Deliver Hope: Praying for our local schools
Today a small group of us met to pray over all students whether homeschooled, public, or private, their teachers, administrators, and families. I would love for you to use this prayer guide over the next nine months to constantly keep children and families in prayer whether they are in our local Francis Howell School District or beyond. Let’s pray for God to move in the lives of all of us in this community in a way that unites us in love.
Deliver Hope Prayer Guide
As students around our county and city return to school let’s cover them all in God’s love, grace, mercy, and truth through prayer.
- Homeschool, public school, and private school students will always need the adults in their lives continually lifting their names and hearts to our Father God.
- The families of these students will always need the guidance and direction from Jesus to guide and direct these students to truth and love.
- Administrators, school board members, teachers, and staff will always need the blessing of knowledge, wisdom, and courage from the Holy Spirit and a covering of peace that passes all understanding as they teach these precious children.
- Harvester Christians will always need God to shape us in humility and gentleness as we strive to serve as godly neighbors to our local schools.
Feel free to use this prayer guide however you feel called. Where there is a blank you can enter the names of specific school board members, principals, teachers, or students, or Harvester Christians serving in the schools that you know or pray for all of them in general.
Before praying with your group or the people at your table, prepare yourself for this prayer time as an individual child of God through the practice of Lectio Divina.
Lectio Divina is a way of developing a closer relationship with God by reflecting prayerfully on His words. In general the chosen scripture is read four times. The first reading is an opportunity to get to know the Scripture passage. Simply read the scripture to yourself. Listen carefully for any words or phrases that seem to jump out. It’s important not to force things, but wait patiently for God to give gentle guidance. The second reading of the same passage focuses further on the points you become aware of during the first reading. You may want to re-read a few verses so you can reflect carefully on where God has nudged you.
Then it is time reflect on what you believe God is saying to you through the scripture. After a third reading, it’s time to respond. You may want to record your thoughts by journaling in the section provided below. We can respond in prayer too, which gives us the opportunity for a conversation with God. After the fourth and final reading, spend around 2-3 minutes in silent contemplation. This isn’t a time of prayer or meditation — just sit quietly and allow God to work. When your mind starts to wander and dart here and there, just bring it gently back to stillness and into the presence of God again.
Lectio Divina- Ephesians 4:1-5
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Lectio Divina response, notes, questions, curiosities, nudges, contemplation, reflection:
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The prayer guide is truly just a guide. Feel free to use part, all, or none of it. We are praying for HCC’s specific school partners today in addition to schools, students, families, teachers, school board members, and administrators in any setting all over our county. Below are the names the schools and administrators HCC partners with as well as the HCC School Outreach Crews who serve at each school or serve children in HCC Basketball-Cheer League.
| FHSD School Board Members | |
| President | Adam Bertrand |
| Vice President | Randy Cook |
| Treasurer | Jane Puszkar |
| Director | Ron Harmon |
| Director | Chad Lange |
| Director | Mark Ponder |
| Director | Janet Stiglich |
| FHSD Superintendent | Dr Kenneth Roumpos |
| Becky David Elementary | |
| Principal |
Mrs. Jill Oetting
|
| Assistant Principals | Mrs. Krista Boardman
Dr. Sarah Sides |
| School Crew Leader | TBD |
| School Crew Members | TBD |
| Food Backpack | Not applicable |
| Harvest Ridge Elementary | |
| Principal | Dr. Natalie DeWeese |
| Interim Assistant Principal |
Mr. Nathan Mackiewicz
|
| School Crew Leader | Rachel Vandermuelen |
| School Crew Members | |
| Food Backpack Crew Members | Shelly Swart, Carol Steinmeyer |
| Hackmann Rd Early Childhood | |
| Principal | Mendi Hopper |
| Educational Support Counselor | Beth Reed-Treadway |
| School Crew Leader | Suzanne & Darren Hance |
| School Crew Members | TBD |
| Food Backpack | Not applicable |
| Barnwell Middle | |
| Principal | Mr. Dave Eckhoff |
| Assistant Principals | Dr. Erin Thurston |
| School Crew Leader | Janice Davis |
