As students and teachers across the state headed back to school, Alabama Baptists sought to provide them with an ample amount of school supplies and prayers.
Numerous churches and associations provided the prayers by organizing prayer-walking events.
Peggy Stroud coordinated a successful effort by Coffee Baptist Association to prayer walk the properties of all schools in its county Aug. 18.
“We are making a statement that prayer is important,” said Stroud, a member of Bethany Baptist Church, New Brockton. “We are very concerned about the future of our children. We hope that by seeing our example that the children will see that God is here to help — (that) He is here for them.”
Three Springville-area schools were also the site of a recent prayer walk.
“The Saturday before school started, we went to each of the schools and prayed in classrooms, offices, bathrooms and cafeterias,” said Carol Parker, a member of First Baptist Church, Springville, who coordinated the event.
“Our Sunday School class also baked cookies, attached notes of encouragement for the teachers and sent them to the high school. It is important for teachers to know that we love them but more importantly that God does, too.”
Helping children with supplies
Don McLaughlin, a teacher at Springville High School, declared he is dependent on prayer and grateful for the support of those praying for schools. “I appreciate those that took a Saturday to show their concern for our schools and their dedication to God to pray for us,” McLaughlin said.
First Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Baptist Association has an ongoing prayer ministry for schools that focuses on praying for teachers, students, school leaders and city, county and state leaders responsible for education funding.
“We have a prayer guide that has been written so that every person who comes onto every school campus is prayed for,” said Nelda Jernigan, a member of First, Montgomery.
The church also participates in year-round prayer-walking efforts sponsored by the association and collects supplies needed by students and faculty.
Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) at another Montgomery Association church also collects supplies with its Tools for School drive.
“This is a great opportunity for our church to participate in a local missions effort to give back and help our community,” said Ann Strickland, who leads the drive at Pinedale Baptist Church, Montgomery.
The WMU at Concord Baptist Church, Russellville, in Franklin Baptist Association collected school supplies for Russellville Elementary School.
Denisha Blackwell, counselor at the school, praised WMU members for their help in meeting the needs of the area children.
“We are very thankful for these ladies thinking of our students who are in need of the tools for education,” she said. “These ladies recognize that missions fields are often in our own back yards.”
Parker believes “prayer walks and encouragement are small things we can do to make a difference” and urges more Alabama Baptists to become involved in ministries to their local schools.
“Christians have sat back for too long,” she said. “Whether you have kids or not, it’s time to take a stand. These kids are our future.”
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