Do you believe prayer makes a difference?  How do you know that it does?  These are just two of questions that participants attending the Breakthrough Prayer Initiative training pondered.  The six-hour training took place at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota on January 17 and Jamestown First UMC in Jamestown, North Dakota on January 18.

Reverend Sue Nilson Kibbey, Missional Church Consultation Initiative, presented the two workshops to over 100 people from 13 different churches.   Nilson Kibbey equipped those present with tools and resources to practice Breakthrough Prayer in their local churches.

Participants experienced examples, ideas and ways to incorporate prayer in their personal and congregational life including: what prayer is not, what prayer is, types of prayer, personal prayer style, prayer walking, prayer chains, and prayer at church during weekdays.  

Nilson Kibbey challenged participants to think about key questions--What if prayer was the focus of your church?  What would that look like? 

“Many churches snack on prayer instead of feasting on prayer,” said Reverend Nilson Kibbey. Photo: Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey (David Stucke, Dakotas Conference UMC).

The Dakotas Conference has been called to pray daily for Unleashing Fearless Spirit-Led Churches.  Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota Area, launched the Unleashing Prayer Movement in 2013.   "I am seeking thousands of United Methodists to join me in praying every day for the Holy Spirit to break through, renew, and revive our churches and to use us boldly, without limits, to reach new people and heal a broken world." Photo: Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey leading church prayer groups in Breakthrough Prayer training on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, on January 17. (David Stucke, Dakotas Conference UMC).

Click here to learn more about Bishop Ough's Unleashing Prayer Movement