Bringing Prayer Out Into the Open

I've tried an experiment in the last couple of weeks.

On Wednesday afternoons, I've set up camp at a table in Urbana's Starbucks, with the sign you see above on my table.

The very first time I did this, I had someone approach me to talk and pray within the first five minutes. She happened to be sitting one table over!

Last week, I sat and read, and didn't hear from anyone.

I'm not expecting that this will bring in tons of new members to our church. That's not why I'm doing it. I'm doing it because I believe in the power of prayer. I've been enormously helped by it in the past. It doesn't cost us anything to pray for our neighbors, but it could benefit them in ways we'll never see, or that they may not even realize, but ways that are real and palpable nonetheless.

And I'm doing it because I want people in our community to know that Christians are here to serve, and to help. We aren't just looking for people's time, people's money, people's votes or influence or resources or whatever folks may think we want. We're not here to take. We're here to give.

So I'm taking one of the most valuable things we can offer--the chance to lift up someone's name and situation before the One who made and saves us all--and I'm bringing it into the public space. Into people's surrogate office, and living room, and kitchen table, here in the center of the community.

I'm committing to be there 12pm-3pm most Wednesdays. I'd love to have you stop in and join me.

-Pr. Tim