(Digital Editor's Note: This article was published first in the March 2023 print edition of The Stand.)
In 1984, Fern Nichols was burdened as she prepared to send her sons to junior high school. Within the coming school year, she knew worldly forces would attempt to impact the boys’ hearts and minds. Nichols began to do the only thing she knew to protect her children – she prayed. As a believer, Nichols also knew the power of praying with others, so she invited local moms to join her and pray for every aspect of the school system.
Today, that small prayer group Nichols started has morphed into Moms in Prayer International (MIP). This global prayer ministry focuses on praying for children, school facilities, and faculty. Active in all 50 states and more than 150 countries, MIP’s vision is that “every school in the world would be covered in prayer.”
“It’s not just important to pray for my child,” said Teresa Newcomer. “But it’s important to pray for all the children in the area, because each child impacts the life of my child.” Newcomer is the former Mississippi state coordinator for MIP. Newcomer and other MIP leaders recently sat down with The Stand to discuss the ministry.
Eternal investments
At MIP, it takes many different levels of leadership to keep the international organization running smoothly. As international president of MIP, Sally Burke ensures that all aspects of the ministry adhere to MIP’s mission and vision. The group approves country coordinators and directors to oversee national affiliates. In the U.S., MIP has division and state coordinators. However, perhaps the ministry’s most influential individuals are the leaders who host weekly prayer groups.
“The group leader and members are truly the most important people in the ministry,” said U.S. country coordinator Susan Shepherd. “They are the ones that pray individually and locally.”
Group leaders are tasked with facilitating each local prayer group. As the gathering only lasts an hour each week, leaders ensure that everyone stays on track and follows the prayer sheet. At MIP, prayer groups start and end on time. The time is dedicated to praying, not talking. Likewise, prayers are confidential.
“It is not an hour spent; it is an hour invested,” said Marcy Russo, Southeast division coordinator. “It is eternal. We come in burdened for our own kids and leave refreshed.”
Powerful prayers
Once members arrive at the prayer group, the leader makes sure everyone has a prayer sheet to follow. After discussing an attribute of God and reading accompanying Scriptures, the group dives into its four-step prayer process. Using the prayer sheet, they start by praising God for who He is. Next, everyone participates in silent confession. After confession, individuals focus on thanksgiving. The group collectively thanks God for what He has done. Finally, they move to intercession. To finish the meeting, MIP moms begin intercession by praying for their own children first, then for other students at the school, the staff, school concerns, and lastly, MIP concerns.
Over the years, MIP has seen the Lord work in amazing ways. One recent example is when they prayed for a summerlong wrestling camp. Throughout three camp sessions, 280 students and a dad came to know the Lord. MIP is still trusting the Lord for many unanswered prayers, but they know that with faith and perseverance, the Lord will respond exceedingly and abundantly.
“I think a lot of women don’t join because they’re busy,” Russo continued. “But this isn’t starting a ministry. This is joining a prayer movement.”
