Dr. Jessica Peck talks about prayer for kids as they head off to school
Hello, and welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner, and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck.
Dr. Jessica Peck Well, hey there, friends, and welcome to my favorite time of day, getting to spend time with you, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families. Listen, today I've got a very important message for you and a very important guest. We are talking today about prayer, praying for our kids as they are going to school. Now, whether you have kids, you have grandkids, you have kids in your life that you care about, listen, it is tough to be a kid in today's day and age. We have a generation of kids who are growing up facing threats that their parents and grandparents didn't even experience. They didn't even exist. And we are trying to parent in this space. It is really hard, and we can very easily be fear based in our reactions. But we need to be faith informed. And the best, best thing that we can do for kids as they're going off to school is not making sure they have the right backpack, the right lunchbox, the right school supplies, the right outfit, making sure their eyes are checked and they go to the dentist. All these things, those are all important, too. But I am telling you, the most important thing we can do for kids is pray for them. And that's what we're going to learn about today. And maybe you will learn. What do a special space shuttle engineer and a praying mom have in common? Well, everything. When you are Sally Burke. With a master's in management and a career once aimed at the stars, Sally's life took a very dramatic turn after she and her husband came to Faith in Christ. Her introduction to Moms in prayer in 1990 changed everything. And now, as president of Moms in Prayer International, Sally shares how one simple act that is prayer, can shift the atmosphere of schools, can strengthen families, and even spark revival. Yeah, we've got some good news on that front today. So today we'll discover how God can launch a new mission right from your living room. Because we live in a world where schools are battlegrounds for the hearts and minds of our children. And what can you, as one mom, do? Well, we are going to pray now. Sally's been on the show before. Such a powerful conversation. Sally, that still resonates with me so deeply. And so glad to have you back here again at the start of the school year. Welcome back.
Sally Burke Thank you. It's so good to be with you and your audience. the last time we talked, it was amazing. And I have such good news for the moms out there.
Dr. Jessica Peck I'm so glad. Because in a world, this is a world where good news does not come easily, I feel like we open our phones and it's the doom scroll. What can come today that we thought would never come or wasn't possible? It's always bad news. So I'll let you lead off with that.
God is answering and answering our prayers, Sally says
What is the good news that you have to share?
Sally Burke Well, God is hearing and answering our prayers. And I want to tell a mom out there, God has handpicked you, chose you to be the mom of your children. He has handpicked your children in this period of time to rise up and be like Daniels and David's and Esther's and Mary's. And we are actually sitting, seeing that on campus where students themselves are raising up and sharing the gospel, where whole entire stadiums like at the University of Georgia are filled with students who want to hear the gospel. And then they're coming and bowing on their knees and receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And it's happening whether it be in elementary school, middle school, high school, or college campuses throughout the United States. It's amazing to witness what God is doing. Yes, the campuses can be dark, but God's light is brighter. And as we pray, he is triumphant and he is bringing this generation to himself. And it's an incredible thing to be able to witness.
Dr. Jessica Peck You just said my two favorite words together in the history of ever but God. And that is the hope for this world. And Sally, you have good news to share. I have some good news to share, too, before we really dive into our conversation about how moms can really get involved in Moms in Prayer International or Prayer Pray for their Students.
Last time you were on, I got a letter from a listener
Last time you were on, I got a letter from a listener, and I'm telling you, this is something I cherish. It's a handwritten letter and I wanted to share it with you because I haven't shared it with you and want to share it with you and let you know because this is. This might reframe everything for those who are listening. Okay, so here's the listener. He said, dear doctor, Nurse, Mama, I'm so thankful for your afternoon program on American Family Radio. Both you and your guests are very uplifting and inspiring. Several weeks ago, I was very concerned about something in a local school, then heard your interview with the president of Moms and Prayer. When she shared all the positive results of their prayer. I knew one thing, I could do something like that. I just concluded 15 minutes of prayer in my home with a friend using the moms in prayer format. And we are calling ourselves. Get ready for this, Sally. Dads in Prayer. A third fellow has committed to join us next week. Thank you so much for giving us a model to build on. I mean, that is. I, I goosebumps right now. Isn't that beautiful? So even dad's listening, Grandpa's uncles, men listening. You absolutely can pray too. And just wanted to give a, thank you to the Lord for that listener who just moved on that conviction that God gave them. And who knows what mountains have been moved through the prayers, through that.
Sally: Many times we take our fears and we worry about them
And so, you know, Sally, let's. Let's dive in and let's really talk about this, because we are living in a state of deep cultural confusion, of chaos, rapid change. And frankly, we live in a world where our kids can be afraid to go to school because of threats that are there. Ah.
Dr. Jessica Peck We live in a world that even if they're not going to school, their homeschool, there's anxiety, there's conflict. I mean, it is a difficult thing. What are you hearing from moms right now who are finding comfort in turning these cares into prayers?
Sally Burke Well, I think the first thing that's important, I love. Thank you. That the listener who wrote in, because I think that's vital, because what he did with his family, fears, with his worries, he took them to God. You know, he. He brought him right to the very throne room of God. And God hears our prayers. And if we pray according to his will, which is the word of God, and that's how we pray, then he will answer it. He'll do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. But we have to come to Him. Many times we take our fears and we worry about them, and we'll share them with people that can't do anything. But when you take those fears, those worries, just as he says, be anxious for nothing. But in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to me, and I'll give you that PSBL understanding. I'll guard your heart and your mind. In Christ Jesus, he transforms us. Our prayers become bolder and bolder. And we witness revival. We witness teachers coming to know Jesus Christ and starting a, teachers in prayer on campus. We wish. We witness students coming and hearing the gospel on public school campuses, on campuses that you would not think that God would be there. And God enters that, and God answers and God moves. And then those students that hear the gospel, we pray for them by name. Are now teachers and preachers and mighty men and women of God. And we just simply by praying, get to be a part of what God's doing here on this earth. We have not because we ask not.
Dr. Jessica Peck M. You know, I think that's so convicting.
Sally: I go to a prayer group where other moms pray together
Sally, let's talk to the mom who's thinking, yes, I want to pray for my kids, and I do pray for my kids, but I don't know about praying with other people. That might be intimidating. Or maybe I feel like I'm praying at home, but things aren't changing. It doesn't seem like I'm getting answers. What encouragement would you give to that mom?
Sally Burke Well, come and join us because every mom will just welcome you in. I was a brand new Christian, as you had shared. My husband brings a Bible, buys a Bible for me. He had received Jesus by listening to a radio interview. Radio interviews are so, so important. And he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior. I begin to read scripture, see that Jesus is God. I surrender my life to him. And I'm like, lord, teach me to pray. Teach me. And so I get invited to hear about how God is moving on campuses. I go to this moms in prayer group, never praying out loud before in my life. And they just welcomed me in. It's very simple. We praise God and I listen to the praises of God's people. These, these women moms that were praising God according to his name, his attribute, according to a scripture. I knew this was the place for me. God enters the praises of his people and the enemy flees. All of a sudden, my fears, my worries for my children began to flee. I hadn't opened up a word. I had not said anything. But my heart just was rejoicing. We do silent confession, confess our fears, our worries, our anxieties. We thank him. We see answers to prayer every single week. We see God do something as simple as a child finding a best friend, a kindergartener learning to tie a shoe to where my daughter got to be part of her 91 kids on her high school campus. It was a public Christian school, Yet they needed to know Jesus as their Lord and savior. Fell on their faces and received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It doesn't matter if you're homeschool, public school, private school. Those other moms come alongside of you. They lift up your arms, they pray with you, and for you, it's the safest place you can be. Those prayers stay there in the throne of God. Never talk about before. And then the next week and the week after, we begin to see the sweet aroma of those answers to prayer.
Dr. Jessica Peck You know, I think that's really compelling. Sally, about your personal testimony, because you didn't grow up in as a Christian. You know, this was new to you, as you explained. And you're a very smart lady. I mean, you are working as a rocket scientist. You are highly educated. You know, it's amazing. Tell us more about that transition that you had because it was prayer that changed everything for you. And talk more about being new in that, because I really feel convicted that there are moms out there who may be new in their faith, who may be timid in their faith, and think, I don't know how I can step out this way. And hearing your personal story and testimony is particularly encouraging in that way. So tell us more about how that happened and your kind of before and after view of that.
