The Gift

By Marta Gemelli

Illinois State Coordinator

Seven and a half years ago I received the greatest gift of my life (after the gift of salvation). I have debated whether this gift tops the gift of my children and husband, and have decided, “yes.” I have more of my children and more of my husband because of this gift than I would otherwise. The gift is prayer, and this is my story.

In September 2002, two moms started a Moms In Touch group for my children’s elementary school. I barely knew either of these women, but was invited for coffee and to hear about Moms In Touch International (MITI). At the time, praying in a group seemed like a very hard thing to do, but I joined, and within weeks, I was praying and crying during MITI! After several months, God was using this MITI group to change my life. I had experienced the gift of prayer!

For the most part, my prayers were expressed in tears that first year. The gift grew until I could pray out loud with comfort. MITI introduced me to women who had vibrant prayer lives, and the gift grew as I watched and shared with them. The gift included learning to praise and focus on a loving, sovereign God instead of on my problems and shortcomings. The gift gave me thankfulness; I grew to see God’s hand everywhere because of the weekly thanksgiving time.

Then, God gave me the courage to suggest this gift of prayer to my husband, Mike, and even gave me the confidence to actually pray out loud in front of him. After years, the gift was passed to Mike, and he started praying out loud, too. Eventually Mike suggested we pray together every morning—the gift grew!

My kids may, or may not, become prayer warriors in love with the Lord, but they have seen hundreds of God’s answers through this gift of prayer. I believe my children’s hearts would be very hard if this gift hadn’t affected their faith. Now, I have the gift of a teenage daughter who has spontaneously suggested praying together. Now that’s a gift!

Have you found prayer to be a gift in your life? If so, we'd love to hear about it. Just click Comment below. When done, hit Preview.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

By Marilyn Ledoux
Appalachian Regional Director

Moms In Touch International

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.2 Chronicles 20:12b

In 2 Chronicles, Jehoshaphat’s cry when he saw a vast army approaching was my cry, too, as I faced a trial with my teenager unlike any I had experienced before. God used my Moms In Touch International hour, week after week, to keep my eyes on Him. We praised God for who He is, let Him search our hearts in silent confession, thanked Him for answers to prayer—whether we had seen those answers yet or not—and cried out to Him in intercession, bathing our children in His Word.

Hearing the compassionate, heartfelt cries of other mothers for my child encouraged me, and I gained the strength to stand upon the Word of God and believe His promises to me for my child.

Like Jehoshaphat’s cry for help, God heard mine too, and He has rescued and delivered my children time and time again. Our faithful Father is ready to do that for your family, as well, and those in the schools we pray for. Our God of love and mercy longs to rescue and deliver the multitudes who have been caught in the grip of the enemy. He is calling us to ... "Arise, cry out in the night, pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord for the lives of your children" (Lamentations 2:19).

God has blessed me extravagantly in 20 years of being a MITI mom. Through my husband’s 30-year Marine Corps career, we have crisscrossed the country from coast to coast, and God has always been faithful to give me at least one other mom to pray with. Together we have kept our eyes upon Him, and He has taught me the truth of 2 Chronicles 20:17: "Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you."

To read a testimony from YOUR local area, click here.

We'd love to know what God's doing in your life through Moms In Touch International! Click "Comment" below. Then hit "Preview."