| School Crew Members | Kari McCann, Jordan Burt, Jessica Krieger, Issac Brown, Larry Davis |
| Food Backpack Crew Members | Shelly Swart, Denise Sabo, Linda Beeler |
| Additional Food Backpack Schools | |
| Bryan Middle | Jen Bolina, Jennifer Shulters |
| Castlio Elementary | Jen Bolina |
| FHC | Jen Bolina, Kari Mc Cann |
| FHN | Shelly Swart, Stacey Enders, Shannon Sebastian |
| Saeger Middle | Jen Bolina, Kari McCann |
| Westwood Trails Academy | Shelly Swart, Jane & Stewart Topper |
| HCC Basketball-Cheer League | |
| League Director | Jeremy Lawyer |
| League Co-Director | Danielle Cochran |
| Coaches Coordinator | Brendon Foulke |
| Cheer Coaches Coordinator | Gabby Lahey |
| Referee Coordinator | Rebecca Lilienthal |
| Referee Co-Coordinator | |
| Devotional Coordinator | TBD |
| Concessions Coordinator | TBD |
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that every part of the school districts will agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among them, but that they be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 Corinthians 1:10
When _________ is in need may she approach your throne with confidence and find help. Hebrews 4:16
When _________ is weary and faint may you refresh and satisfy her.
Jeremiah 31:25
Christ, may the staff and students at _____________ become a new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17
Lord may the staff and students at ____________ know that nothing in all creation is hidden from your sight.
Hebrews 4:13
Lord may we be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bring forth its fruit in season
Psalm 1:3
God may you bring the staff and students at _________ who are far from you near you. Ephesians 2:13
Lord may your joy be in the staff and students at ___________.
John 15:11
God be gracious to ___________ and bless her and make your face shine on her.
Psalm 67:1
Father God we pray the staff and students at _____________ confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to your glory.
Philippians 2:11
God may _________ know and rely on the love you have for her.
1 John 4:16
Lord may the staff and students at ___________ exalt you.
Psalm 46:10
Father God, may you help anyone who enters _____________ to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and trustworthy.
Philippians 4:8
Pray that God would grant them godly wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).
Ask the Lord to help them be a model of good works in every regard, and to show integrity, dignity, and sound speech in their teaching (Titus 2:7-8).
Thank God for gifting teachers in a way that allows them to fulfill His calling. Pray that they would be good stewards of the gifts, using them to serve others (I Peter 4:10).
Pray that their teaching would drop as gentle rain upon tender grass, being well-received by their students (Deuteronomy 32:3).
Praise the LORD for His gracious and merciful character, and for being slow to ander and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 145:8). Ask Him to help teachers follow in His footsteps and emulate this example.
Pray that teachers would work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. Ask that they would be encouraged in their labor, knowing that they will be rewarded by God, since it is the Lord Christ whom they serve (Colossians 3:23-24).
Acknowledge God’s plan that students should be submissive to their teachers, as authorities placed over them by God (Romans 13:1). Pray that students would be respectful of their teachers.
Claim God’s promise that teachers can do all things through Christ who strengthens them (Philippians 4:13). Ask the Lord to fulfill His promise to thoroughly equip teachers for the good work He has designated for them.
Dear Heavenly Father, You are so good to give us teachers. I pray that You would bless the teachers in my life. They have been issued a sacred task, and one they cannot fulfill on their own. Please thoroughly equip them with wisdom and patience, and allow the joy of the Lord to be their strength. It’s in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, that I pray. Amen.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” 1 Tim 2:1-4 (NKJV).
We are to pray with the clear understanding that government authority is established by God. “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” 1 Peter 2:17 (NKJV). Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Romans 13:1 (NASB)
Help our leaders at ______________________ School to accept wise counsel. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22)
Give our leaders discretion, foresight, and understanding in making decisions. “Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge…” 1 Chron 22:12 (NKJV).
Protect our leaders from harm, and bless and protect their families. “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” 2 Thess 3:3 (NKJV).
