"Sister Rebecca has developed a creative way for the people of God to pray together without being concerned with what the other person might think of their audible prayer in a group. It is in conjunction with the many examples of corporate prayer we have in the Bible and gives opportunity for an individual to pour out their heart to God (1 Samuel 1:9-28) and seek His face individually. As a past participant, I benefited personally from this spiritual exercise."
Ike Graham, Pastor at Orrville Grace Brethren Church

"The Prayer Crossing Event was great and just a meaningful time to refocus on who we serve. I know many will be blessed through this endeavor He has laid on her heart."
Michael Hostetler, Participant at Orrville Grace Brethren Church

"I attended 2 Prayer Crossing events at our church. They were both thought provoking, personal times of prayer and meditation with the Lord unlike anything I experienced before or since. I keep some of my reflections from these 2 evenings in my Bible to this day."
Kenneth Tannehill, Participant

"I have experienced, "An Evening With The Lord" as named by our church when we held the event! It truly held true to its namesake. It was held in our church auditorium and it felt like I was alone with the Lord the entire evening! It was quiet and peaceful with soft Christian music playing in the background. Each session is at your own pace and secluded so you can feel your presence with the Lord. Each session had thought provoking honest questions that made you be real with yourself and with God! It felt like I had a "faith lift" as I left the auditorium! Looking forward to doing this again! I can see how each time you experience this you are going through different life events and that this would encourage and lift you up differently than it did the previous time. Thanks for the encouragement this program brings to many who are searching! God Bless!"
Lee Green, Participant

Summary

And so we come to this crossing between self and God. Where does self die and God reside? Where does faith intersect with emotion? Where does the cross of Christ meet the meagerness of man? The Prayer Crossing—where prayer molds volition and man meets Maker. What is The Prayer Crossing Event? It is a series of devotional stations, designed to evoke introspection and private spirit-filled communion with God through prayer, object lessons, and scripture. It is a congregational approach to introspective solitude because all stations are setup together in a room, allowing a group of 15 people to go through the prayer path separately yet not in isolation.

The Prayer Crossing Event Workbook is designed to guide leaders in the setup and hosting of The Prayer Crossing Event in which individuals are encouraged to spend a night of communion with God. Each participant should come with their Bible and prayer journal if they have one. However, pens, and notebooks should be provided at the door. The Prayer Crossing Event will take place in a large room in which adjacent stations are all near each other yet separated to create some privacy. The objective of The Prayer Crossing Event is to provide communal solitude in which the individual will discuss important matters of the heart with God and find forgiveness, healing, and guidance through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. It is an intimate and deep path of prayer.

Purpose

As Jesus and His disciples were traveling, they came to the house of Martha and Mary, friends of Jesus. The women graciously opened up their home, welcoming the Lord and the others. Martha, being responsible and hospitable, was busy with household preparations. Mary, on the other hand, sat at the feet of Jesus listening to Him talk. Martha began feeling frustrated. While she was hurrying around and busy preparing everything perfectly for the King, her sister enraptured sat on the floor, listening to Jesus, not even seeming to notice all the work that needed to be done. Martha, aggravatingly asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" To which Jesus replied, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:40-41).

God is blessed by our sacrifice of time. So many responsibilities, demands, hobbies, and distractions pull at us and keep us from giving God our undivided attention. Sometimes even hobbies and volunteer opportunities at the church keep us from quieting our hearts before the Lord, just to hear Him speak. The psalmist echoes the need for reflection and meditation:

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18

Even Jesus, God Himself, found it necessary to experience solitude with His Father. "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" Luke 5:16. Prayer, meditation, and an open heart before God are thematic throughout scripture. The Prayer Crossing Event Workbook is designed for congregations, small groups, college dorms, and Bible study friends to experience prayer in solitude as a community. It is a cross between personal devotional time and corporate worship.

What to Expect

People will be able to experience God through personal soul-searching prayer. Each station has vastly different subject matter, but they are still interconnected. This event is primarily designed for individuals eighteen and older. People attending The Prayer Crossing Event should not come with a hurried spirit. They should come expecting to commit time. The Prayer Crossing Event is meant to be experienced slowly and thoroughly.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19

Format

Ideally, The Prayer Crossing Event should be set up in a large room within the church building such as an auditorium, sanctuary, gymnasium, or recreational area. The room should promote a sense of calm and peacefulness (i.e. low lighting, softly playing worship music, etc.). Be sure to remove potential distractions (i.e. provide childcare for children, close doors to hallways, etc.). Within the room are fifteen stations, each containing an object lesson, devotional content, and questions to provoke contemplation and introspection.

The Prayer Crossing Event should be held in an "open house" format where people are able to come and go as they please. Ideally, a time block of four to six hours in an evening or weekend may work most effectively. Participants should stay as long as they need. Some may only partake in a couple of stations. Some may go to every station. Although the stations are given numbers for organization, they do not indicate the order of progression. Station 1 may be completed midway or even last, whereas Station 12 may be first. Stations should be completed according to the interest of the participant and the availability of the station; the Holy Spirit will lead accordingly. This is time with God, and "time" is the key word. It is not quantity that matters but quality. A participant should never feel rushed. There should be at least two Non-Participant Leaders (male and female) to be available for prayer, questions, or other concerns that may arise during the event.

Format Checklist

• There should be praise and worship music playing softly and continuously in the background to help create a sacred environment.
• Soft lighting should be used in order to aid in the intimate setting, reduce distractions and quiet the heart and mind.
• The format is an "open house" style in which people can come and go within a four to six hour time frame.
• There will be at least two Non-Participant Leaders (man and woman) available to pray, discuss matters, or provide encouragement for participants who complete the stations and feel the need for such services.
• Set-up and clean-up for The Prayer Crossing Event will require at least three to five volunteers.
• Childcare should be provided.

Instructions

Set up the room with fifteen tables. An example of room layout can be seen in Figure 1-1 on the following page. Each table should have one chair, one pad of paper, and one pen. The chair at each station should be facing away from the adjacent stations to ensure that people do not feel "watched" by other participants. It is optimal to face participants' backs to each other or have them face the wall (see Figure 1-1). Since the door will be opening and closing frequently with participants accessing the room, do not position chairs towards the entrance door.

Each station should be set up in advance with the required items and printouts. A list of supplies needed for each station can be found in the beginning of each respective stations' chapter. At the entrance to The Prayer Crossing Event, it is recommended that tissues, water, extra pens, and notepads be available for participants. Participants should also be provided with a "Quick Guide to the Stations" at the entrance (see Appendix B).