Why Prayer Walks?

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life…” – 2 Corinthians 2:15

For anyone who has attended a TeenPact State Class, these words likely remind them of one of the program’s most significant elements: prayer walks. Since the ministry’s founding, this is a part of every morning at class. Still, some ask, why do we have our students silently process into the halls and chambers of the Capitol to pray? Wouldn’t it be more efficient and less awkward to just pray at home? Maybe. But there is a deep importance to prayer walks that is inevitably linked to our very mission.

TeenPact’s mission is to train youth to understand the political process, value their liberty, defend the Christian faith, and engage the culture at a time in their lives when, typically, they do not care about such things.

As students from around their state gather with a goal of understanding the political process, morning prayer walks provide the transition to the other three pillars of the mission as well as the program as a whole.

Valuing Liberty

Do you know that it is currently illegal to pray publicly in 53 countries? The United States, however, is not one of these countries. We should never undervalue this liberty that has been preserved in America. Standing in your state Capitol and publicly, humbly thanking God for the freedom to praise Him within the very epicenter of your state’s government is a powerful experience that cannot be matched.

Defending the Christian Faith

We are called to pray for our leaders and doing so on-site, in the very place where they serve, is an experience that will impact those who see you pray as well. We pray for legislators. We pray for executives. We pray for the judiciary. We pray for security officers. We pray for janitors. As we pray for the Holy Spirit to touch these lives, people observe a powerful, and yet meek outworking of our faith that cannot be replicated inside a classroom. When others see you pray, they see you talking to a great Father who loves them enough to die. This may be the only time that they smell such a sweet fragrance.

Engaging the Culture

“America needs is a massive return to God—an awakening of sorts,” writes TeenPact founder Tim Echols. “Biblical revival is accompanied by repentance, brokenness and people coming to Christ. These three ‘fruits’—not clever marketing of any man or ministry, will bring about societal change.” Remember, you don’t need to be at TeenPact to go on a prayer walk. The idea of cultural engagement suggests an ongoing process. By gathering a few friends or family and heading to the Capitol to pray on your own, your impact will continue on. We hope this is a discipline that all TeenPact Alumni will continue to practice for years to come.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God of Savior…”  –1 Timothy 2:1-3