How "Parents Who Pray"
came to Good News Ministries

Introduction by Terry Modica:
In September of 2006, one of the readers of my Good News Reflections inquired about getting involved in Good News Ministries to serve God with us through our website. Her name is Stacy.

And so we waited and watched for the Holy Spirit to reveal how he wants her to serve. Here is the story in her words, written on Oct. 27, 2006, when we recognized the nature of God's plan:

I started reading the Good News Reflections about a year ago when I wanted to make Bible study a daily routine. I emailed them to my husband at work and we began discussing them. When we went through difficult times, the Good News Reflections are how we stayed close to God. We are raising five children.

When my oldest daughter ran away at 17 and became involved in harmful activities, I began forwarding the Good News Reflections to her and explained my faith in more adult terms. That was the venue through which God reconciled our relationship. God is working in her life. I see it all the time.

I began praying for her fervently every day. It occurred to me that I should be praying for all my children — their safety, futures, relationships, souls — everything I ever worried about I should pray about and then be peaceful. I'm one of those anxious mothers who drive their kids crazy, and I'm imperfect in a million other ways.

My children are in God's hands and He loves them more than I ever could! He spoke to me through Philippians 4:6-7 — "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, and with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I longed for a group where I could share these parenting and praying activities. So I prayed.

Then I found the Emmaus Journey group [at Good News Ministries]. It was Brenda's response to my introduction about listening but not hearing advise, Julie's comment to "live your life boldly" for Christ, Cindy's obedience to pray in public, Nance's memory of "pushy Christians," Flossie's faith amidst sorrow, Gardenia's kindness, and many other wise words from the Garden that led me to call my church and ask about starting a prayer group. I was scared. I mean, magnanimously asking God to use you is a lot different from taking on a responsibility in faith. What if I failed?

Our Outreach Coordinator shared with me a book, The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian. Our Family Ministry Coordinator, Ruth (seen in this photo), and I decided to start a prayer group by internet for parents who, like me, couldn't easily attend a physical meeting with children in tow. I knew this was from God because as an affirmation I discovered Stormie Omartian was right here in our town that very weekend to give a seminar two miles from my house! I went to meet her and got my book signed.

Ruth and I figured that by limiting the group to our own parish, the group members could occasionally meet in person too. Meanwhile I had been communicating with Terry about feeling led to reach people — parents or even teens because of my experiences with my oldest. We thought about a teen ministry, but in Terry's words, it just wasn't "jelling." Neither was our parents group here. So more praying.

Ruth and I decided last week to scrap the local parish limitation and open our group to anyone anywhere so we could invite members we knew in other groups. Then I asked Terry to help us spread the word about the parent's group. She said why not move it on over to Good News Ministries!

So here we are. It turns out Ruth and Terry know each other too! That's why the Good News Reflections' link is on our church website where I originally learned about them when I wanted to start studying the Bible. It was like that last piece of a puzzle that completes the whole picture. God knew where we were going all along, of course!

In the words of Stormie Omartian, "Being a perfect parent doesn't matter. Being a praying parent does."

See the list of Patron Saints for this e-group.
"Parents Who Pray" home page.
See Prayers for Parents
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• See the list of Patron Saints for this e-group.
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• Click here to JOIN
  PARENTS WHO PRAY.

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The Emmaus Journey