Sally Burke Well, my husband and I would testify. We know somebody was praying for us. This is why our hearts were open to receive Jesus. And he never preached to me. He never did any of that. His life was transformed by God. It was just evident. So, mom out there, if you're walking with Jesus and your child's rebelling, they see Jesus in you. That is obvious. and. And then when he bought me the Bible, it was like I opened it up and I saw the truth. I. I saw who Jesus was. And you cannot deny that. And those other moms just loved on me. They just continue to encourage me, and they never asked me for my prayer credentials. They just loved me and my children through prayer. I mean, that prayer that the other mom prays is the eternal gift for my child. Many a time I would look at that mom and I'm like, how did you know to pray that for my child? She didn't. But God, through the Holy Spirit, moved in her to bless my child and then to witness. That answer to prayer was unbelievable. I mean, it was life changing to me. I. I mean, I grew my faith by one learning who he is, praising him, but seeing those answers to prayer. I mean, my first answer to prayer and moms in prayer was the first grade teacher knew somehow I was in Moms in Prayer. I don't know if my son told her or what it was. And I was brand new. And so she tells me, there's a. There's a child in our class, and he's not gonna make it through the weekend. Will you pray for, him and his family? And I said, sure. So I took it back to moms in prayer group. They knew how to pray. We prayed for this precious child in their family. I go running on Monday to find out how's the family, what happened? And she was. The boys healed. I'm like, how did that happen? She goes, you prayed? And I'm like, oh, my goodness. There was this humongous connection. We prayed, you know, that's what happened. It was a miracle. That testified there were so many answers to prayer. Like, teachers would come up to us and give us prayer requests. They would see it and then they would tell us, because you prayed, this is what happened. And they would always tell us, we know when a mom's in prayer, mom is in our class because we can feel our class is different. For me, that was just mind boggling because, you know, cause and effect, you know, Right. That's, that's a. You know, it's like we watched man defying gravity and reach for the stars. Well, I watched the prayers of ordinary women. Ordinary come together just one hour, once a week, and they transform a whole school campus. I mean, 22 out of our. No, 14 out of our 22 teachers came to know Jesus Christ that I know of now on our elementary school campus. More could have come after they left. that's remarkable. And then they decide, well, we're going to do teachers in prayer. The bus driver decides, well, if these moms, ordinary moms who have kids, ordinary kids are seeing this effect on that school campus, I'm going to start something at the bus. Bus depot. And she started a Bible study. I mean, this for me was mind boggling. And you can't deny it. It's, it's, it's just pray answer, you.
Dr. Jessica Peck Know, it's so encouraging, Sally, and still so much more to talk about. When we come back, we'll talk about the importance of praying together and not just on your own. And listen, our kids need all the help that they can get. And we have access to a loving heavenly father who loves our kids more than we could ever imagine. More with Sally Burke, moms in Prayer International.
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Can't Steal My Joy by Josiah Queen ft. Brandon Lake In the Valley of, the shadow I got a feeling it's season that'll make me grow I'm still breathing I got praise in my lungs in acquiring my soul can't steal. My joy can't steal my joy What the world couldn't give no, it can't take away sorrow may come but. It can't steal my, joy Can't
Dr. Jessica Peck Steal my joy welcome back, friends. That is Can't Steal My Joy by Josiah Queen and Brandon Lake. And let me tell you, this is God's personal message to me. I sat down to do the show, My producer hands me the music, and it's again, can't steal my joy. God is doing a work in me and telling me that the world cannot steal our joy. There are so many things that try to steal our joy. And as a mom, one of the things that can really quickly steal your joy is to fear. Fear about your kids. What are they going to face? Will I give them enough strength, enough knowledge, enough, love that they are able to stand the trials that are coming their way? Will they walk away from their faith? And before you know it, your mind is running a million miles down a road, and we cannot. We cannot do that. We cannot thrive in that. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. And he has given us a call and an ability and a gift to be able to boldly approach with confidence the throne room of. Of heaven, to have grace that is given to us by God and to have wisdom and everything that we need. God says, ask for wisdom, and he freely gives to those who ask. And we're talking today as someone who has walked this walk, who has found the Lord, and who has started praying for her kids. And she used to work on rockets, but now she's building up moms. Sally Burke knows the pressure that parents feel in today's unpredictable world. We've got anxiety and confusion and spiritual apathy. And all of these cultural buzzwords that are going around that are daily realities for today's students. But what if moms used a secret weapon to push back that darkness? Sally's joining us today to talk about how prayer, through Moms in Prayer International can anchor our kids truth even when the world feels totally topsy turvy. So get ready to be encouraged and equipped and reminded that you are not alone. And we are going to unpack how prayer isn't a last resort, but it is a first lifeline that we should go to. How are we going to trade our fear for hope?
Jessica: Let's talk about prayer together, Sally. What is the power of prayer together
So Sally, let's dive back into it and start talking about praying together. Now. I freely admit I am Gen X, so I am very much a anti group project. I can do things on my own. This meeting could have been an email kind of person. I know there's moms out there like me and thinking I'll just pray on my own. Like I, I will pray every day for my kid. I promise you Jessica, I will. What is the power of prayer together? What are we missing out on?
Sally Burke Well, we think about the example of Moses and it was like the children of Israel were out there on battle. Joshua. And as long as he was interceding, as long as he lifted his arms up and intercession, they were victorious. But his arms grew tired and weary and they began to fall. And Eryn and her came alongside of them until the battle was complete. And God told Moses, let Joshua know this, that this is going to continue on. It was something to be remembered because as soon as Genesis 3 happened, the, the fall of mankind, there's a spiritual battle for the hearts and the minds and the souls of the, the children. And, and we think about that too. God says that our battle is not against flesh and blood. It's spiritual. And so he tells us to put on the farmer of God. But he doesn't say now go slay. He says pray and that other mom helps you. You know, I've had the strong willed child. So strong willed focus on the family. We did. There was two podcasts. They could not believe what God did in this extremely strong willed child that helped lead a revival on our campus. I've had the prodigal. Both my boys have, have life altering diseases. And these moms come alongside. They, they cheer with you when your child gets that award on the campus or comes to know Jesus well. They battle with you when you want your child to survive, to live this disease or that prodigal, they love them unconditionally. Both my girls kn. Safest place for them to be was around moms and prayer women who love them as I love them. They're young adults now, and they love hanging out with those moms and prayer women. They never judge them. They just got down on their hands and knees with me, and they prayed for my kids. And we've seen miracle after miracle. Life is hard. None of our kids is perfect. But God is good, God is great, and God will use every single trial and tribulation in your life and your child's life for good. As you pray, as you surrender that to him, you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. If not, we're left to our vain imaginations and we're doing life alone. I mean, Jesus, when he was struggling using gethsemane, he had two. He brought his disciples to come with him and he asked them pray. They slept at mom's in prayer. We don't sleep. We pray. So it's just how God has set it up. We're not to do life alone. I mean, I pray for my kids on my own, but I also taught my kids to pray with me. from the ages when they were two and on up, we came together as a family. Mondays we prayed for my oldest son, Tuesday, my daughter, Wednesday, my other son, Thursday, my husband, and Friday, my daughter. And to this day, they continue to pray. We always did life together. We don't. He doesn't want to leave us alone. He wants us to battle with others.
Dr. Jessica Peck That is so encouraging. And I appreciate your transparency, Sally, and sharing. And there is no perfect family. And I think that's a struggle for moms today because we look at social media, we see everyone's highlight reels, we see the best of what is to be. And sometimes it's really hard to transparently share those secret struggles that we have. And what I know from, from research is that people are more likely to go to the Internet to try to find help, or they might buy a self help book, or they might, you know, go to counseling or do any number of things. Try. Try changing their diet and all of these things that might help. And, and those aren't necessarily bad things. I'm not saying those are bad, but if you're pursuing those and you're putting so much energy into those and you're not praying, you are really missing out. And we know the Bible says that where two or more are, gathered that he is there in our midst, and our kids need us to intercede for Them. I think that's why God tells us to pray without ceasing. And so when I open my eyes in the morning, it just starts with a prayer, just an ongoing conversation that I have with God throughout the day. And, you know, Sally, I wasn't always like this. I. I know it will be very hard for some of our listeners to believe, but I used to be actually pretty shy. I know it's. It's almost impossible to think of now when I think about having confidence and praying out loud. I mean, I used to get the sweaty palms, and I would get so nervous. But you know what I did, Sally? I started just praying scripture. And I would say I'd like to pray to Psalm 23, and I would just read it out of my Bible. And that really transformed my prayer life because God has given us prayers. He has given us words of wisdom. What do you see? I know we talked a little bit about it earlier, but I think this is one of the biggest, biggest barriers that holds moms back from coming in. Confidence in prayer is, first of all, being transparent about their struggles, and second of all, being able to pray. When you listen to people pray so beautifully around you. So how do you build your confidence in sharing those struggles and being open and praying openly about them?
