“Prayer had never been a part of my life. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t believe it, that’s for sure!” Don was a new resident of the Mission when a team from the Listen Love Pray Foundation prayed for him and changed his world. “I felt like the Holy Spirit was in the room. And they taught me how to pray. It doesn’t have to be hard! Just be honest and be open to God.”
Listen Love Pray exists to bring the love of God and the healing power of Jesus to hurting people. Their team works in four main areas:
- Weekly healing prayer services
- Private healing prayer sessions
- Christ-centered classes
- Recovery ministry
Their 53 volunteers gave 3,350 hours praying with the ministry last year, an average of 9.3 hours per day.
Their ministry has partnered with the Mission for about five years. At our staff retreat last February, a team from Listen Love Pray led us through prayer exercises and prayed with each individual employee. Volunteers from the ministry also minister to men in our Changed Life Recovery Program (CLRP) about five times a month. They teach Celebrate Recovery classes and lead the men in prayer exercises.
CLRP Director Carlton Hill says he initially feared their prayer exercises would be too slow and meditative for the guys. However, he found their approach was just what the men needed. Carlton offers the option of praying individually with Listen Love Pray team members.
“I knew one tough street guy, right out of jail, who chose to have personal prayer time with them. It really broke him.”
Carlton says that the guys look forward to visits from Listen Love Pray and meet the team with respect and reverence.
Doug was a new resident when he first prayed with Listen Love Pray. “They prayed with me and helped me repent of some things. And I felt his presence! I felt the Holy Spirit, and it was just awesome! I heard the voice of God, and I felt him in my heart.”
A CLRP graduate named Mike says, “I came (to the Mission) hopeless, incapable, and broken … Now my life is full of blessings from making good decisions and from having positive role models and mentors like the Listen Love Pray team.”
Carlton explained that for some people, prayer is hope. For others, prayer is belief. After that, prayer becomes expectation. Lucinda Nelson, the founder of Listen Love Pray, describes her expectation: “Every single time I pray for someone, or teach a class, or go to a recovery ministry, I’m amazed! And I think, ‘Wow! Look what he did!’ So I’m expecting amazement.”
CLRP resident Gustavo says, “One of the main issues I had was worry. After Deep Healing Prayer, I felt relieved and reassured that God is in control and he is leading the way.” A Resident named Mike told the Listen Love Pray team, “I thought nobody could be as nice as you. Then I realized real quick that God was with you guys, and genuine love exists, and people do care! I had never really been around that.”
Lucinda gushes, “It’s just amazing what Jesus can do and wants to do for us! People step into the presence of Jesus, and they are transformed, they’re comforted, they’re strengthened.”
Your prayers and support for the Mission provide a place for people to be set free through prayer.
