Details for Day of Prayer 2010
August 20th, 2010Theme: The Power of God’s Love
Date: Friday 3rd September 2010
Venue: Kilvington Girls’ Grammar School
2 Leila Road, Ormond 3204
Melways map 68 E7
Details Day of Prayer 2009
August 16th, 2009Theme: Jesus is Lord
Date:Friday 4th September 10am to 1pm
Venue:Â Featherstone Hall, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School
34 Scott Street, Canterbury Melways 46 D12
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April 13th, 2009March 2009 Newsletter
April 12th, 2009Greetings to you all as a new year begins. Already a few months have passed , and we have experienced floods in Queensland and devastating bushfires in Victoria. Our love and prayers and sympathy go out to all who may have experienced loss in homes, family, friends ,possessions and property. The public response has been phenomenal, and as a small contribution PGS has given a donation of $500. This was aimed to be specifically given to schools which were affected , as our focus is on (prayer groups for )schools. By donations given to PGS through the year we have been able to help others. So thank you to those who have given.
   Sadly we farewelled another team member at the beginning of the year – Swee Yong,who has left for family reasons. So we thank her for her prayer support and commitment in her areas of Monash and Knox. This now leaves a vacancy in these areas which we would dearly love to fill. We have some faithful prayer warriors there. So if you feel led to take on this role please contact me .We also need more team members to cover a wider area in Victoria, particularly needed in Geelong and Ballarat. Remember our vision to have all schools in Victoria covered in prayer. Please pray that the right people will respond to these requests.
   Now for the good news! We are happy to announce that the venue for this year’s Annual Prayer Day for Schools on Fri. September 4th  will be held at Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School in Canterbury. Please note this in your diaries, as always it’s a special day of encouragement and prayer. Plan to be there.
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 Our theme chosen for this year is “Jesus Is Lord!†In Hebrews 13:9 we read ,â€Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever…all may change but Jesus never..Glory to His name.†What an awesome person is Jesus Christ. We become His children by receiving Him as our Saviour. He is Lord of our lives ,our Heavenly Father. What a comfort to know He is there for us- Someone to walk and talk with and who listens, and if we listen to Him He answers us in his own way. I love the words in the hymn, “I Come to the garden alone ,†when it says, “and He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own..â€His Sovereignty reigns supreme. He died, He rose and He lives within our hearts .
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 He knows us perfectly beyond our knowledge.(Psalm 139:1-6). He made us and we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. (Psalm100:3)
 In Col. 3:17 we read “whatever you do , whether in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.†This is my prayer for all of you , friends who have a heart to pray for our schools and families and church communities. Look to Jesus and He will direct you. Jesus is our Lord. Let’s see what wonderful ways He will work through PGS in 2009.Â
  To end this newsletter, we’re including a testimony from another team member., Dalrene Benjamin , who shares how the importance of prayer has impacted her life.
  DALRENE’S JOURNEY:
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   Ever since I gave my life to God in 1983 , God has been the guide of my life .In 1985 , I heard Him very specifically call me to the prayer ministry .Prayer has always been the focus of my life, challenging me to “walk by faith and not by sightâ€(2 Corinth 5:7). Through the years He has faithfully led me to various prayer groups. Since migrating to Australia in1986, I was so joyful to be living in a country with a rich Christian heritage. However, God has also led me to grieve over the years for the many lost souls, showing me how easily the enemy can take hold of people or institutions.
  I have learnt that without real dependence on God through prayer, there is no real success, joy, or security. I have seen and experienced many battles won through prayer and praise. The hand of God moves when we ask ,seek, and knock! (Matt.7:7)â€for without faith it is impossible to please God†(Hebrews 11:6)
  With regards to Prayer Groups for Schools, a friend whose daughter was at PLC first invited me to join, as she knew my calling was the prayer ministry. However, I had just had my 3rd  baby at the time and had many excuses. I am sure she kept on praying for me, and it was only when she left as a missionary overseas that God made a way for me to join the prayer group in 2000.
Having been a member for nearly 2 years, it was then God gave me a dream about the school which I was greatly excited about., and shared with the other two ladies in the group who were regulars.
