Calvary is hosting a 7 Day Prayer Experience right now. The Worship Center has been transformed into about 10 different “Prayer Stations,” and is open for 24 hour a day prayer. Anyone is welcome – I encourage you to stop by if you are in the Winchester area.
I slipped into “The Prayer Experience” about 2:45 AM Monday morning. My sleeping schedule was all messed up due to having slept from Noon on Saturday to Noon on Sunday while overcoming a nasty stomach bug, so this was actually perfect for me.
When I arrived I was greeted by one of our Elders – Kenneth Williamson. He was serving as “Host” for the evening. We have a number of volunteers who are taking turns “hosting” the event.
I was greeted by a hand washing station outside the main door to the Worship Center. A sign encouraged me to wash my hands – symbolically preparing myself by purging the “junk” off my life. I appreciated this. The previous 36 hours had been CRAZY in my family – and I needed this reminder.
Once inside I was greeted by a dimly lit room, and soft Christian music playing. There was already one person in the room praying. Everywhere I looked there were interesting artistic displays encouraging me to interact and pray. I was drawn immediately to a very large screen hanging from the ceiling in the back of the room. On it was a google earth presentation (made by Joe Brewer). The video was 9 minutes long – and highlighted the missions that Calvary supports, both local and foreign. It was very impacting to see the camera zoom from our Campus at Redwing Drive to the homes of Rapha, New Beginnings, the Homeless Coalition, and Community Services – all local missions we support. But then it zoomed way out and panned across the country to a Children’s Home out west and to the Bowery Mission in New York City. Then it zoomed way out to show the entire globe as it traveled to various destinations – Haiti, Guatemala, El Salvador, England, Kenya, India, West Africa. WOW! It was really something to see the reach of this church represented in such a visual way! Then there was a display on the back wall that encouraged me to write a prayer for any or all of these missions and leave it on the wall. WHAT A WAY TO START!*
Next I went to a station called “The Back Alley.” A sign said that the alley represented the sin and ugliness that we so often hide in life. I experienced a real life lesson there – a part of the display that I almost completely missed even though it was right there under my feet. God seemed to say to me – “you often miss this in real life too.” (You need to go to find out – I don’t want to ruin it. God may have the same lesson in store for you.)
Then there was the Cairn display, the Living Room, The Communion Table, the 4 or 5 art Displays that encouraged me to write my reactions, The Detention Center, and the Prayer Closet. Ah the Prayer Closet.
Literally, a free standing closet in the middle of the room. On it were written the prayers of people who had already been there before me. Prayers were written on the outside, on the door, and even on the inside walls. I LOVED this station. There were prayers for “my dad to stop drinking.” A prayer asking God “why my mom left.” And among many others, prayers for one of our Calvary families who will be heading to China to pick up their adopted daughter this week! It was powerful. I found an inconspicious spot and wrote my own brutally honest prayer to God.
There was more – but I think I’ve shared enough. By the time I had gone through all of it I had been there for almost 90 minutes. I seriously doubt that anyone can go thru the whole thing in the 30 minute time slot we allotted.
I left quieted.
Contented.
Filled.
But not satisfied. I plan to go back a few more times this week.
I hope to see you there.
We have encouraged people to go to www.serveky.net to sign up for a 30 minute time slot, and we’d love it if you’d do that. But you don’t have to. You can also just show up – anytime between now and Sunday morning at 7am.
The door will be open!
*We had originally hoped that this video would contain missions that other churches in Winchester are involved with around the world – not just Calvary. We thought it would be incredible to see the reach of the Body of Christ in Winchester to the very ends of the earth. Unfortunately, we only gave churches about a week to respond, and the only one we got was a Jamaican Mission support by the United Methodist Church – so it was the only other mission on the video.
