The River Church Community

Duirng Kindness San Jose, Brad (our lead pastor) led a group of intercessors into the community.  I asked him to write a thought or two about the expereince.  It is below:

"Our group was charged with the task of prayer.  We wanted to pray God’s blessing for the neighborhood around the ministry center.  Moreover, we wanted to seek God’s purposes for our church community as a people in the neighborhood.  I paired people up, named some of the locations that we could walk, and then invited people to go to whatever site the Spirit seemed to be leading.  Interestingly, each of the pairs went to a different location.  Mike and Matt both felt led to pray at the county jail, recalling Jesus’ teaching that we encounter his presence in the incarcerated.  Susan and Pam both felt led to pray at the Planned Parenthood facility, tuning into the immense pain, shame, and confusion many women feel.  Benji and Jason prayed up and down North First Street, focusing upon the families in crisis that come to the bail bonds businesses.  And Pat and I prayed for county leaders and police officers.  As we gathered together at the end of our time, there was palpable excitement rising within us . . . a clearer sense that God has sent us into this neighborhood and that He would empower our service as we offer ourselves in risks of faith.  Since then, Mike and I (amongst others) have begun to explore ministry to kids in the juvenile detention facility.  Who knows what lies ahead?"

Tony