Sally Burke Amazing is when you enter into that moms and prayer group that those women are for you. Those women understand, they get it. They have children, too. Their children are on that same school campus. They understand, and they just come alongside of you. They. They fall in love with your children. Anybody you pray for, I always tell, a wife that's having problems with her husband, pray for him. You're going to fall in love with him all over again. And as we pray for each other's children, we're for them. We would do anything for them. And so it's a safe place to come, and it's confidential. But I, I love what you said, Jessica. I. I love that you knew to pray Scripture. God's word never comes back void. It always fulfills God's purpose. As far as the heavens are above the earth are his ways. I. I remember when I used to pray, and I've used this example a lot for my son that was sitting on the bench a lot at baseball. Oh, Lord made a home run. May he do, catch the catch, you know, so he wouldn't sit on the bench, but at moms in prayer. I was praying such scriptures. May he do all things without grumbling, complaining, so he may become a pure and innocent child of God. Holding out the word of life. And, and the coach comes out to me. He goes, your boy's a Christian boy, isn't he? I'm like, well, how would you know that? He was only like, 12. And he goes, he does all things without grumbling, complaining, oh, wow. And that just opened my mind greatly to like, oh, my goodness, Lord, that you, you have far greater things than this earthly thing that I'm seeing. You're going to use him in far better ways than I could ever imagine. And so when you pray God's word back to him, he opens up your heart and your mind to see what he's going to do, the greatness he's going to do in your child's life. And that's what I want to reassure you, Mom. God has great plans, incredible plans. It doesn't matter if your child's being a prodigal now or anything like that. As, you pray for them, God is going to move in their life. He's just waiting to unleash his power, do his will here on this earth. When God wants to change the course that history is going to take on his own, he looks for intercessor on whom's heart he places will. Ezekiel 22. He found none. So the children of Israel are taken captive. Moses stood in the gap for the children of Israel, and they reached the promised land. What promised land does God have for your kids? God knows. And so when these other moms come alongside of you and pray with you with great confidence, great hope, great assurance, you all of a sudden are praying with great confidence in the Lord, believing that he can do, that which is impossible.
Dr. Jessica Peck Sally. Wow, that is really amazing. And you're so right. When I'm thinking of the woman we were talking to earlier thinking, God is not answering my prayers, well, maybe those prayers are so small. Maybe those prayers are not aligned with what God has for your child. And I think about, you know, I've been that mom out in the baseball stands, oh, please, God, just let him catch one. You know, just please, o please, God, this. But really looking at just what you said without do things without grumbling or complaining, I, I, that is absolutely amazing. And that's what we want to pray for our kids, that they'll have those character traits that far exceed any accomplishments that they have. And we know that we can trust God with the plans for our kids because he loves them even more than we do, which is just almost impossible to imagine when we think about how much we love our kids.
Sally Burke founded moms in prayer group to pray specifically for schoolchildren
Well, Sally, let's Talk small. Specifically about moms in prayer. Walk us through what is this organization? Because I think there are people listening now who are thinking, I want to give this a try. How do they do that? What does it look like? Tell us all the things.
Sally Burke Well, it's simply where two or more women gather together one hour once a week. And we pray. We use four steps of prayer. And like you said, anybody can download the prayer sheet. We always begin with, with praise, acknowledging God for who he is, entering those gates with praise and thanksgiving, silent confession, thanksgiving where we witness answers to prayer. And then we intercede using God's word. We pray for that child. We pray for teachers, we pray for students, we pray for administrators, we pray for coaches. And we witness God transform a whole entire school campus. But even though we meet locally like I meet in Temecula and I meet with my local group, and as we prayed for Rancho elementary school or the middle school or the high school, we pray together for that. But it is in over 150 countries. We just had our 40th celebration where we brought people from all over the world that came together. And then they go back home and they, they share this ministry because their life has been changed. And our mission is to impact children's schools for Christ by gathering women together to pray. Our vision is that every school in the world would be covered in prayer so that every child, whether they have a praying mom or not, every child, can be prayed for. I have people come up to me and says, because you prayed for me, I know Jesus. And that just blows my mind that they know that, that they comprehend that. And so we are a part of what God's doing. God wishes none should perish, but all should come to repentance. But it begins with, like me as a mom, I want my kids to be blessed by the hand of God. I want them to find favor in their teacher's eyes. So I took the chance and I went to that moms in prayer group. And as we saw our kids being answered in prayer, God placed on our heart. What about all the other kids? What about them? And so we began to pray blessings over them. We began to pray such prayers as may they hear the words, the truth, the gospel of salvation. Believe be sealed with the power of the holy Spirit. God brings a good news club onto our public school campus. 100 kids come, many of them, come and receive Jesus there on that elementary school campus. So it is mind boggling. You go in because you have a need. You join a moms and prayer group. And your eyes are opened, you're transformed. Your kids are transformed. A whole school campus. And that's God. That's all glory to him. We simply come because we have a need.
Dr. Jessica Peck You know, Sally, I think about this is so important and thinking about praying specifically for kids in school. And I'm sure there's some moms right now who are realizing, hey, there may be other moms who have been praying for my kid. And I didn't even realize that. And what a beautiful gift to give moms that you don't even know just to pray. Blessings over their children. And, Sally, when I think about school, you know, I've worked in pediatrics for more than 30 years now, and I've worked in schools quite a bit and worked as a school nurse. And I see how school has changed so much over the last generation where we have a divergence now of schools. We have a lot of different, diversity in this kind of school that kids go to. But there's also a lot of fear that's associated with school. We see headlines about school shootings, and those things just grip our hearts. And I remember one year in particular after, right after a tragedy had happened in my own community, lacing up my shoes and, you know, trying to put on my cheerful scrubs to go to school, but feeling that fear. We're going to talk when we come back about why it's so important to pray for kids in their school environment, wherever they are. And I'm going to ask Sally to share more of the good news that she has about revival that is going on in a world where there is darkness, there is a yearning for light, that you. There is a longing for hope. And Sally can share some stories about how she is seeing people find that. We'll be right back with more from Sally Burke, Moms in Prayer International. Don't go away. I'll see you on the other side of this break.
Jeff Chamblee hosts The Stand Radio on American Family Radio
Jeff Chamblee The world around us is constantly challenging the way we think. That's why we need a constant source of information that's based on the unchanging word of God. I'm Jeff Chamblee and I invite you to join me for the Stand Radio, a weekly program that highlights the latest trends in culture, faith and family. You'll hear insightful interviews with a biblical WorldView application. The Stand radio. Saturdays at 4pm and Sundays at 8pm Central on American Family Radio. Abraham Hamilton III The American Family Association's mission is to inform, equip and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of our culture. Our goal is to be a leading organization in biblical worldview training for cultural transformation. We stand on the biblical truth that all human beings, including the unborn, are created in the image of God and are endowed by him with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Thank you for standing with the American Family Association.
Thank You by Highlands Worship Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Every hour. Every moment, I will sing. Thank you, Lord.
Dr. Jessica Peck Welcome back, friends. That is thank you by Highlands Worship. And I am so thankful for you, our listeners, because I know just because you are here, you have a desire to find God in the world. And we are talking about finding God today through prayer. We're in a back to school season and if you're on social media or, you know, kids in your neighborhood or your community, you're going to start to see that camera roll of back to school pictures. I can't tell you how much I love those. It, they're just. It's a year full of possibilities. You see hope. But when you look at those pictures, there's so much going on behind the scenes. There's a backpack and a lunchbox that were painfully deliberated over. There are haircuts that were there. There were teeth that were cleaned. There were eyes that were checked. There were clothes that were bought to go with dress code. All of those things in one picture. And you look at the things that you don't see. The moms and dads who canceled first day jitters and who have prayed over their kids. And I encourage you to pray over kids who are going back to school. Whether you are a mom or not, whether you are going to be involved in Moms in Prayer International or not, you likely will walk into a store and see school supplies there. And I want you to have the perspective that each one of those school supplies, each glue stick, each pencil, each packet of paper, it's going to be used by a student. Those are tangible resources and I encourage you to go and pray over those school supplies. Pray specifically over them. Just like you would pray over a seat in your church where someone would come and sit. I invite you to pray specifically for the students who will use those very supplies that are there. Because kids need our prayer. They need our intercession, they need our advocacy and we have access to God to do that.
Sally Burke shares stories about how prayer can transform lives during back to school
I know there are lots of moms out there who just feel overwhelmed by the whole back to school rush. Maybe you feel just inadequate to help equip your child for the fears that they will face. Maybe you're just exhausted at the thought of Here we go Again into this cycle. Homework, conflict, social navigation, all of those things. But what if prayer could not only cover your child, but connect your heart to other women who are walking that same road? Since joining Moms in prayer over 30 years ago, Sally Burke has seen firsthand what happens when moms gather together to pray. She shared those stories today. How schools are changed, how lives are transformed, and revival begins. From leading the field ministry team now to serving as president, Sally's helped the ministry expand across the globe. And now we're going to talk a little bit more about how her yes has led to a movement reaching mom as she shared in more than 150 countries. So if you've ever felt alone or unsure or overwhelmed in this back to school season, don't miss the hope that we have for you today.
