwalk, the manager at the local pizza store where the lunch was purchased was all smiles when told he had been prayed for during the training.
A youth leader from Nazareth Baptist Church in Blacksburg shared that the four youth on his team prayed for what was important to them: their schools, their library, and a home where many meet for a Monday night Bible study.
East Gaffney pastor Tim Nugent said eyes were opened to places and things that were right around them, in the shadow of their steeple. Team members from East Gaffney prayed with two people on the sidewalk that runs down Cherokee Avenue in front of the church.
Prayerwalkers from Nazareth Baptist in Blacksburg visited beauty shops. Two others who visited the volunteer fire department were invited in and told, “Glad you thought of us.”
Struggles
McDowell asked about struggles that occurred during the prayerwalk. Jamie Billings, pastor of Nazareth Baptist, said, “The ‘overwhelming wow’ – how do we make inroads and how do we build relationships?” McDowell answered, now that we know, we are responsible.
Vernon Craig, pastor of Midway Baptist, told how the director of a sports complex near the church had approached him about his intent to schedule events on Sundays. “How do they take Jesus to them?” Craig asked. “The need is very eye-opening.”
Future plans
Many shared the hope that the missional event in Cherokee County will be a spark to spread across the state.
There will be a follow up meeting dealing with witness training that leads to taking the gospel to the streets. Other ideas included a 24/7 prayer room that would rotate from church to church, as well as ministry in local parks.
– Sanders is pastor of Park Hills Baptist Church and evangelism director for Broad River Baptist Association.