Below is a copy of an article on The Schools Prayer Network published in Christianity Magazine. To find out more about Christianity Magazine go to: www.christianitymagazine.co.uk
'Education, Education, Education' was famously Tony Blair's stated priority. The Schools' Prayer Network presumably prioritises prayer for schools - how?
The vision of the Schools Prayer Network (SPN) is that every school becomes a prayed for school. We encourage Christians all over the UK to pray for their local schools: in homes, on school premises or as part of a church programme. How and when groups meet to pray is up to them – some get together weekly, monthly or once a term - and they include parents, teachers, governors, schools workers and grandparents. All denominations and types of schools are represented.
SPN began after a school in Glasgow where Michael Philip, a peripatetic music teacher worked, experienced huge vandalism problems. Children from the school's Christian Union suggested they pray about it - and after prayer, the vandalism stopped almost straight away. Michael believed that if this could work in one school, then why not with others across the city? Soon a network of groups grew. Eventually he asked CARE to take over so it could spread across all four regions of the UK.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the SPN is facilitated by CARE, whilst in Scotland Scripture Union oversees it, investing considerable resources and organising several specific events held for people praying for schools. Each region has a co-ordinator who maintains the database of the schools and sends out regular news letters.
What are three key areas of concern and stress affecting schools in the UK right now?
Among others: Workload and targets
Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning
Intercultural issues and integration
What specific answers to prayers have you seen?
One inner-city secondary school had a serious financial crisis, facing a debt of £200,000. The prayer group was informed about this by the Christian teacher who coordinated it, and they got on their knees. A term later the news came back that the local authority had agreed to help, the bursar had done some skilful budgeting and the shortfall had turned into a surplus.
Another school has seen its GCSE exam results improve by 20% in the five years a group of teachers has prayed for the school.
Groups intercede for individual needs among staff and school families, special events, OFSTED inspections, interviews and new appointments, security and discipline issues, finances, education in general – in fact anything that affects their schools – and regularly see answers to prayer.
How can Christians get involved in praying for their local school?
One of network’s functions is to put people in touch with each other. If someone wants to know if a particular school is being prayed for and SPN has a group registered for that school the regional co-ordinator can link them up. If not, they are encouraged to start one!
Praying for a school can begin straightaway, however few are involved - in a home or even over the phone. Then as God draws together those who have a heart of prayer for the school, a regular time and date can be established. The leader of the group should be responsible for the overall running of it. If possible let the head teacher know about the group and ask for items for prayer. As the group grows others may want to meet and pray for neighbouring schools too. In some areas Christians from several churches pray together for almost all the local schools.
Every church has links with its local schools and could encourage the congregation to regularly pray. SPN hopes to see a massive increase in the numbers of individuals and groups registering to make the vision of ‘every school a prayed for school’ become a reality. Visit www.schoolsprayernetwork.org.uk for more details and how to contact your regional co-ordinator.
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