As its third anniversary approaches, the work of the Prayers United for the Abused ministry remains the same – to pray and have others join in prayer by becoming Prayer Partners. What started as a tiny whispered prayer has grown to a swell of thousands. There are Prayer Partners in at least thirty states as well as overseas. The ministry has spread to prisons such as Statesville Correctional Center and Dwight Women’s Correctional Center, both in Illinois. Women’s shelters, including Lambsfold in Joliet and Womansplace in McKeesport, are now part of this growing partnership.

The abused and the abusers are wrapped in the mantle of God, and He waits for their hearts to surrender to Him. The prayers of our ministry are meant to assure them that God loves them. Many others have walked the way they have – but there is a better way. Please let them know that thousands of Prayer Partners pray for them. It is important to know that others care. Life begins when God becomes the central part of life. All things work together for those who love God and are called according to His purpose: man is not God, and God isn’t just man – He is Risen Man. It is so very important that they know He died but lives again in each soul waiting to be accepted.

So this is why we pray – because only with the help of God can the abused leave the relationship. With our help, those who struggle can come to their own belief in our loving God. As they grow stronger, they are able to move away from the ungodliness of abuse, and we can praise God, Who is always there to help.

The lines of abuse cross every economic level, every race, every religion, and every station in life. It is this ministry’s calling to be there, to listen, and to direct all those who need help.

We started out visiting all the various schools and would stand there and pray together. Now, a year or more later, we still meet at St. John the Baptist Ukranian Church parking lot directly across form the McKeesport High School and Vo Tech. From this strategic location we “Park and Pray” for all the schools in the McKeesport Area. We meet at the St. John’s location on Tuesday mornings at 7:30 AM. We certainly appreciate the kindness of the people of St. John’s very much.

On Thursday mornings we meet at 8:30 AM near Francis McClure Middle School in White Oak for our Bible reading and prayers for the White Oak schools.

We have a precious fellowship and friendship as we pray for schools in our nation, but most of all for our schools locally. We pray for school boards, for teachers, pupils, cafeteria workers, secretaries, bus drivers, custodians and all who work in the schools.

We often use scripture passages before we pray and one of our favorites is the passage from Ephesians Chapter 6, which insturcts us to put on the whole armor of God. We also use the well known prayer of St. Francis “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.” And we pray freely from our hearts as well.

Everyone who comes has been blessed and our prayer is that the Lord would send more volunteers so that we could cover every day of the schhol week. It does not take a lot of time, you can stop on your way to work. You may join in and pray and then leave when you must. Pray about it and come join the “Park and Pray” ladies.