Father God, we present ourselves before you in the matchless name of Jesus and in the power of Your Holy Spirit, totally persuaded that the effectual, fervent, and heartfelt prayers of righteous men and women make much power available.

We know that You seek for those who will faithfully and willingly stand in the gap for our schools, our families, our communities, and our nation. Thank You, Father, for calling us and anointing us to be those intercessors whom You seek. We accept that calling and vow our commitment to it.

As we embrace this year’s theme, Run the Race with Purpose, we do purpose to run in such a way that the prize will be won – Your presence and predominance in our schools, in our families, in our communities, and in our nation. We pray for those in authority – administrators, heads of households, community leaders, and our president and his staff.

May each take his rightful position and truly embrace the Lordship of Jesus Christ and come to rely on Your Holy Spirit, following His guidance and trusting you in carrying out responsibilities.

Dear Lord, let this be a year that we all run with unity of purpose, mind, and heart. When we’ve run the course, may we look back and see 2005 as a prize-winning year, a year of notable change and notable miracles, to Your glory and honor.

Thank You for moving us with the same compassion that moves You. May we follow the law of love and allow that love to stir us to pray and to serve as You direct. We seal this prayer in Jesus’ Name. So be it.

Pastor Mitrik, Pastor
Greater Works Outreach
Murrysville, Pennsylvania

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Dear God, first of all we thank you for just being a God who both hears and answers prayer. Thank you for burdening the hearts of the Christian Educator's Network for the holistic approach to education. Thank you that they are concerned about our young people's education beyond the realm of cognition and reason. Thank you for their realization that young people need purpose, direction and understanding along with inspiration. And so Father we ask that you will help and guide all of us as we join in to serve this present age.

Dear God, we ask you to forgive us as well as the young people for ignoring our priorities. We also ask that you will give to our young people a sense of direction, and save them from an eternity without your loving presence. Lord, we ask you to shower them with your mercy and grace, and enable them to walk according to Godly principles. Help us all to walk in obedience to your word, and that your purpose for our lives will be fulfilled.

Pastor Delano R. Paige, Pastor
Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING IN THE LORD

This is the day the Lord has made. We ought to rejoice and be glad in it. We delight ourselves in you Lord.

Because of your love, we rejoice; because of your kindness, we rejoice; because of your mercy, we rejoice.

You directed our steps; you have caused us to grasp your will; we have stood firm in time of potential weakness; you have destined and appointed us to be steadfast and unmovable in time of temptations; you have purposed our hearts to have the mind of Christ; you have caused us to be nice when we wanted to be naughty; you instilled in us a hope where hopelessness was abounding; you caused us to be rooted with love, when our nature sometimes dictated hate; so, we rejoice because of who you are and what you have done.

You have given us the ability to forgive when forgiveness may not have been warranted; we've had bad feelings of bitterness, resentment, envying, strife, and unkindness towards one another; but you gave us the ability to use the Holy Spirit to rebuke these demonic forces; so we rejoice and magnify your name.

We ask that you help us to commit ourselves to walk in love, and give us the ability to endure the agony, pain and to idiosyncrasies of others. We pray that love will abound no matter the circumstance, no matter the condition in our lives. We thank you for the anticipation of Victory in somebody's almost defeated life.

Thank you for this moment in time; please cause us to realize our presence here is not by accident or coincidence, but, by your divine will.

Let the words of our collective mouths and the meditation of collective hearts be acceptable to you, our Lord, our Redeemer. AMEN

Dr. Bernie Manning, Pastor
St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Reading, Pennsylvania
Assistant Superintendent, Harrisburg School District