Moms in Prayer International focuses on prayer for children in schools
So Sally, before the break, I was talking just again, I think that the burden of parents is so great in sending their kids to school. How do we, why are you focusing moms in prayer? Why is it focused on school? And what do you see as the power there and interceding on the behalf of kids who are in school?
Sally Burke Well, every child will go through school, whether it be m, you know, home school, private school, charter school, public school, they all will go through there. And I think a mama's heart beats the same. So our founder Fern Nichols was burdened for her children, you know, 40 years ago and grabbed another mom. Well, it began to spread because every mom's heart is burdened and, and the only one that can carry that burden is Jesus. And so I think about too, I get to read reports from over 150 countries. Every, other month they come into me and I see answers to prayer like God's wall of fire protection around the school where a shooter was right at the door but he was stopped. And those moms specifically had prayed for that. Or when I was in Arkansas after a tornado, this one mom was telling, we were just praying that morning. And that tornado came all the way around the school but never touched that campus, but destroyed what was around them. And so we know that as we pray and see these answers to prayer, God is moving mightily and God has called us to this and I think that's what we all realize. I'm still in it because God has called me to intercede on behalf of the children in schools. I have witnessed when a school curriculum has come into my children's campus and I know it's not good and, and this teacher is trying to sell it. So we Pray for the teacher. Well, she comes to know Jesus Christ, her husband comes to know Jesus Christ, and all four of her kids come to know Jesus Christ. The curriculum never gets put in there. And I'm like, oh, God, this is why you have us here. You love that person that's deceived and thinks that curriculum is good. Their eyes just need to be open. They just need to be turned from darkness to light. Light from the power of Satan to power of good. And so we are witnessing wherever we're at, no matter where it is in the world, whether some of our ladies live on garbage dumps, some live in mud huts, some live in high rises, some live in mansions, they're all seeing answers to prayer. And this is our time. God has given us this period of time here on earth to do something. And for us Moms and Prayer International, it is praying for the children in schools.
Dr. Jessica Peck You know, I bet that does really give you different perspective, hearing from moms in 150 different countries. And when we look at moms here in America, we have a pretty similar set of shared concerns. I think if moms got together, we could really come up with a list very quickly of the things that we worry about. But I'll tell you from my own experience, having traveled internationally and done mission work and seeing some of the conditions, some of the threats that kids in other countries face, that our kids don't threat, don't face here, it can really change your attitude and make you grateful. And we know that we live in a fallen world, and we know that even when we pray, sometimes when we don't understand, God doesn't answer that prayer in the way that we want to. But we can walk away with the confidence knowing that we have given it to the Lord, that we have asked him to intercede, and that he has, done what is good.
Prayers can change a whole generation, can change their country
So what, what have you learned from those moms in other countries that could help us have some perspective here?
Sally Burke They realize that prayer can change a whole generation, can change their country. I mean, we were just with them and joining them as they prayed with tears over their countries. And then they went back home and they shared this ministry, with churches wherever they could, because they are realizing what they're seeing in their moms and prayer group. If more and more and more in their country, that country can be transformed. That country can bring them hope. That country can be moving. I mean, some of them, it's like their, their. Their prayer request is made. The, the you stop suicide, stop killing each other. And they, but they haven't given up hope. They know if they can spread this ministry, that will be gone, that will be transformed. These kids, like this one, this one lady, country coordinator in a country in Africa, she asked for some money, and we, we sent it to her so she could travel to the next town where there were these thugs that were. And that's how she described it, harassing, the villagers. So she taught the villagers to pray. Well, these thugs then ended up coming to know Jesus and going to church, and that whole village was transformed. So they get it. They've witnessed it. They felt it, the power of God move in them and through the them to transform the worst sinner, to come to know Jesus and then to watch a village transform, to watch a community transform. And they know it can transform their country. And they have so much hope, and they don't waste anything. They're all volunteers out there. they understand that. They're calling right now in this moment. If they want to transform the course that history is going to take in their country, they're going to be praying and.
Dr. Jessica Peck And my goodness, Sally, that is absolutely amazing.
Moms in Prayer International is seeing revival on college campuses worldwide
And looking at all of this perspective that you have and seeing all of these moms praying literally all over the world, you shared with me even before we started the show, that you are so encouraged by seeing revival break out. How are you seeing revival through Moms in Prayer International?
Sally Burke Well, I'll tell you just a few, because it would take me a long time. But in 2023, I began to see the stirring of it. 900 kids in Switzerland, came to know Jesus. And then a friend of mine says, sally, start praying for Oklahoma university. There's like, eight students that want to do something. I'm thinking eight students, okay, 45,000 came to hear the gospel, and 4,000. Over 4,000 came to know Jesus. And then it began to happen campus after campus. When I would go speak and share, they go, what about Texas A&UM M? They had a revival for days. Ohio University, we saw when the college football players did a event, well, many came to know Jesus. Well, that spread to high school. They're like, the high school football players will like, let's do it here. And then middle school volleyball, players go, let's share the gospel here. And my local town, they're seeing such a fever for Jesus that at the end of the school year, whether it's middle school or high school, the ministry that go on those campuses, like athletes for Christ or crew, whatever, whatever, it's. They're bulging. They're growing and at the end of the year, they're expanding. One student was so excited that he stood on his lunch table and preached the gospel and the students clapped. It's, there's a fervor happening and it's thousands of them in front of fraternity houses, they're getting baptized. FSU is in front of the fountain and, and I got to see a live video that a, mom comes up to me and goes, look, this happened last night. My daughter was videoing this. All, all these students are being spontaneously baptized. And that's the fruit of the decades of prayers that we have been praying. And we're witnessing them student to student, sharing the gospel. And you're right, those campuses are dark. But they, as soon as someone says, hey, you want to hear about Jesus? They're like, light, light, let the light come in. And they're saying, light is here and it's here to stay. And that's a quote from a student, student that sing revival on their campus. And I'm like, praise God, praise God. Our job is to pray. And then God does the rest. You know, he, he sends forth, whether it be a professor, whether it be a ministry that goes on those campuses, they call it Moms and prayer. The Air Force, they love it when there's a moms in prayer group praying for a campus because they know that when they go forth, the Air Force has done their job. Now they're the army and they're going to go win souls for Christ. And so it's been an incredible journey. I'm giving you guys a big vision. But I want to tell you, mom out there, if you go to that moms in prayer group, I promise you, your life will never be the same. Your child's life will never be the same. That school campus will never be the same. You will see revival. It'll begin in your heart that your child, that school campus, teachers, administrators, coaches will come to know Jesus. And, and it's just, it just, it's mind boggling to watch catch God at work and that he allows us to be part of it.
We must pray for this generation, Sally says
And, and so we must be about prayer. I'm very fervent about that. We, must pray for this generation. It's, it's up to us, as we pray, to witness God move in them.
Dr. Jessica Peck You know, we do see a mental health crisis, a loneliness epidemic in this generation. And I see kids, Sally, who are desperate for hope, who are looking for something beyond themselves. And there are so many form counterfeit hope that are offered to them. You Know when they experience harm by an individual or a group of individuals, the hope that's offered to them is, oh, well, this group of people is nicer or read this self help book or do this life hack or you know, buy yourself something or chase success or whatever it is. Those are all forms of hope that disappoint. When we think about the scripture telling us that there is a hope that does not disappoint. And that's the hope that we have to point kids to the hope that does not disappoint. The hope that is only found in Jesus Christ. And when I can tell a kid that there is hope for you because there is a God who made you, who knows you, who loves you, who has a plan for your life, and this world is not all there is, you will live for eternity with Christ in heaven. I mean, that is the kind of hope that kids are looking for. And I am seeing Gen Z and Gen Alpha turn back to that, to the sacred traditions of the church because they have looked for things in the world that have disappointed. And so all of this to say, Sally, I want you to issue a final invitation to that mom. Give a specific invitation on how they can engage, where can they find you and take the next step.
Sally Burke Well, go to momsinprayer.org and you just fill out a form and somebody will connect you and help you get started. A moment. Moms in prayer. You'll either join a group or grab another mom and start a group. And it's so simple because remember, I knew nothing about prayer, but I could do it. But you don't want to miss out. That's, one thing I don't. You don't want to miss out that eternal gift to give your child that eternal gift to give yourself that eternal gift that's going to bring victory onto your school campus. And I love how you said hope. Hope. There's so much hope and the kids are hungry for hope. And you're praying forth that hope and they will grab it and they will run with it and they'll share it with their peers. So this is our time. Don't miss out. You'll meet best friends in Jesus Christ and God is going to bless you.
