How Many Ways Can You Pray?

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the children’s team would encourage GA, RA, and CA leaders to focus on encouraging children to pray for workers, their communities, and their families. Consider using some of these prayer ideas to share with children and families as you reach out to them during this time.

Fall is a wonderful time to focus on the opportunity to start again, with families getting back into school routines and even returning to church schedules after summer vacations. Beginning the quarter with the Creation study will set the tone to get back on track. Guide children through these extra prayer ideas to get their prayer lives off to a good start.

Create a Prayer—Take this time to help children understand that a prayer does not have to be long. Help them share various ways to pray (speak, sing, read from the Bible, keep rhythm, play, etc.) Divide children into groups of two or three. Challenge children to create a prayer thanking God for the world around them (home, family, church, etc.). Ask volunteers to share.

Hang a Prayer—Create a mobile base from wire hangers or wooden sticks tied together and suspended from the ceiling. During each meeting, instruct children to write or draw prayers and then hang them on the mobile. Each week, review prayers and add new ones.

Prayer Cave—Place an empty box (large enough for a child to crawl inside) on its side in a corner of the room. Direct children to the “prayer cave,” where they can find a private, quiet place to pray. They can whisper a prayer or even write or draw prayers on the walls of the “prayer cave.

Picture Prayers—This activity will take some time to prepare, but it will be worthwhile. This activity will also help children understand that churches are not in competition with each other but all have the same goal to share Jesus with as many people as possible. Contact your local associational office for pictures of pastors in your association. Place the pictures on a prayer wall along with the names of the churches the pastors serve. Pray by the wall throughout the unit, or distribute the pictures for children to use to pray at home.

Prayer Power for Our Pastor—Invite your pastor to your meeting to share some requests with children. Circle around the pastor and ask for volunteers to pray sentence prayers. Ask an adult to lead the final prayer.

Prayer Crowns—Acquire cardboard crowns (available from food restaurants). Instruct children to write or draw prayer requests for children on the inside of the crown. Guide them to recall that we are all part of the kingdom of God. Whenever they wear the crown, they should say a prayer for children.

by Judith K. Moore