A church near Hartford in the US state of Connecticut recently experienced an infusion of fresh life and passion for ministry through an emphasis on united prayer and small groups. 

Tom Dombrowski, pastor of the Connecticut Valley church, shares that their congregation had become so entangled with busy work and activities they neglected connecting with each other on a personal level. As a commuter church where many of the members drive 20 minutes or more to attend services, most of the social networking took place only on Sabbath. 

Seeing a weak link, long-time small group leader and church clerk Sandy Sergeant, organized a fresh emphasis on a small group ministry using the Ten Days of Prayer materials provided by the General Conference Prayer Ministries. Sergeant says that while their church had joined in Ten Days of Prayer before, this time was different. They planned different methods of involvement—call-in times throughout the day, a small group meeting at the church, and regional small groups for those who lived too far from the church—so more people could participate. She says, “Meeting together for 10 days, studying and sharing together what God had done, sparked a different level of experience and community that the church had not had before.” 

Connecticut Valley member Fitzroy Anderson shares this was a completely different experience than his routine prayer life. It was focused, directed, and everyone was praying for the same thing at the same time. Members came together, dug deeper, and prayed together for specific things. Anderson feels he had a taste of what the disciples experienced in the upper room. And for him, it was an answer to prayer. He felt for some time that his prayer life was stagnant and he needed something more, something deeper. Anderson says, “[For] anyone who is looking for a recharge, this is a perfect opportunity to jumpstart your prayer life. And, if you already have one, it’s great way to keep the momentum going.” 

This story is not unique. Since the Ten Days of Prayer initiative began, hundreds of churches around the world have been spiritually impacted each year by the emphasis on united prayer and personal revival. Undeniable miracles have taken place; members have experienced healing, restoration, and unity like never before. It is proof that, as Dombrowski shares, “Prayer in the local church is the oil. It is what makes all the machinery run properly. It can run without prayer, but not as effectively.” 

If you would like to participate in the upcoming Ten Days of Prayer, January 10-20, 2018, visit tendaysofprayer.org to register your church or small group. Materials are available online and are translated into multiple languages.