Dr. Jessica Peck For such a time as this, Sally, for such a time as this, I encourage moms to take, take that step of action. Start your own Moms in prayer group. Go to a moms in prayer group. Whatever you do, pray for your student. They need it. They need you to intercede on their behalf. Sally, thank you so much for sharing with us about the wonderful work that Moms in Prayer International is doing. And wherever you are in the back to school chaos, I do pray sincerely that the Lord will bless you and and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you peace even in the back to school chaos. Know that we are praying for you. We are praying for your kids. Pray with each other and we'll see you next time.
Jeff Chamblee The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Dr. Jessica Peck talks about prayer for kids as they head off to school
Hello, and welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner, and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck.
Dr. Jessica Peck Well, hey there, friends, and welcome to my favorite time of day, getting to spend time with you, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families. Listen, today I've got a very important message for you and a very important guest. We are talking today about prayer, praying for our kids as they are going to school. Now, whether you have kids, you have grandkids, you have kids in your life that you care about, listen, it is tough to be a kid in today's day and age. We have a generation of kids who are growing up facing threats that their parents and grandparents didn't even experience. They didn't even exist. And we are trying to parent in this space. It is really hard, and we can very easily be fear based in our reactions. But we need to be faith informed. And the best, best thing that we can do for kids as they're going off to school is not making sure they have the right backpack, the right lunchbox, the right school supplies, the right outfit, making sure their eyes are checked and they go to the dentist. All these things, those are all important, too. But I am telling you, the most important thing we can do for kids is pray for them. And that's what we're going to learn about today. And maybe you will learn. What do a special space shuttle engineer and a praying mom have in common? Well, everything. When you are Sally Burke. With a master's in management and a career once aimed at the stars, Sally's life took a very dramatic turn after she and her husband came to Faith in Christ. Her introduction to Moms in prayer in 1990 changed everything. And now, as president of Moms in Prayer International, Sally shares how one simple act that is prayer, can shift the atmosphere of schools, can strengthen families, and even spark revival. Yeah, we've got some good news on that front today. So today we'll discover how God can launch a new mission right from your living room. Because we live in a world where schools are battlegrounds for the hearts and minds of our children. And what can you, as one mom, do? Well, we are going to pray now. Sally's been on the show before. Such a powerful conversation. Sally, that still resonates with me so deeply. And so glad to have you back here again at the start of the school year. Welcome back.
Sally Burke Thank you. It's so good to be with you and your audience. the last time we talked, it was amazing. And I have such good news for the moms out there.
Dr. Jessica Peck I'm so glad. Because in a world, this is a world where good news does not come easily, I feel like we open our phones and it's the doom scroll. What can come today that we thought would never come or wasn't possible? It's always bad news. So I'll let you lead off with that.
God is answering and answering our prayers, Sally says
What is the good news that you have to share?
Sally Burke Well, God is hearing and answering our prayers. And I want to tell a mom out there, God has handpicked you, chose you to be the mom of your children. He has handpicked your children in this period of time to rise up and be like Daniels and David's and Esther's and Mary's. And we are actually sitting, seeing that on campus where students themselves are raising up and sharing the gospel, where whole entire stadiums like at the University of Georgia are filled with students who want to hear the gospel. And then they're coming and bowing on their knees and receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And it's happening whether it be in elementary school, middle school, high school, or college campuses throughout the United States. It's amazing to witness what God is doing. Yes, the campuses can be dark, but God's light is brighter. And as we pray, he is triumphant and he is bringing this generation to himself. And it's an incredible thing to be able to witness.
Dr. Jessica Peck You just said my two favorite words together in the history of ever but God. And that is the hope for this world. And Sally, you have good news to share. I have some good news to share, too, before we really dive into our conversation about how moms can really get involved in Moms in Prayer International or Prayer Pray for their Students.
Last time you were on, I got a letter from a listener
Last time you were on, I got a letter from a listener, and I'm telling you, this is something I cherish. It's a handwritten letter and I wanted to share it with you because I haven't shared it with you and want to share it with you and let you know because this is. This might reframe everything for those who are listening. Okay, so here's the listener. He said, dear doctor, Nurse, Mama, I'm so thankful for your afternoon program on American Family Radio. Both you and your guests are very uplifting and inspiring. Several weeks ago, I was very concerned about something in a local school, then heard your interview with the president of Moms and Prayer. When she shared all the positive results of their prayer. I knew one thing, I could do something like that. I just concluded 15 minutes of prayer in my home with a friend using the moms in prayer format. And we are calling ourselves. Get ready for this, Sally. Dads in Prayer. A third fellow has committed to join us next week. Thank you so much for giving us a model to build on. I mean, that is. I, I goosebumps right now. Isn't that beautiful? So even dad's listening, Grandpa's uncles, men listening. You absolutely can pray too. And just wanted to give a, thank you to the Lord for that listener who just moved on that conviction that God gave them. And who knows what mountains have been moved through the prayers, through that.
Sally: Many times we take our fears and we worry about them
And so, you know, Sally, let's. Let's dive in and let's really talk about this, because we are living in a state of deep cultural confusion, of chaos, rapid change. And frankly, we live in a world where our kids can be afraid to go to school because of threats that are there. Ah.
Dr. Jessica Peck We live in a world that even if they're not going to school, their homeschool, there's anxiety, there's conflict. I mean, it is a difficult thing. What are you hearing from moms right now who are finding comfort in turning these cares into prayers?
Sally Burke Well, I think the first thing that's important, I love. Thank you. That the listener who wrote in, because I think that's vital, because what he did with his family, fears, with his worries, he took them to God. You know, he. He brought him right to the very throne room of God. And God hears our prayers. And if we pray according to his will, which is the word of God, and that's how we pray, then he will answer it. He'll do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. But we have to come to Him. Many times we take our fears and we worry about them, and we'll share them with people that can't do anything. But when you take those fears, those worries, just as he says, be anxious for nothing. But in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to me, and I'll give you that PSBL understanding. I'll guard your heart and your mind. In Christ Jesus, he transforms us. Our prayers become bolder and bolder. And we witness revival. We witness teachers coming to know Jesus Christ and starting a, teachers in prayer on campus. We wish. We witness students coming and hearing the gospel on public school campuses, on campuses that you would not think that God would be there. And God enters that, and God answers and God moves. And then those students that hear the gospel, we pray for them by name. Are now teachers and preachers and mighty men and women of God. And we just simply by praying, get to be a part of what God's doing here on this earth. We have not because we ask not.
Dr. Jessica Peck M. You know, I think that's so convicting.
Sally: I go to a prayer group where other moms pray together
Sally, let's talk to the mom who's thinking, yes, I want to pray for my kids, and I do pray for my kids, but I don't know about praying with other people. That might be intimidating. Or maybe I feel like I'm praying at home, but things aren't changing. It doesn't seem like I'm getting answers. What encouragement would you give to that mom?
Sally Burke Well, come and join us because every mom will just welcome you in. I was a brand new Christian, as you had shared. My husband brings a Bible, buys a Bible for me. He had received Jesus by listening to a radio interview. Radio interviews are so, so important. And he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior. I begin to read scripture, see that Jesus is God. I surrender my life to him. And I'm like, lord, teach me to pray. Teach me. And so I get invited to hear about how God is moving on campuses. I go to this moms in prayer group, never praying out loud before in my life. And they just welcomed me in. It's very simple. We praise God and I listen to the praises of God's people. These, these women moms that were praising God according to his name, his attribute, according to a scripture. I knew this was the place for me. God enters the praises of his people and the enemy flees. All of a sudden, my fears, my worries for my children began to flee. I hadn't opened up a word. I had not said anything. But my heart just was rejoicing. We do silent confession, confess our fears, our worries, our anxieties. We thank him. We see answers to prayer every single week. We see God do something as simple as a child finding a best friend, a kindergartener learning to tie a shoe to where my daughter got to be part of her 91 kids on her high school campus. It was a public Christian school, Yet they needed to know Jesus as their Lord and savior. Fell on their faces and received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It doesn't matter if you're homeschool, public school, private school. Those other moms come alongside of you. They lift up your arms, they pray with you, and for you, it's the safest place you can be. Those prayers stay there in the throne of God. Never talk about before. And then the next week and the week after, we begin to see the sweet aroma of those answers to prayer.
Dr. Jessica Peck You know, I think that's really compelling. Sally, about your personal testimony, because you didn't grow up in as a Christian. You know, this was new to you, as you explained. And you're a very smart lady. I mean, you are working as a rocket scientist. You are highly educated. You know, it's amazing. Tell us more about that transition that you had because it was prayer that changed everything for you. And talk more about being new in that, because I really feel convicted that there are moms out there who may be new in their faith, who may be timid in their faith, and think, I don't know how I can step out this way. And hearing your personal story and testimony is particularly encouraging in that way. So tell us more about how that happened and your kind of before and after view of that.
