Written by Vickie Stone of the Village Church.
In 2020 I received a phone call that my name was suggested to fill in as a deacon for someone that had to step back from their role. I felt so busy yet I prayed on it, and felt compelled to serve. COVID times had me feeling as if the Holy Spirit was inviting me to accept an opportunity for this new path of service. After my 15 months I agreed to serve another 3 years. Learning my role of having a flock, (church members assigned to me that I checked in with for needs and their prayer concerns) I attended monthly meetings and joined the prayer ministry team. It was overwhelming, the amount of prayers that were needed by so many. Early on, I confided in Pastor Jan Farley of my feelings of being overwhelmed since praying didn’t feel like it was enough. I would get emotionally exhausted thinking of how many people were hurting, especially the health prayers, as it took me back to my personal anguish of when my sister had cancer. Pastor Farley helped me by reassuring me that praying was enough, and with our prayers, our goal was to release it into the care and the hands of God for “His will be done.” Jesus modeled that we should pray earnestly, often, and with hopeful faith. His time on earth was limited, but He prioritized getting away by Himself to pray. Life can be so difficult. We may not always receive what we ask for, but we can be sure that God is working in and through every prayer. My hope was and is, that people felt/feel the prayers lifted on their behalf. And I pray still for the current Deacons as they serve their flocks, demonstrating Jesus’s work in action.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. [Ephesians 6:18]
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