Prayer walks were started in September of 1998 for peace and security in our schools. Some ladies from various churches got together and prayed about the alarming situation in the schools. From these meetings the “Prayer Walks” were born in the McKeesport, PA area. We were very inspired by the writings of Elder Ernie Frederick of First Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh who still is very active in setting up “Prayer Walks” in the whole Pittsburgh area.

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.