Sally Burke Well, my husband and I would testify. We know somebody was praying for us. This is why our hearts were open to receive Jesus. And he never preached to me. He never did any of that. His life was transformed by God. It was just evident. So, mom out there, if you're walking with Jesus and your child's rebelling, they see Jesus in you. That is obvious. and. And then when he bought me the Bible, it was like I opened it up and I saw the truth. I. I saw who Jesus was. And you cannot deny that. And those other moms just loved on me. They just continue to encourage me, and they never asked me for my prayer credentials. They just loved me and my children through prayer. I mean, that prayer that the other mom prays is the eternal gift for my child. Many a time I would look at that mom and I'm like, how did you know to pray that for my child? She didn't. But God, through the Holy Spirit, moved in her to bless my child and then to witness. That answer to prayer was unbelievable. I mean, it was life changing to me. I. I mean, I grew my faith by one learning who he is, praising him, but seeing those answers to prayer. I mean, my first answer to prayer and moms in prayer was the first grade teacher knew somehow I was in Moms in Prayer. I don't know if my son told her or what it was. And I was brand new. And so she tells me, there's a. There's a child in our class, and he's not gonna make it through the weekend. Will you pray for, him and his family? And I said, sure. So I took it back to moms in prayer group. They knew how to pray. We prayed for this precious child in their family. I go running on Monday to find out how's the family, what happened? And she was. The boys healed. I'm like, how did that happen? She goes, you prayed? And I'm like, oh, my goodness. There was this humongous connection. We prayed, you know, that's what happened. It was a miracle. That testified there were so many answers to prayer. Like, teachers would come up to us and give us prayer requests. They would see it and then they would tell us, because you prayed, this is what happened. And they would always tell us, we know when a mom's in prayer, mom is in our class because we can feel our class is different. For me, that was just mind boggling because, you know, cause and effect, you know, Right. That's, that's a. You know, it's like we watched man defying gravity and reach for the stars. Well, I watched the prayers of ordinary women. Ordinary come together just one hour, once a week, and they transform a whole school campus. I mean, 22 out of our. No, 14 out of our 22 teachers came to know Jesus Christ that I know of now on our elementary school campus. More could have come after they left. that's remarkable. And then they decide, well, we're going to do teachers in prayer. The bus driver decides, well, if these moms, ordinary moms who have kids, ordinary kids are seeing this effect on that school campus, I'm going to start something at the bus. Bus depot. And she started a Bible study. I mean, this for me was mind boggling. And you can't deny it. It's, it's, it's just pray answer, you.
Dr. Jessica Peck Know, it's so encouraging, Sally, and still so much more to talk about. When we come back, we'll talk about the importance of praying together and not just on your own. And listen, our kids need all the help that they can get. And we have access to a loving heavenly father who loves our kids more than we could ever imagine. More with Sally Burke, moms in Prayer International.
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Can't Steal My Joy by Josiah Queen ft. Brandon Lake In the Valley of, the shadow I got a feeling it's season that'll make me grow I'm still breathing I got praise in my lungs in acquiring my soul can't steal. My joy can't steal my joy What the world couldn't give no, it can't take away sorrow may come but. It can't steal my, joy Can't
Dr. Jessica Peck Steal my joy welcome back, friends. That is Can't Steal My Joy by Josiah Queen and Brandon Lake. And let me tell you, this is God's personal message to me. I sat down to do the show, My producer hands me the music, and it's again, can't steal my joy. God is doing a work in me and telling me that the world cannot steal our joy. There are so many things that try to steal our joy. And as a mom, one of the things that can really quickly steal your joy is to fear. Fear about your kids. What are they going to face? Will I give them enough strength, enough knowledge, enough, love that they are able to stand the trials that are coming their way? Will they walk away from their faith? And before you know it, your mind is running a million miles down a road, and we cannot. We cannot do that. We cannot thrive in that. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. And he has given us a call and an ability and a gift to be able to boldly approach with confidence the throne room of. Of heaven, to have grace that is given to us by God and to have wisdom and everything that we need. God says, ask for wisdom, and he freely gives to those who ask. And we're talking today as someone who has walked this walk, who has found the Lord, and who has started praying for her kids. And she used to work on rockets, but now she's building up moms. Sally Burke knows the pressure that parents feel in today's unpredictable world. We've got anxiety and confusion and spiritual apathy. And all of these cultural buzzwords that are going around that are daily realities for today's students. But what if moms used a secret weapon to push back that darkness? Sally's joining us today to talk about how prayer, through Moms in Prayer International can anchor our kids truth even when the world feels totally topsy turvy. So get ready to be encouraged and equipped and reminded that you are not alone. And we are going to unpack how prayer isn't a last resort, but it is a first lifeline that we should go to. How are we going to trade our fear for hope?
Jessica: Let's talk about prayer together, Sally. What is the power of prayer together
So Sally, let's dive back into it and start talking about praying together. Now. I freely admit I am Gen X, so I am very much a anti group project. I can do things on my own. This meeting could have been an email kind of person. I know there's moms out there like me and thinking I'll just pray on my own. Like I, I will pray every day for my kid. I promise you Jessica, I will. What is the power of prayer together? What are we missing out on?
Sally Burke Well, we think about the example of Moses and it was like the children of Israel were out there on battle. Joshua. And as long as he was interceding, as long as he lifted his arms up and intercession, they were victorious. But his arms grew tired and weary and they began to fall. And Eryn and her came alongside of them until the battle was complete. And God told Moses, let Joshua know this, that this is going to continue on. It was something to be remembered because as soon as Genesis 3 happened, the, the fall of mankind, there's a spiritual battle for the hearts and the minds and the souls of the, the children. And, and we think about that too. God says that our battle is not against flesh and blood. It's spiritual. And so he tells us to put on the farmer of God. But he doesn't say now go slay. He says pray and that other mom helps you. You know, I've had the strong willed child. So strong willed focus on the family. We did. There was two podcasts. They could not believe what God did in this extremely strong willed child that helped lead a revival on our campus. I've had the prodigal. Both my boys have, have life altering diseases. And these moms come alongside. They, they cheer with you when your child gets that award on the campus or comes to know Jesus well. They battle with you when you want your child to survive, to live this disease or that prodigal, they love them unconditionally. Both my girls kn. Safest place for them to be was around moms and prayer women who love them as I love them. They're young adults now, and they love hanging out with those moms and prayer women. They never judge them. They just got down on their hands and knees with me, and they prayed for my kids. And we've seen miracle after miracle. Life is hard. None of our kids is perfect. But God is good, God is great, and God will use every single trial and tribulation in your life and your child's life for good. As you pray, as you surrender that to him, you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. If not, we're left to our vain imaginations and we're doing life alone. I mean, Jesus, when he was struggling using gethsemane, he had two. He brought his disciples to come with him and he asked them pray. They slept at mom's in prayer. We don't sleep. We pray. So it's just how God has set it up. We're not to do life alone. I mean, I pray for my kids on my own, but I also taught my kids to pray with me. from the ages when they were two and on up, we came together as a family. Mondays we prayed for my oldest son, Tuesday, my daughter, Wednesday, my other son, Thursday, my husband, and Friday, my daughter. And to this day, they continue to pray. We always did life together. We don't. He doesn't want to leave us alone. He wants us to battle with others.
Dr. Jessica Peck That is so encouraging. And I appreciate your transparency, Sally, and sharing. And there is no perfect family. And I think that's a struggle for moms today because we look at social media, we see everyone's highlight reels, we see the best of what is to be. And sometimes it's really hard to transparently share those secret struggles that we have. And what I know from, from research is that people are more likely to go to the Internet to try to find help, or they might buy a self help book, or they might, you know, go to counseling or do any number of things. Try. Try changing their diet and all of these things that might help. And, and those aren't necessarily bad things. I'm not saying those are bad, but if you're pursuing those and you're putting so much energy into those and you're not praying, you are really missing out. And we know the Bible says that where two or more are, gathered that he is there in our midst, and our kids need us to intercede for Them. I think that's why God tells us to pray without ceasing. And so when I open my eyes in the morning, it just starts with a prayer, just an ongoing conversation that I have with God throughout the day. And, you know, Sally, I wasn't always like this. I. I know it will be very hard for some of our listeners to believe, but I used to be actually pretty shy. I know it's. It's almost impossible to think of now when I think about having confidence and praying out loud. I mean, I used to get the sweaty palms, and I would get so nervous. But you know what I did, Sally? I started just praying scripture. And I would say I'd like to pray to Psalm 23, and I would just read it out of my Bible. And that really transformed my prayer life because God has given us prayers. He has given us words of wisdom. What do you see? I know we talked a little bit about it earlier, but I think this is one of the biggest, biggest barriers that holds moms back from coming in. Confidence in prayer is, first of all, being transparent about their struggles, and second of all, being able to pray. When you listen to people pray so beautifully around you. So how do you build your confidence in sharing those struggles and being open and praying openly about them?
