By Heather Collins
Each week, Rosie Zatkulak, Ginger Otto and Marcy Rice join other moms at Carmel United Methodist Church to pray for their children and for the teachers and staff of Carmel High School. Zatkulak, Otto and Rice are co-leaders of the local chapter of Moms in Prayer, an international and interdenominational prayer group.
“I think there’s nothing more powerful than a mother’s prayer,” Otto said.
There are 12 Moms in Prayer groups in Carmel representing specific elementary and middle schools and Carmel High School as well as groups for mothers with children in college or the workforce.
Moms in Prayer is a worldwide ministry devoted to covering every child and every school in prayer. It was started in 1984 by Fern Nichols in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The group has since spread to more than 140 countries.
The CHS Moms in Prayer group consists of 25 to 30 moms with roughly 12 moms joining the group on a regular weekly basis. Zatkulak has been with Moms in Prayer for four years, Otto for 12 years and Rice for more than seven years. As the children switch schools, the moms move into new prayer groups for that specific school. Zatkulah, Otto and Rice agree that Moms in Prayer offers a wonderful way to connect with other moms who see value in praying together.
Zatkulak noted the group has a “come as you want” philosophy, and there is no pressure to attend on a regular basis, nor is any experience necessary. Meetings typically last one hour and include a time of praise, private confession, thanksgiving, intercession and prayers for the children. Over the course of the school year, the group prays for each of the teachers and staff members of the school.
Moms in Prayer will have a Christmas Brunch at 10 a.m. Dec. 12., and interested moms are invited to attend. For more, contact Zatkulak, Otto or Rice at [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]. For information Moms in Prayer, visit momsinprayer.org.