The Best Use of My Time

By Pam Imig Wyoming State Coordinator Moms In Touch International

In 1998, our older daughter started seventh grade. I had always been an attentive volunteer parent, but that changed in junior high school. Volunteers were no longer welcome on a regular basis in the classrooms, and, as a parent, I did not feel needed or wanted. This sense that I could no longer protect my child from what was being taught was especially hard with my first child. I felt disconnected and out of touch. One day a friend invited me to join her Moms In Touch group. I had never heard of Moms In Touch International, but quickly realized what an amazing blessing to pray weekly with other Christian moms for our children and schools. I found a way to connect with my daughter’s school through prayer, and I learned how to trust God with my children as they grew—to trust that He loved them so much more than I ever could, and He would guide them. Praying through the Four Steps of Prayer each week—Praise, silent Confession, Thanksgiving and Intercession—helped relieve my fears and focus my prayers in hope as we prayed Scripturally. Peace came! Answers came! Wisdom came! I prayed for my children to control their tongues, and God began to help me control mine! Everyone in my family has been touched, changed and blessed by God through this ministry of prayer. Throughout the years our group grew, divided and reached out to form new groups. Years later, and now as State Coordinator, I have a passion to encourage other women to persevere in prayer for children and schools. I agree with MITI Founder Fern Nichols when she says the best thing a mom can do is “spend consistent prayer time with God.” Please join us. It just takes one other mom to start. As you come together in corporate prayer for your own children and for the children and staff at their school, you will see why so many moms have found the MITI hour of prayer to be the best use of their time. To read a testimony from YOUR local area, click here. We'd love to know what God's doing in your life through Moms In Touch International! Click "Comment" below. Then 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.”

Teacher Accepts Christ after Year of MITI Prayers

Susan of New England was excited to share this answer to prayer:

“I started a Moms In Touch group at our church last year. I was grateful for the 11 that would come out as we are in New England and MITI is fairly new to our local area.

“All year, I felt a burden to pray for my daughter’s math teacher and his fiancée. At the end of the school year he told her he ‘got saved.’ She talked to him further and found out that her science teacher and pastor led him to Christ.

“God is at work!!! We all have our jaws on the floor!!! 

“But there is more! The fiancée came to Christ just a few days afterwards! They were married this summer by the pastor that led him to Christ.

“The moms in my group expect God to work, but to see it like this in this region is just overwhelming! Those New England MITI pray-ers have tilled the spiritual soil. Thank you to them and thanks to Jesus for hearing and working in our midst!”

Swiss Country Coordinator shares MITI with 30,000

By Cornelia Amstutz

Country Coordinator for MITI Switzerland

Switzerland celebrated their faith in Christ through an incredible event called Christustag (Christ's Day). Around 30,000 people gathered in the capital city of Bern to give thanks to God and to stand as a witness for Jesus.

God gave our Moms In Touch team, Mütter in Kontakt Switzerland, a wonderful opportunity to draw attention to prayer during this event. I was asked to speak and encourage the women to be spiritual mothers to the children and schools in Switzerland. While I was addressing the crowd, nearly 2,000 MITI moms dressed in pink, streamed forward onto the stadium field and stepped into the heart-shaped MITI space staked out for them. Standing on stage, a great joy came over me in view of this powerful testimony of prayer in Switzerland, all in God's honor. Suddenly, a strong wind swept over the stadium. At the end of my message, the wind was gone and the stadium was quiet again. To me, this was a powerful sign of God's holy presence and His work.

The moms standing in the heart hugged each other and were moved to tears. I challenged the women that remained in their seats to rise to their responsibility and stand in the gap for their children. We are praying they heard the clear call to prayer and will respond. Following this part of the program, two women from my leadership team prayed for the children of our land. At the conclusion of this prayer, a child, a father and a grandfather came forward to bless us as praying moms of Switzerland.

I am still overwhelmed when I think about the Christustag event in Bern. It was a tremendous and powerful celebration to the glory and honor of God. We have already received responses from mothers interested in joining Moms In Touch. 
 

Moms Meet in Villages Throughout a Muslim Country

A pastor in a predominantly Muslim country works hard to preach the Gospel and encourage women to pray in Moms In Touch groups. 


Despite the challenges of terrorism, persecution and funding, says the pastor, God makes a way for His Gospel to be preached. His church community now has 73 pastors and 30 churches. 


Last November, the pastor diligently sought locations for the women to gather together for Arise! Cry Out! More than 300 women attended in various locations and villages! 


Since then 18 Moms In Touch groups have popped up throughout this region, a region that is often hostile towards Christians. Just last week, 100 women attended a MITI leaders meeting.


The pastor requests prayer for the women throughout his country.


Please pray that God:

- will move in the hearts of moms to accept Jesus Christ and have a desire to pray.
- will protect these congregations, the children and MITI moms.
- will comfort the hurting children and mothers.
- will supply the resources for schools and other programs to help women.
- will provide the funds to spread Moms In Touch.


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