Anniversary Prayer Breakfast: Sowing Seeds for Future Direction

"All the seeds of future vision for Where Grace Abounds will be planted in corporate prayer.”

Mary Heathman

‍

It’s not surprising that our first gathering to celebrate WGA’s 40th anniversary year would be an event centered around prayer. After all, the ministry of WGA was built on this foundational pillar at its inception. It was instilled in us by Mary with her quote above.  So, over the last 4 decades Staff, Leadership, Board and Group members would corporately gather for prayer in some form or fashion. This particular gathering was set for Saturday, January 31st and the invitations sent to our local newsletter readers, group members, WGA alum and several church and parachurch leaders.

As with every WGA gathering, people began arriving at the church and the “cocktail party” atmosphere began right away (ya know, it was a breakfast too!).  People were chatting in little groups here and there, catching up over hugs, noshing on brunchy snacks and reconnecting over coffee.

Now it’s time for the “prayer” part of the prayer breakfast.  Almost 60 of us who attended were sitting at round tables in the sanctuary and Mary, with microphone in hand, started us off.  She gave a bit of an introduction about how we would spend the remaining time.  Together we would proceed through 3 prayer movements: praises, laments and seeking God on behalf of WGA’s future.  Each of these 3 movements would offer a time of individual work, prayerfully scribbling personal thoughts on the handout given. The table would then have time to hear from one another, and the “lucky” scribe would capture all the collective thoughts. Between each movement the microphone went from table to table and we all heard the collective feedback.  We now have a huge compilation from our morning spent together—here’s just a smattering:

‍

Praises—what can we be thankful to God for WGA

• “Safe space to hold faith and challenges in tension, grace without compromise and a bright spot of truth in a dark world—like a lighthouse”

• “Parents and families are supported”

• “Resource for people to understand sexuality, brokenness, struggle and how God is in it all”

• “Consistency of Leadership”

• “Partnering with churches and other ministries to expand God’s reach—even those which disagree”

‍

Laments—what have been WGA’s challenges and needs

• “Misunderstood what we’re doing—WGA is thought by some people to be anti-LGBTQ”

• “Our angry culture—political and societal disagreements and declining interpersonal relationships”

• “Many people in church don’t know how to include people with sexual issues”

• “Division among individuals, families, churches and communities over LGBTQ topics”

• “The epidemic of loneliness”

‍

Seeking God—Where Grace Abounds and the Church

• “Training, praying, passing the torch to the next generations”

• “Higher visibility—get the secret out, accessible as a resource”

• “Support groups inside the church for families and individuals struggling with issues regarding sexuality”

• “Younger staff more accessible”

• “Savy social media, marketing and financial fundraising person”

‍

What an encouraging morning!  Mary said her favorite part from the podium while facilitating the dialogue was seeing people at the tables engaged in such enthusiastic discussions with one another. There is now a long prayerful list, which is dove-tailing quite nicely with upcoming and future projects, as we move into our 41st year.  We want to graciously thank all those who took time that morning to be with us and celebrate more intercession surrounding Where Grace Abounds and our world. Enjoy the photos!

‍

Please pray with us!

‍

‍