I had no idea what the outcome of this dream would be. However, a short time later I was put on the spot by the Principal that I was to lead the Prayer Group. I just felt inadequate, and I immediately replied, “ No, not me..†but she just walked away with no reply, leaving me alone! I sought the Lord , and then the next week I was asked the same thing at my son’s school!.I wondered what God was doing and saying to me? Then He reminded me of the dream and the calling to prayer . So totally depending on God and His Spirit to be in control, I accepted the the first offer.
Our prayer group was growing, and I was greatly encouraged , just fasting and praying and depending on God to work in and through us. I believed that the group was to be inclusive and welcoming of every Christian who came with a desire to pray for the children and the school, and that language was not to be a barrier. Over the years there was a lady who faithfully came and prayed in Korean- it was amazing! We were so blessed, different races, nationalities, language, colour, denominations all coming together , and yet no barriers, and worshipping the same Lord of All!!.We saw great and mighty things happen through the power of prayer.(Jeremiah 33:3). By leaning on God’s promises I learnt that they are never broken.
  I was invited to join PGS Support team in 2005, and after much prayer and waiting on God I came on board in 2006. Then in 2008 I became treasurer ,and now I enjoy being part of the team as we pray unitedly and work together, and it amazes me to see how God brings His people together with vision and zeal to serve Him. His faithfulness is great! Jesus Is Lord.
   May God richly bless you all ,
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   Marilyn Ford. (PGS. Vic. Coordinator)  Â
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2009 News
April 12th, 2009annual Day of Prayer for Schools Friday September 4th at Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School in Canterbury
Read Dalrene’s testimony in the newsletter
October 2008 Newsletter
November 6th, 2008Greetings to you all,
                               This newsletter will be a report of the Day of Prayer which was held at Caulfield Grammar on Fri. 5th September. 2008.
We were warmly welcomed at the school gates by students who directed us to the function room where we were meeting. About 85 people attended the morning, all ages, and it was encouraging to have some men folk there too. Approximately 50 schools were represented from near and far, suburban and country including Bendigo. There were also some people from churches who pray for schools in their neighbourhoods. . This is what we want to encourage: for churches to adopt schools in their neighbourhood and pray for them, thus seeing all schools in Victoria covered in prayer.While we were meeting at Caulfield Grammar, simultaneously there were people praying in a group in Warragul, and others who couldn’t make it on the day were also interceding for us elsewhere. It was /is encouraging to know that  others are praying for you. For those of us who attended the day we felt God’s presence in our midst, and were all greatly encouraged by the time shared together in praise and worship, sharing and prayer. Thank you so much to the girls of Caulfield Grammar prayer group and chaplain, Andrew Stewart, for all the effort you put in to the day – wonderful arrangements, set up, and refreshments provided and your co operation. This made our task so much easier. It was real team work….together everyone achieves more.Andrew Stewart opened the meeting with prayer and a welcome from the school. We were led in praise and worship by Lyn Bland playing beautifully on the grand piano these songs; ‘Jesus What a Beautiful Nameâ€, “ Turn your Eyes Upon Jesusâ€, “Praise To The Lord The Almightyâ€, “the Great Southlandâ€, and the closing song†God Be With you Till We Meet Again†Julie Wong from Scotch College shared, telling us of their prayer group strategy, praying for students and specific needs, staff, and the school community. They pray on the school campus and have their Principal’s approval and support. Julie made mention of a CRE teacher who had been praying for a student for 26 years, and when the student came and told them he’d become a Christian they told him they had never stopped praying for him over the years. The power of prayer.Yo Heading from Monbulk Secondary College told us how 3 of them have met at the school for the past few years, praying in their car in the school car park, as their principal wouldn’t allow them to pray in the school. Now they have a new Christian principal so they are hoping he will allow them to pray in the school building. Doesn’t that encourage us to keep looking unto Jesus and to keep praying without ceasing, regardless of the circumstances?Dale Stephenson (senior pastor at Crossway church) was our guest speaker and he spoke on the power of prayer. At Rangeview P.S. some years back when there was a merger of 2 schools there was some degree of opposition and it was a difficult time there. The prayer group was praying for the right principal to be chosen, hopefully the Christian one from their former school, and they were really looking unto Jesus for guidance. It was so important in times like this, when there is conflict, to disagree graciously with school personnel and don’t spoil relationships. Pray for the hurting people. God