For the past few years, I have been consistently training our children in prayer on Wednesday nights at our church (Cornerstone United Pentecostal Church of Winchester, Virginia). God has given me a burden to see that no child is left behind. It is my goal to see every child connected to God and experiencing the power of God on a personal basis. I want each child to be able to clearly hear the voice of God, and to be used in the spiritual gifts. 

If the statistics are right that say 3 out of 4 children walk away from God when they are grown, then I cannot sit idly by and watch the enemy prevail. Greater is He that is in me, than He that is in the world! (See I John 4:4.) 

It is our responsibility as parents, teachers, saints, etc. not just to teach, but to train.  Deuteronomy 6:7 instructs us to teach. Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to train.  Teaching is imparting knowledge. Training is hands-on experience.

For the past seven years we have held a Back-to-School Prayer Rally, sponsored by our Daughters of Zion Chapter. Each year we give the children a  small gift as a reminder of the rally and the prayers that have been prayed over them. In the previous years the gifts have been tangible items that they could take to school with them…pencil boxes, etc. with a prayer cloth tucked inside. But this year, I felt impressed to do something a little different. I wanted the service to be meaningful, and the gift something special that would last a lifetime.

When I began preparing for this year’s prayer rally, I wasn’t sure how I would do what I felt needed to happen. I knew God wanted me to impart or transfer a greater hunger for prayer to the children, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it.  Then one day as I was listening to a message on “Passing the Mantle of Prayer to the Next Generation,” I felt like God revealed to me what I should do. 

God spoke to me about purchasing fabric, and cutting pieces large enough to go around the children’s shoulders and head. So a friend and I did just that. We purchased 15 yards of flannel—blue for the boys and purple for the girls. We cut it into ½ yard pieces, then fringed the ends to make “prayer mantles.”

Our Back-to-School Prayer Rally was held on August 17, 2008. During the program, individual children and adults took turns praying aloud and leading the congregation in prayer for the various areas of need. At the end of the service, I called all of the children up to the front and had them turn to face the audience. I then asked the parents and other adults present to come up and stand in front of the children. We gave the parents and adults a mantle to place on the child standing in front of them. First the parents and adults prayed a prayer of commitment to train the children. Then they placed the mantles around the shoulders of their child.

As the parents and other adults, teachers, leaders, and pastors prayed over the children there was a beautiful transference of the Spirit that flowed through each one. I truly believe that God anointed this generation of children that night. I am so excited to see and hear what God is doing in them and through them, to influence their schools and communities.   

These children are the church of today. But in training them to pray and build relationship with God we will keep them, and they will be the church of tomorrow as well.

Brenda Sandy attends Cornerstone United Pentecostal Church of Winchester, Virginia pastored by Rev. and Mrs. Jeff Dillon.  She is the Prayer Coordinator for the church and directs the monthly Daughters of Zion meetings. She and her staff also conduct the weekly Shekinah Kids prayer training sessions.   She is a woman who follows hard after God and who is passionate about prayer.