Knitting Our Hearts Together in Prayer for Our Kids

By Rhonda VanderPloeg

Arizona State Coordinator

The bulletin ad read, “Come to a Moms In Touch Informational; a new group is forming for Blue Star Elementary School.” My heart did a little leap. I knew this was God’s answer to my pleas to teach me to pray and to be a wise mother. Soon our home was the meeting place for this new prayer group in Holland, Michigan. I found myself discovering the Lord in a whole new way as we focused on one of His attributes each week. The short, focused prayers drew me closer to God’s heart. I also enjoyed the support of other moms, and saw my children and school impacted by God’s power to answer prayer.

Since that time in 1994, Moms In Touch International has been a constant in my life. When the Lord moved our family to Arizona in 2003, I expected to again pray in a Moms In Touch group. Sadly, I soon realized that most moms in my area had never even heard of Moms In Touch. They were missing the joy of seeing God’s power through corporate prayer at work in their children’s lives.

Ready or not, I was drafted by the Holy Spirit to start the first group for our new school. Renewed passion burned in my heart for this ministry. I had a vision like never before. I wanted to share this power with other moms and spread MITI throughout my entire state.

What a privilege and thrill to be Arizona’s State Coordinator. I love to see firsthand how the Lord works in so many lives through the discovery of this simple prayer format that knits our hearts together for the sake of our kids before the throne of grace.

Rhonda VanderPloeg, Arizona State Coordinator, lives in Mesa. She has been married since 1984 and has five children from elementary school to young adults. She loves to discover and learn about God’s creation during quiet moments hiking in the desert.

What is YOUR Moms In Touch story? 
Click on POST A COMMMENT below to share. 

From Desperation to Hope

By Bev Romans

Heartland Regional Director

Moms In Touch International

School concerns were troubling me, as my distraught second-grader hated going to class each morning. My heart was heavy, and I knew something had to change—for him and for me. As I explored various options during that difficult season, God allowed me to hear about Moms In Touch International (MITI), and I sensed this was His direction. 

So, in the fall of 1989, with two sons just starting third grade and kindergarten, and with trembling knees and a desperate heart, the first MITI group in our community began. Feeling totally “unqualified” to lead a prayer group, I was right where God wanted me to be—dependent on Him.

As God showed me the need for my sons and their school, He taught me how to pray in praise, silent confession, thanksgiving and intercession, and how to pray in one accord with others. Not all our groups’ prayers were answered in ways we expected or on our time schedule, but my heart was being made more malleable as I continued to call out to God alongside like-minded moms. 

It became obvious that this God who called me to pray was faithful to all His promises. His faithfulness carried my son (and me) not only through elementary school, but successfully through college and into a career in the area of his giftedness.

In 2002, God nudged me to step into the Area Coordinator position in north central Kansas where I could encourage others to pray. A few years later, He called me to serve as the first Kansas State Coordinator, and I am currently the Heartland Regional Director. 

What an incredible GIFT to see God moving across the Heartland in answer to the prayers of moms who humble their hearts to cry out to Him for the lives of their children! My prayer has become that others, too, will experience the gifts of peace, hope and joy that God gives through prayer in a MITI group.

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6

How has praying the Four Steps of Prayer with other moms impacted your life? We'd love to hear! Just click "Comment" below. When done, hit "Preview."

Prayers for Students and Schools Wrapped the Globe on Bless Our Schools Sunday

On Bless Our Schools Sunday, a teacher stopped by a MITI booth for prayer. They prayed for her as a teacher, for her students and that God would raise up a MITI group for her school.

Three boys stood up in their high school youth group and prayed for the students, the staff and the safety on their school campuses.

One church opened up their gym for prayer after each service. A common theme was praying that students will be bold in their faith, especially for See You at the Pole.

On September 19, 2010, the first annual Bless Our Schools Sunday, pastors around the world took a moment to pray for students and schools. Some called the educators forward and the congregation laid hands on them as they prayed. Others had the children come forward for a time of blessing them.

On Facebook, one mom wrote: “We had a precious time praying in both services over our teachers/staff, homeschooling parents, and then the students themselves. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of such huge corporate prayer!”

Another wrote, “I have that same sense of wonder as I did with Arise! Cry Out! All these parts of the body of Christ, taking the time to pray for the next generation, all over the world, on the same day … WOW!”

How did YOUR church participate in Bless Our Schools Sunday? We’d love to hear! 

Click “Comment” below, then hit “Preview.”

Announcing: Bless Our Schools Sunday

     We’re excited to announce that September 19, 2010, will be our first annual Bless Our Schools Sunday, a time for churches worldwide to pray for children and schools. Our hope is that every year, the third Sunday of September will be a time for pastors to have all the educators (teachers, administrators, staff, school board, etc.)  and/or students in their congregation stand or come forward while the pastor prays blessing over them for the coming school year.
    Would you be willing to talk with your pastor about Bless Our Schools Sunday?
     Pastors will have the freedom to celebrate Bless Our Schools Sunday in a way that best fits his service and congregation. Some might even have a whole sermon based on blessing our schools through prayer and highlight testimonies from MITI moms, teachers and students. Churches are welcome to participate in Bless Our Schools at their Saturday services, as well. 
     Bless Our Schools Sunday will be a great time for MITI moms to invite others to their Moms In Touch groups.
     Imagine the impact this time of prayer will have on that worn-out teacher, the weary principal, the school board member that’s standing up for biblical values, as well as every school in your community.
     Click here to view the Bless Our Schools flyer.
     Comment below to let us know you'll be talking to your pastor.
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