"We have had prayer groups at East High for at least five years. Last year's ministry at my school wasn't looking very good. I was the only one at prayer during the first semsester, but I knew the Lord wanted me to be faithful in interceding for the disparity of my peer's hears. During the second semester I started seeing fruit at my school. First, a friend became and continues to be committed to praying with me very week. Then two friends from school came to me this summer asking how to give their lives to Christ. Finally, during this new school year students have been opening up to me about things on their heart - even a friend that has been on my prayer list for seven years. I really think God is doing something incredible at my school."

                                                                                                   Taylor - East High

  I took to the trail again this year and backpacked over 280 miles on the Appalachian Trail in Southern Virginia. I visited friends in Asheville, NC just before my hike. To prepare my Kansas legs for the mountains of Virginia I took a practice hike up Lookout Mountain in Montreat, NC (near where Billy Graham lives). As I was determining how to best tackle this mountain I met a young high school student. We began to converse as we hiked up the mountain. I learned that he enjoyed hiking, reading Science Fiction that is based on science, and writing.  As we hiked to the top of the mountain I felt impressed to see what he thought about spiritual things by asking: “Is there a God?” and “If there is a God, can He be known?” He paused for a while before answering the first question. He didn’t really believe there was a God, but was willing to talk about the possibility of a God one can know.

Walking down the mountain and stopping at times to check out the view I was able to share how I came to know God and the grace extended to me through Jesus. Soon he was asking me questions and we talked about how God created not only the earth, but also humans in His own image. As we approached the bottom of the trail and the end of our hike he asked me if I would mind if he wrote a story about our encounter and conversation. I said that I would be honored and only asked that he send me a copy. Before my Appalachian hike was complete I received the story that he had composed. Although he had changed the names and other details to fit his plot and creative style I could still hear the clear gospel message I was able to communicate to him with God’s help. He had heard the truth and I pray daily that God will put other believers in his path to complete his spiritual journey.

                                                                                                                                                                            Keith Malcom

Middle School leaders give advice to others thinking of starting a Bible club at their campus:

Emilie: "Don't be afraid. God is with you. I know that some of you might not want to be labeled as a Christian, or 'different' but go ahead and start that Bible study. I know I probably couldn't have done it without my friends. So maybe you could get a couple of friends to join you."

Jessica: "I would say to be patient and don't get discouraged. The first week we had about 15 students and the next week we only had 10. So, I was really discouraged. As long as the message gets across to at least one person it is totally worth it. The reason I say be patient is God works slowly but steadily at times and you may feel like you are doing nothing in people's lives, but you really are. You are at least planting a seed in people's hearts."

Emma: "I was most afraid of doing this because of what people would think of me and that I would lose friends in the process. People were really great about it. I was really surprised that not a whole lot of people were rude about it or judged me. Inviting others to the Bible club was easy, they were actually polite about it. I was also really afraid that no one would come. I was really surprised at who came. We have people coming every week, which is a great accomplishment."

The idea for PRAYER WALKS came over two years ago from a small group of student leaders with a heart for prayer and the campuses of the greater Wichita area. For the past two years they and other students have meet monthly to PRAYER WALK at least two area campuses on a given Saturday.

Here's what happens at a PRAYER WALK:

• Meet at a school flagpole on a Saturday afternoon.
• Ask students who attend that campus how we can pray for their campus.
• Divide into groups and walk around the campus and pray for the needs of that campus.
• Return to the flagpole and pray for the students attending that campus
• Travel to the second school and do all the above.
  

I don't know how many of the prayers we prayed have been answered but what I do know is that this simple act of praying on a Saturday afternoon has had an impact on the students who have participated.

First, for the faithful student prayer warriors I have seen a greater desire to pray for their own campuses and the other campuses in their community.

Second, for those students who came for the first time I saw a personal transformation as they realize the power of prayer on that Saturday and they understood that they could take prayer with them to their campus on Monday morning.

Third, the number of prayer groups in area campuses actually doubled in the first year of the Prayer Walks.

I urge you to be a part of these life-transforming PRAYER WALKS and make an impact with your prayers!

Keith Malcom