by Katie Christine Rhodes
Kenmore, Washington
I'm writing this because of the Golden Rule as Jesus taught, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." When I encounter a ministry, I want to know, "Who are the people behind the name, what do they believe, what motivates them, what is their agenda?" So I am providing that information here, as I would want it to be provided to me. If readers still have questions, please ask.
Kenmore Prayer Circle is one of many threads in the tapestry of Christian faith that God has been weaving over many, many years. My role in this particular part of the story began on October 26, 2006, with a simple but powerful phrase spoken loudly into my heart.
I was driving home from classes at massage school, retooling for what I thought would be my next career, chosen so that I could have a more flexible work schedule while raising children. I was praying for the city where we live (probably interspersed with thoughts about what to cook for dinner).
"Kenmore Prayer Circle"
"Lord, what is that?"
"A place where Christians provide prayer for the community, in a central location, not in any one church congregation."
The first place that came to mind was a vacant suite in a little mall in Kenmore, in an area I'd been prayer-walking off and on for months. An area in transition, marked with vacancies and uncertainty. A former grocery store was on my heart as a possible youth center or community center. But the suite that came to mind was smaller, set between a pregnancy resource center and an abortion provider. Situated literally between life and death.
I made a mental footnote and continued my day, praying off and on as I did errands in our little town. I found myself praying out loud, "Lord, join all the Christians in Kenmore heart to heart into a net."
It was not a prayer I had thought to pray, so I asked the Lord, "Why a net?"
"Fisherman use nets."
This sparked my heart to reply, "Lord of the harvest, send workers into Your harvest!" In Kenmore there are many, many souls that our Savior wants to bring into His harvest. But the net has some gaps in it.
In following out what this new assignment might entail, I first sought to give it away. I told a local pastor, "Someone needs to do this." And I was graciously instructed that the one given the vision is the one primarily responsible to run with it, Not alone, of course, but putting the vision forward so others can join as God leads.
My own pastor was very encouraging. He put me in touch with other intercessors in the city who had been instrumental in bringing the pregnancy resource center to our city. He also prayed for me as I visited each pastor in our city and asked them, "Would you be willing to pray for the other congregations in Kenmore on a weekly basis, and just see where the Lord will take this?" And he invited me to lead our congregation in prayer for the other believers in Kenmore, each week during our Sunday meeting.
to be continued...
May the Lord lead all His children into unity in the Spirit, and direct us how we can serve Him today as He accomplishes His mighty works in our midst. Praise to the Lord.