Sally Burke Amazing is when you enter into that moms and prayer group that those women are for you. Those women understand, they get it. They have children, too. Their children are on that same school campus. They understand, and they just come alongside of you. They. They fall in love with your children. Anybody you pray for, I always tell, a wife that's having problems with her husband, pray for him. You're going to fall in love with him all over again. And as we pray for each other's children, we're for them. We would do anything for them. And so it's a safe place to come, and it's confidential. But I, I love what you said, Jessica. I. I love that you knew to pray Scripture. God's word never comes back void. It always fulfills God's purpose. As far as the heavens are above the earth are his ways. I. I remember when I used to pray, and I've used this example a lot for my son that was sitting on the bench a lot at baseball. Oh, Lord made a home run. May he do, catch the catch, you know, so he wouldn't sit on the bench, but at moms in prayer. I was praying such scriptures. May he do all things without grumbling, complaining, so he may become a pure and innocent child of God. Holding out the word of life. And, and the coach comes out to me. He goes, your boy's a Christian boy, isn't he? I'm like, well, how would you know that? He was only like, 12. And he goes, he does all things without grumbling, complaining, oh, wow. And that just opened my mind greatly to like, oh, my goodness, Lord, that you, you have far greater things than this earthly thing that I'm seeing. You're going to use him in far better ways than I could ever imagine. And so when you pray God's word back to him, he opens up your heart and your mind to see what he's going to do, the greatness he's going to do in your child's life. And that's what I want to reassure you, Mom. God has great plans, incredible plans. It doesn't matter if your child's being a prodigal now or anything like that. As, you pray for them, God is going to move in their life. He's just waiting to unleash his power, do his will here on this earth. When God wants to change the course that history is going to take on his own, he looks for intercessor on whom's heart he places will. Ezekiel 22. He found none. So the children of Israel are taken captive. Moses stood in the gap for the children of Israel, and they reached the promised land. What promised land does God have for your kids? God knows. And so when these other moms come alongside of you and pray with you with great confidence, great hope, great assurance, you all of a sudden are praying with great confidence in the Lord, believing that he can do, that which is impossible.
Dr. Jessica Peck Sally. Wow, that is really amazing. And you're so right. When I'm thinking of the woman we were talking to earlier thinking, God is not answering my prayers, well, maybe those prayers are so small. Maybe those prayers are not aligned with what God has for your child. And I think about, you know, I've been that mom out in the baseball stands, oh, please, God, just let him catch one. You know, just please, o please, God, this. But really looking at just what you said without do things without grumbling or complaining, I, I, that is absolutely amazing. And that's what we want to pray for our kids, that they'll have those character traits that far exceed any accomplishments that they have. And we know that we can trust God with the plans for our kids because he loves them even more than we do, which is just almost impossible to imagine when we think about how much we love our kids.
Sally Burke founded moms in prayer group to pray specifically for schoolchildren
Well, Sally, let's Talk small. Specifically about moms in prayer. Walk us through what is this organization? Because I think there are people listening now who are thinking, I want to give this a try. How do they do that? What does it look like? Tell us all the things.
Sally Burke Well, it's simply where two or more women gather together one hour once a week. And we pray. We use four steps of prayer. And like you said, anybody can download the prayer sheet. We always begin with, with praise, acknowledging God for who he is, entering those gates with praise and thanksgiving, silent confession, thanksgiving where we witness answers to prayer. And then we intercede using God's word. We pray for that child. We pray for teachers, we pray for students, we pray for administrators, we pray for coaches. And we witness God transform a whole entire school campus. But even though we meet locally like I meet in Temecula and I meet with my local group, and as we prayed for Rancho elementary school or the middle school or the high school, we pray together for that. But it is in over 150 countries. We just had our 40th celebration where we brought people from all over the world that came together. And then they go back home and they, they share this ministry because their life has been changed. And our mission is to impact children's schools for Christ by gathering women together to pray. Our vision is that every school in the world would be covered in prayer so that every child, whether they have a praying mom or not, every child, can be prayed for. I have people come up to me and says, because you prayed for me, I know Jesus. And that just blows my mind that they know that, that they comprehend that. And so we are a part of what God's doing. God wishes none should perish, but all should come to repentance. But it begins with, like me as a mom, I want my kids to be blessed by the hand of God. I want them to find favor in their teacher's eyes. So I took the chance and I went to that moms in prayer group. And as we saw our kids being answered in prayer, God placed on our heart. What about all the other kids? What about them? And so we began to pray blessings over them. We began to pray such prayers as may they hear the words, the truth, the gospel of salvation. Believe be sealed with the power of the holy Spirit. God brings a good news club onto our public school campus. 100 kids come, many of them, come and receive Jesus there on that elementary school campus. So it is mind boggling. You go in because you have a need. You join a moms and prayer group. And your eyes are opened, you're transformed. Your kids are transformed. A whole school campus. And that's God. That's all glory to him. We simply come because we have a need.
Dr. Jessica Peck You know, Sally, I think about this is so important and thinking about praying specifically for kids in school. And I'm sure there's some moms right now who are realizing, hey, there may be other moms who have been praying for my kid. And I didn't even realize that. And what a beautiful gift to give moms that you don't even know just to pray. Blessings over their children. And, Sally, when I think about school, you know, I've worked in pediatrics for more than 30 years now, and I've worked in schools quite a bit and worked as a school nurse. And I see how school has changed so much over the last generation where we have a divergence now of schools. We have a lot of different, diversity in this kind of school that kids go to. But there's also a lot of fear that's associated with school. We see headlines about school shootings, and those things just grip our hearts. And I remember one year in particular after, right after a tragedy had happened in my own community, lacing up my shoes and, you know, trying to put on my cheerful scrubs to go to school, but feeling that fear. We're going to talk when we come back about why it's so important to pray for kids in their school environment, wherever they are. And I'm going to ask Sally to share more of the good news that she has about revival that is going on in a world where there is darkness, there is a yearning for light, that you. There is a longing for hope. And Sally can share some stories about how she is seeing people find that. We'll be right back with more from Sally Burke, Moms in Prayer International. Don't go away. I'll see you on the other side of this break.
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Thank You by Highlands Worship Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Every hour. Every moment, I will sing. Thank you, Lord.
Dr. Jessica Peck Welcome back, friends. That is thank you by Highlands Worship. And I am so thankful for you, our listeners, because I know just because you are here, you have a desire to find God in the world. And we are talking about finding God today through prayer. We're in a back to school season and if you're on social media or, you know, kids in your neighborhood or your community, you're going to start to see that camera roll of back to school pictures. I can't tell you how much I love those. It, they're just. It's a year full of possibilities. You see hope. But when you look at those pictures, there's so much going on behind the scenes. There's a backpack and a lunchbox that were painfully deliberated over. There are haircuts that were there. There were teeth that were cleaned. There were eyes that were checked. There were clothes that were bought to go with dress code. All of those things in one picture. And you look at the things that you don't see. The moms and dads who canceled first day jitters and who have prayed over their kids. And I encourage you to pray over kids who are going back to school. Whether you are a mom or not, whether you are going to be involved in Moms in Prayer International or not, you likely will walk into a store and see school supplies there. And I want you to have the perspective that each one of those school supplies, each glue stick, each pencil, each packet of paper, it's going to be used by a student. Those are tangible resources and I encourage you to go and pray over those school supplies. Pray specifically over them. Just like you would pray over a seat in your church where someone would come and sit. I invite you to pray specifically for the students who will use those very supplies that are there. Because kids need our prayer. They need our intercession, they need our advocacy and we have access to God to do that.
Sally Burke shares stories about how prayer can transform lives during back to school
I know there are lots of moms out there who just feel overwhelmed by the whole back to school rush. Maybe you feel just inadequate to help equip your child for the fears that they will face. Maybe you're just exhausted at the thought of Here we go Again into this cycle. Homework, conflict, social navigation, all of those things. But what if prayer could not only cover your child, but connect your heart to other women who are walking that same road? Since joining Moms in prayer over 30 years ago, Sally Burke has seen firsthand what happens when moms gather together to pray. She shared those stories today. How schools are changed, how lives are transformed, and revival begins. From leading the field ministry team now to serving as president, Sally's helped the ministry expand across the globe. And now we're going to talk a little bit more about how her yes has led to a movement reaching mom as she shared in more than 150 countries. So if you've ever felt alone or unsure or overwhelmed in this back to school season, don't miss the hope that we have for you today.
Moms in Prayer International focuses on prayer for children in schools
So Sally, before the break, I was talking just again, I think that the burden of parents is so great in sending their kids to school. How do we, why are you focusing moms in prayer? Why is it focused on school? And what do you see as the power there and interceding on the behalf of kids who are in school?
