Just A Girl Changed By Prayer

Written By: Margie Davis

Many years ago, I was actively involved in our student ministry as a leader, and as such I went on many trips, retreats and camps. I was cabin “Mom” at Camp Allendale several times. I didn’t love sleeping in a bunk bed and rooming with a bunch of hormonal teenage girls who were messier than you can even begin to imagine. But I was ALWAYS sad when the week was over, and I knew we were sending some of these teenagers back to homes where they were very vulnerable.

There are several moments that will live on in my memory from those camp weeks. One in particular was a high school student from Indianapolis who I found to be loud and a bit belligerent at the beginning of the week! I wondered if I was equipped to handle her attitude. She was too cool to participate in the activities, didn’t adhere to dorm rules and seemed to be on the verge of always picking a fight. The other girls gave up trying to befriend her quickly.

I talked to Kevin Allen, our youth pastor about this young lady and we immediately began to devote time as a youth staff to pray for her at our daily debrief meetings. There was obviously a reason for her acting out and our prayer was that God would reveal it to us while we had her away from her daily life.

We prayed diligently for her. And in break out groups I made a point to sit near her and ask her questions that would draw her out. I felt I was making some progress, but she had some very high walls built around her.

On our 3rd night there I noticed her sitting alone during free time before our worship session, so I sat next to her and began chatting with her. It seemed to be going well for a while and I felt strongly that she had something she wanted to share with me, but I could tell she was about to start shutting down again. I looked her in the face and assured her I was a safe place. I held her hand and I prayed with her. I watched in amazement as her walls came crumbling down and tears filled her eyes. She slowly rolled up her sleeves and showed me the scars on her arms from cutting herself. She felt safe enough in that environment to share this deep hurt with me. Was it simply because I prayed with her? No, not entirely, but it was the final piece of the relationship building block that I had been working on for several days. AND it was the strength of the prayers going up from us as a youth staff who were solely invested in these kids that week! The prayers were fervent, heartfelt, and un-rushed and the result was that something miraculous happened and I had exactly the words she needed to hear that night.

When it was time for our main session, I witnessed a different girl. Hands high in praise and a mix of joy and tears on her face.

Later that night at campfire, she shared her story with our entire group! And much to my amazement, those teenage girls she had been rude to instantly gathered around her and supported her and drew her into their group.

What a great example of Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”

On our last morning at Camp that year, this precious girl was immersed into Christ and we sent her back into her home environment armed with the Holy Spirit!

On Sunday Josh said “When we pray, we step into the presence of the Almighty God who reigns over all, believing He hears, He moves, and through our prayers, heaven invades earth’s brokenness.”

If you aren’t already praying for the students and adults at camp this week, will you join me in calling on God to invade any brokenness that may be present in that camp this week? Pray that the adults will also have the eyes of their hearts opened to those who need “extra.” Pray believing in the lifesaving power of those prayers!

Matthew 18:19-20 says “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”