When you have a volunteer meeting, it is important to have time allotted for helping volunteers connect with God.
This is a time when they can refill their spiritual tank, be encouraged and grow in their walk with Jesus.
One of the best ways to do this is through prayer stations. If you've never used prayer stations, they are 5-10 minute prayer activities.
Stations can be set up and used over a period of time or for an event. They are typically interactive, inviting the person to read/listen/reflect and then respond to God's voice.
Go over the prayer stations with the group and have instructions set up at each station. They may not get to all the stations depending on how much time you allot for this. I suggest a minimum of 5 minutes at each station.
Let it be organic with the volunteers choosing how long they want to spend at the stations. You may have volunteers who do all 5 while others may only do 2 or 3. Let God lead them individually.
It does enhance the experience if you play soft, meditative worship music in the background.
Here are 5 prayer station ideas.
Welcome Home
Items needed:
yellow Ribbon strips
small live or artificial tree
There is a tradition in America of tying a yellow ribbon on a tree as a sign of welcoming home soldiers who have been serving overseas. As Christians, we pray that people who do not yet know the love of God for themselves will indeed ‘Come Home’ to the Father heart of God. Bring those you wish to pray for to God; and then simply tie yellow ribbons on the tree for them, as a sign that God will bring them to Himself.
Washing Away My Sins Vase filled with water.
Items needed:
Put several drops of red food coloring into the water and stir it
Small sheets of clear transparency paper Black washable markers
Place a vase filled with red water on a table. Have small sheets of clear transparency paper and black washable markers available. Spend some time reflecting on unforgiven sin in your life, and write the sin on a sheet of transparency with a black washable marker. Then lift it up to God. After you have prayed about it, dip the transparency piece into the water in the vase until it has been fully washed away. Jesus' blood washes away your sins just as this water washes away what you've written. Have 1 John 1:9 listed on the table.
Praise Together
Items needed:
Hang a poster board on the wall or provide a long sheet of paper on a table.
Place a container of markers, chalk, crayons, etc.
Have Psalm 9:1-2 on display
Take some time to think through all the ways God has been working in your life and the life of your team. What prayers have been answered? What blessings bestowed? What life-change has occurred?
Write or draw your praises on the poster board. Take a moment to praise God for all the other praises on the poster board.
Be encouraged that God is at work.
Salt of the Earth
Items needed:
Salt shakers set up on a table
Matthew 5:13 on display - "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