Sally Burke Well, every child will go through school, whether it be m, you know, home school, private school, charter school, public school, they all will go through there. And I think a mama's heart beats the same. So our founder Fern Nichols was burdened for her children, you know, 40 years ago and grabbed another mom. Well, it began to spread because every mom's heart is burdened and, and the only one that can carry that burden is Jesus. And so I think about too, I get to read reports from over 150 countries. Every, other month they come into me and I see answers to prayer like God's wall of fire protection around the school where a shooter was right at the door but he was stopped. And those moms specifically had prayed for that. Or when I was in Arkansas after a tornado, this one mom was telling, we were just praying that morning. And that tornado came all the way around the school but never touched that campus, but destroyed what was around them. And so we know that as we pray and see these answers to prayer, God is moving mightily and God has called us to this and I think that's what we all realize. I'm still in it because God has called me to intercede on behalf of the children in schools. I have witnessed when a school curriculum has come into my children's campus and I know it's not good and, and this teacher is trying to sell it. So we Pray for the teacher. Well, she comes to know Jesus Christ, her husband comes to know Jesus Christ, and all four of her kids come to know Jesus Christ. The curriculum never gets put in there. And I'm like, oh, God, this is why you have us here. You love that person that's deceived and thinks that curriculum is good. Their eyes just need to be open. They just need to be turned from darkness to light. Light from the power of Satan to power of good. And so we are witnessing wherever we're at, no matter where it is in the world, whether some of our ladies live on garbage dumps, some live in mud huts, some live in high rises, some live in mansions, they're all seeing answers to prayer. And this is our time. God has given us this period of time here on earth to do something. And for us Moms and Prayer International, it is praying for the children in schools.
Dr. Jessica Peck You know, I bet that does really give you different perspective, hearing from moms in 150 different countries. And when we look at moms here in America, we have a pretty similar set of shared concerns. I think if moms got together, we could really come up with a list very quickly of the things that we worry about. But I'll tell you from my own experience, having traveled internationally and done mission work and seeing some of the conditions, some of the threats that kids in other countries face, that our kids don't threat, don't face here, it can really change your attitude and make you grateful. And we know that we live in a fallen world, and we know that even when we pray, sometimes when we don't understand, God doesn't answer that prayer in the way that we want to. But we can walk away with the confidence knowing that we have given it to the Lord, that we have asked him to intercede, and that he has, done what is good.
Prayers can change a whole generation, can change their country
So what, what have you learned from those moms in other countries that could help us have some perspective here?
Sally Burke They realize that prayer can change a whole generation, can change their country. I mean, we were just with them and joining them as they prayed with tears over their countries. And then they went back home and they shared this ministry, with churches wherever they could, because they are realizing what they're seeing in their moms and prayer group. If more and more and more in their country, that country can be transformed. That country can bring them hope. That country can be moving. I mean, some of them, it's like their, their. Their prayer request is made. The, the you stop suicide, stop killing each other. And they, but they haven't given up hope. They know if they can spread this ministry, that will be gone, that will be transformed. These kids, like this one, this one lady, country coordinator in a country in Africa, she asked for some money, and we, we sent it to her so she could travel to the next town where there were these thugs that were. And that's how she described it, harassing, the villagers. So she taught the villagers to pray. Well, these thugs then ended up coming to know Jesus and going to church, and that whole village was transformed. So they get it. They've witnessed it. They felt it, the power of God move in them and through the them to transform the worst sinner, to come to know Jesus and then to watch a village transform, to watch a community transform. And they know it can transform their country. And they have so much hope, and they don't waste anything. They're all volunteers out there. they understand that. They're calling right now in this moment. If they want to transform the course that history is going to take in their country, they're going to be praying and.
Dr. Jessica Peck And my goodness, Sally, that is absolutely amazing.
Moms in Prayer International is seeing revival on college campuses worldwide
And looking at all of this perspective that you have and seeing all of these moms praying literally all over the world, you shared with me even before we started the show, that you are so encouraged by seeing revival break out. How are you seeing revival through Moms in Prayer International?
Sally Burke Well, I'll tell you just a few, because it would take me a long time. But in 2023, I began to see the stirring of it. 900 kids in Switzerland, came to know Jesus. And then a friend of mine says, sally, start praying for Oklahoma university. There's like, eight students that want to do something. I'm thinking eight students, okay, 45,000 came to hear the gospel, and 4,000. Over 4,000 came to know Jesus. And then it began to happen campus after campus. When I would go speak and share, they go, what about Texas A&UM M? They had a revival for days. Ohio University, we saw when the college football players did a event, well, many came to know Jesus. Well, that spread to high school. They're like, the high school football players will like, let's do it here. And then middle school volleyball, players go, let's share the gospel here. And my local town, they're seeing such a fever for Jesus that at the end of the school year, whether it's middle school or high school, the ministry that go on those campuses, like athletes for Christ or crew, whatever, whatever, it's. They're bulging. They're growing and at the end of the year, they're expanding. One student was so excited that he stood on his lunch table and preached the gospel and the students clapped. It's, there's a fervor happening and it's thousands of them in front of fraternity houses, they're getting baptized. FSU is in front of the fountain and, and I got to see a live video that a, mom comes up to me and goes, look, this happened last night. My daughter was videoing this. All, all these students are being spontaneously baptized. And that's the fruit of the decades of prayers that we have been praying. And we're witnessing them student to student, sharing the gospel. And you're right, those campuses are dark. But they, as soon as someone says, hey, you want to hear about Jesus? They're like, light, light, let the light come in. And they're saying, light is here and it's here to stay. And that's a quote from a student, student that sing revival on their campus. And I'm like, praise God, praise God. Our job is to pray. And then God does the rest. You know, he, he sends forth, whether it be a professor, whether it be a ministry that goes on those campuses, they call it Moms and prayer. The Air Force, they love it when there's a moms in prayer group praying for a campus because they know that when they go forth, the Air Force has done their job. Now they're the army and they're going to go win souls for Christ. And so it's been an incredible journey. I'm giving you guys a big vision. But I want to tell you, mom out there, if you go to that moms in prayer group, I promise you, your life will never be the same. Your child's life will never be the same. That school campus will never be the same. You will see revival. It'll begin in your heart that your child, that school campus, teachers, administrators, coaches will come to know Jesus. And, and it's just, it just, it's mind boggling to watch catch God at work and that he allows us to be part of it.
We must pray for this generation, Sally says
And, and so we must be about prayer. I'm very fervent about that. We, must pray for this generation. It's, it's up to us, as we pray, to witness God move in them.
Dr. Jessica Peck You know, we do see a mental health crisis, a loneliness epidemic in this generation. And I see kids, Sally, who are desperate for hope, who are looking for something beyond themselves. And there are so many form counterfeit hope that are offered to them. You Know when they experience harm by an individual or a group of individuals, the hope that's offered to them is, oh, well, this group of people is nicer or read this self help book or do this life hack or you know, buy yourself something or chase success or whatever it is. Those are all forms of hope that disappoint. When we think about the scripture telling us that there is a hope that does not disappoint. And that's the hope that we have to point kids to the hope that does not disappoint. The hope that is only found in Jesus Christ. And when I can tell a kid that there is hope for you because there is a God who made you, who knows you, who loves you, who has a plan for your life, and this world is not all there is, you will live for eternity with Christ in heaven. I mean, that is the kind of hope that kids are looking for. And I am seeing Gen Z and Gen Alpha turn back to that, to the sacred traditions of the church because they have looked for things in the world that have disappointed. And so all of this to say, Sally, I want you to issue a final invitation to that mom. Give a specific invitation on how they can engage, where can they find you and take the next step.
Sally Burke Well, go to momsinprayer.org and you just fill out a form and somebody will connect you and help you get started. A moment. Moms in prayer. You'll either join a group or grab another mom and start a group. And it's so simple because remember, I knew nothing about prayer, but I could do it. But you don't want to miss out. That's, one thing I don't. You don't want to miss out that eternal gift to give your child that eternal gift to give yourself that eternal gift that's going to bring victory onto your school campus. And I love how you said hope. Hope. There's so much hope and the kids are hungry for hope. And you're praying forth that hope and they will grab it and they will run with it and they'll share it with their peers. So this is our time. Don't miss out. You'll meet best friends in Jesus Christ and God is going to bless you.
Dr. Jessica Peck For such a time as this, Sally, for such a time as this, I encourage moms to take, take that step of action. Start your own Moms in prayer group. Go to a moms in prayer group. Whatever you do, pray for your student. They need it. They need you to intercede on their behalf. Sally, thank you so much for sharing with us about the wonderful work that Moms in Prayer International is doing. And wherever you are in the back to school chaos, I do pray sincerely that the Lord will bless you and and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you peace even in the back to school chaos. Know that we are praying for you. We are praying for your kids. Pray with each other and we'll see you next time.
Jeff Chamblee The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Sally Burke, President of Moms in Prayer International, joins Jessica to discuss starting the school year with prayer.
Rx for Hope: Start the School Year with Prayer
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