God Bless Midland! Prayer Walk for Schools
God Bless Midland! Prayer Walk for Schools Covers Community Schools in Prayer
Click here to view a photo album of this event.
by Karen Walker, Coach, Prayer Walk for Schools
On Saturday morning, Aug. 13, men, women, boys and girls waited in line to register as participants for the “God Bless Midland!” Prayer Walk for Schools 2011-2012. The list totaled 131 people wanting to ask God’s blessing over all our schools.
At the registration table were Karen Walker, coach of the event, and chief volunteer Marilyn Wilson. Special guests were Dr. Ryder Warren, Superintendent of Midland Independent School District and MISD School Board President Jay Isaacs, member of First Methodist Church. Both guests greeted everyone and thanked the church for its support of all our local and area schools.
Participants were served a beautiful, delicious breakfast prepared by First Methodist Chef Mark Gomez. Servers were Leaf Faller, Debbie Markley, Ann Sparkes, Shavon Hankins, Bob and Cecilia Davis, Janis Chapman, and head servers, Gayle and Doc Dodson. Dee Kemp, coach for the Spring Prayer Walk last April, thanked God for our breakfast and asked a blessing on each participant.
Those recruiting drivers were Becky Gage, Sharon Heidelberg, Kem Curtin, Becca Heidelberg, Dana Huber and Karen Walker. Dr. Tim Walker lit a large candle reminding everyone that we are the light of Christ as we go about blessing Midland in His name, and he gave a prayer of consecration. Before leaving the church, a large group picture was taken in the gym.
Carloads of folks from First Methodist went out to area schools asking the Lord to give a save, productive, enjoyable year to all the students, teachers, school administrators and other school personnel. Four cars traveled to Greenwood to pray for schools there. Special prayers were also said for the central office of MISD and the Bus Barn. Two “prayer warriors,” Wes and Gail Strain, went by bicycle.
Some prayer teams were entire families. The Shan Moon family prayed for St. Ann’s School and the Will Abney family prayed for Sam Houston Elementary and San Jacinto Junior High. The Glen Olsen family prayed for their school, Midland Classical Academy, along with new teacher and church member Angie Garlitz. Marilyn and Ed Wilson’s team had the pleasure of praying with a teacher from Richard Milburn Academy after telling her of their mission there.
Driver Barbara Yarbrough invited friends Joan Love-Davis and Vicky Hailey to return to Carver Center and Washington Magnet Elementary where they once attended or were on the faculty, along with present day teacher Jan Rhodes. Caleb Swaringen prayed at Burnet Elementary where he teaches, and Jeri Elton and husband Bill prayed at Fannin Elementary where she teaches. Several groups reported making a commitment to their group to continue praying for their school or schools throughout the coming school year.
Documenting the morning’s events were Christy Swaringen, photographer, and Roger Wyrick, videographer. For most everyone, the prayer walk was a first-time experience that was very rewarding. Participants reported feeling blessed themselves to be going out to bless our schools in God’s name and privileged to be part of a large prayer team from First United Methodist Church of Midland!