Enable our school leaders to carry out their duties duties with humility toward you and toward others. “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble’” 1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV).
Give our leaders a tender heart of compassion toward those they lead and serve. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” Col 3:12 (NKJV).
Dear God, we come to you today asking your blessing on our school administrators. Thank you that they have answered the call to lead our teachers and schools so that our children might learn in a safe and nurturing environment conducive to academic and personal success.
Bless our school administrators with wisdom, integrity, a sense of humor, patience and the physical and mental energy equal to their tasks. Bless them with strong support from parents, teachers and the community.
Give them insights into each teacher’s unique gifts, strengths and abilities so that they might use each teacher in ways that contribute greatly to the common good. Reward them by allowing them see the fruits of their labor displayed in the success of their teachers and students. Accept our prayer today as an expression of our gratefulness to you and to them for their dedication in making our schools a central and vital part of our community.
Amen
Pray students will honor and respect their teachers/office admin/staff.
l Peter 2:13-14)
Pray each teacher, board member, staff, will know and believe they are loved and cherished by God who created them. Psalm 139:13-14
Pray that they are continually encouraged in and by the Spirit of God and by each other.
Ephesians 3:18-19, 1 Samuel 30:6 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Pray our schools will have Godly teachers, school board members, administrators, staff and employees. That all teaching is based on the Truth of God that any teaching which is not founded on the Truth of God, would fall on deaf ears. That each teacher would boldly and clearly speak Truth and that each conversation would be full of grace. That each answer would be gentle and not harsh.
1Timothy 3-4, Colossians 4:3-6, Proverbs 15:1
Pray that teachers, office staff, administrators, and school board members would see every child as the Lord sees him/her, as a person created and valued by God.
Psalm 139
Help each teacher be clothed with ‘compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. To bear with each other and forgive and above all to create in each heart a brotherly love for all they come into contact with each day.
Colossians 3:12-14
That each teacher, office staff, administrator, and school board member would strive to work in a way that delights the Lord, so that his/her steps will be made firm. Pray that he/she would use Godly wisdom arid that God has a plan for them. Pray that whatever they do, they work as if working for the Lord.
Psalm 37:23, Jeremiah 29:1, Colossians 3:17 & 23
Pray for each marriage and family of each school employee, that the Lord protects against anything that could tear those relationships apart. Keep each teacher, office staff, administrator, and school board member ‘self controlled and alert.’
1 Peter 5:8
Pray that students coming from difficult home situations are shown love, mercy and compassion by other students, administrators, and teachers. Pray that their needs are met, and students look toward the needs of others.
Philippians 2:4
Pray that each student has a friend and that God will watch over that friendship. Let no student feel alone or lonely.
Bless the parents, grandparents, guardians, and families with lives of peace and joy. Let their days be filled with contentment and love from those around them. Help them to remember that You are always by their side, guiding and protecting them. Romans 15:13
Grant the parents, grandparents, guardians, and family’s spiritual discernment as they make important decisions in life. Let them be able to hear Your voice clearly so they can follow Your leading. And help them to trust Your will for their lives so they can walk in the path You have set out for them. Matthew 6:33
Fill the teachers school year with abundant favor and blessing. Pray no detail will be left undone for them for this year; everything they need will be provided for them.
Philippians 4:19
Father, fill our School Outreach Crews and HCC Basketball-Cheer Leadership with Your Spirit, producing fruit that never spoils. Help us to love unconditionally, be filled with joy overflowing, remain peaceful and patient, be kind to others, walk in goodness, faithfulness and gentleness and maintain self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23
When anyone begins to fear, remind us that You are with us all . Help everyone with connections to the schools to be brave when confronted with new people, new situations, or new assignments. Help us all to not back down from new things or allow intimidation to hold us back.
Joshua 1:9
Lord teach everyone to walk into this year completely dependent upon You. When we begin to lean on our own understanding, remind us that Your ways far surpass ours. Thank you in advance for showing us the right paths and leading us in the way we should go.
Proverbs 3:5-6