Prayer/Support Groups
(support, empower, and witness)

  1.  Los Angeles/San Francisco Region: Contact is Bernadette – nbstjames@gmail.com.
  2.  Leaders Group: open
  3.  Mid-Atlantic Region (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington DC): Contact is George – gguschwan@gmail.com.
  4.  Northern Tier Group (Michigan, Minnesota/ North Dakota, and the Pacific Northwest Regions): Contact is Kris Sendelbach – fuzziandcompany@gmail.com
  5.  Illinois/Northern Indiana Region: Contact is Patrick Blaney – blaneydds@yahoo.com.
  6. South East Region: Contact is Tamila Hennessy – thennessy774@gmail.com.
  7. New Member Group: Contact is Angeli Pemberton – apemberton@actheals.org

Code of Behavior for SEW Prayer Groups

SEW (support-empower-witness) groups are prayer groups. They can range from one to 1.5 hours, typically once monthly. The focus of each group will be unique: scripture-based, teaching, book study, specific topic-centered, and always include prayer time for participant’s needs, as they choose to share. We listen attentively to the leader/facilitator and reflect on the words given and how the message applies to our own lives and practice.

Rules of Engagement:

  1. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide the meeting and prayer time. We always begin and end with prayer.
  2. The facilitator’s ministry is to keep the group on the topic, to ensure that each person respects the needs of others, to give each person a chance to share their needs and receive healing or blessing prayer if requested. They can gently stop someone if that person is going off topic or taking the group off its goal.
  3. In the beginning, ask each participant to briefly share their name, where they are from, and their ministry area.
  4. Be comfortable with holy silence (not too quick to fill in silent spaces).
  5. Make sure everyone has a chance to share a prayer need, if they want to.
  6. The facilitator ensures participants are listening to the requester’s and each other’s prayers and not praying above or simultaneously over someone else in the group.
  7. Notice if the attendee/participant needs further, more in-depth prayer for their need. Prayerfully consider recommending they pursue deeper prayer by a trained prayer team. This included keeping participants on topic, in case they stray into other areas not covered by the group.
  8. Keep track of time. Begin and end on time.
  9. At the beginning of each prayer group time, the group may spend time in worship song, scripture, and spend a few minutes quietly listening to the Holy Spirit. If the attendee/participant feels the Lord wanting you to share something related to the topic or during prayer time, share when you are ready. Ask the Holy Spirit how to pray for or bless the prayer requester. There is absolutely no pressure to share a need or say prayers. 
  10. Remember, God never forces, rushes, or pushes us; He always invites us, and we always have a choice of when or if and how we will respond. There is no judgment on anyone who shares. 
  11. Lastly, remind the group that whatever is shared in the group stays in the group. No exceptions!

The Heart of Small Group Prayer Meetings:

During the SEW Prayer Group,  there is time to worship the Lord, study His word, discuss the book being studied, or listen to a short meditation, after which the group has the opportunity to pray with each other for one another. We believe the Lord draws each of us here because He desires to meet with us, speak to us, and show His great love for each one attending. We simply responded to His invitation. We want to give time for each person to share their heart and prayers for others. There is no pressure to do so, and we want to make sure we share briefly to give time for everyone. 

We are God’s children, His precious, beloved daughters and sons, and, as such, we can hear His voice. God’s Word says His sheep hear His voice. We can hear God speaking into our hearts for ourselves and others. In 1Corinthains 14:3, we see that prophecy, a word from the Lord, is given for strengthening, encouraging, and comfort. When we sense, hear, or see something from the Lord for another, it might be for us to share with them in the form of a question of what to do with a word, feeling, sense, or picture that comes to you on behalf of another. And remember that all is to be done in love. The Holy Spirit is the only One who does the convicting, and the Father is the only  Judge. We are commanded by Jesus to love. In this space, we are NOT teachers, counselors, or coaches, only conduits of God’s love and blessing.

We want to speak what is true in heaven for someone, even if they might not see it in their life on earth. For example, if we sense the person has fear, we might speak a prayer or blessing of courage and love. We know it is God’s desire for us to have courage and love because it’s in His word. We speak prayers or blessings that align with God’s Word and revealed nature.

And, lastly, we agree with the Lord’s help, to honor ourselves and one another, to see the best in one another, and that whatever is shared in this time and space with one another is not going to be shared outside of this time and space with anyone else except the Lord.