answered the prayers and the Christian principal was the chosen one. Dale also said we need to be pro active, going further with our prayers and meeting the needs of the community as well as praying .He encouraged us in our PGS work and realised the importance of prayer in schools where lives could be changed. We need to pray specifically for people by name, and not to be afraid to ask for what we want to see happen and what we want. Dale’s life was changed and he was convicted at Blackburn H.S because of a Christian friend in year 12. Since then he has been serving the Lord in ministry.Chiara ably led us in our prayer time, 2 segments of praying in small groups.In her co ordinator’s report Marilyn focussed on our theme for the year “Looking unto Jesus†Hebrews 12: 1-3.We are not to lose sight of where we are going. Sometimes circumstances happen in our lives that cause us to lose focus and turn in a different direction, and we need to look up to Jesus and He will look down and guide and direct our paths, and answer our prayers. Prayer works! We have all experienced this in our lives. Be encouraged to pray for others, even if you don’t know them. This was evident in our annual ring-arounds to the areas and regions where there are known prayer groups. They were encouraged to know there is a support group out there who are praying for them, and in some areas neighbouring schools who also have prayer groups. We are trying to have more area meetings, where schools close to each other meet and pray together at a designated school. If you would like your schools to be involved please contact the PGS team, and we’ll support you. We also are needing more people to join us on team to reach out to the other regions, such as Geelong, Ballarat and Gippsland areas. If you are in these regions God could really use you to reach the schools in your areas. Look unto Jesus and wait and see what He is saying to you.In September 08 there were 239 schools with prayer groups. 172 metropolitan, 66 country, 1 interstate .Of these 53 were Independent Schools, 167 Primary schools, and 39 Secondary schools. What will be our increase in 2009? It has just come to our notice that one of our dear friends, Michelle Mc Lean, who was involved in the prayer group at Camelot Rise, and formerly Mullum Mullum P.S, has passed away and is now with her Lord whom she loved. Our loving sympathy goes to her family and colleagues.May God continue to bless you and encourage you in your prayer groups as you continue to Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. With Christian Love,Marilyn Ford(PGS Vic Co Ordinator) Â
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Welcome to 2008
March 9th, 2008Greetings to you all, Â
                                   A new year has begun and the question many of you are asking is “What is God going to do in my life this year?â€
After the holidays some of you may feel a little unsettled having travelled, moved or changed jobs, or have children are at different stages in their lives. We have to make new decisions. Some of us feel like we’ve been shaken up and down in a shaker and aren’t quite sure where we’ll land when poured out. Remember your Heavenly Father knows exactly what’s happening, and the shaking up is for a good reason. God has a really good plan for you, and before we’re ready for what’s coming next, whether it’s an opportunity or a challenge, if you leave Him in charge, then whatever happens is going to be the very best for you. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completionâ€
This year on support team we give praise and thanks to Dalrene Benjamin who has taken on the role of treasurer from Jenny Radford, who resigned from team at the end of last year. Also we said good-bye to another team member Christine Crawford, and to both these girls we say a very big thankyou for all their hard work and contributions to PGS over the years. We wish them God’s blessing in their future plans. So we have some vacant spots on our support team and are looking for others to join us, and we’d love to hear from you if this is God’s calling. Â
I’d like to introduce our team to you this year. We have Marilyn Ford as Coordinator (for PGS Vic), Dalrene as Treasurer, Linda Conn as our data base worker, Rachel Benjamin, Chiara Feldi, Helen Fysh and Swee Yong. To get to know us better we’ll be sharing with you in the newsletters, and this time we’re hearing from Helen.
“Hello. I’d like to share a little about the impact prayer groups have made to my CRE experience.
When God first called me into CRE some years ago, the thought of teaching a large class of boys and girls, and having a teacher who might be anti CRE sit in on my classes, was a bit daunting.
Well, my first class consisted of 20 boys and 5 girls, and the male teacher was anti CRE! But I was very blessed indeed, in that there was an active prayer group at that school, made up of young mothers who met together each week to pray after dropping their kids off. At the suggestion of my convenor I phoned them and was greatly encouraged by them, especially when they told me they met every Wednesday morning for prayer. This was my CRE day at that school!
Our prayers were answered and I taught 2 wonderful classes which built up my confidence and faith in God. I even saw the attitude of the teacher change to become supportive of me as well.
As the years went by I taught at other schools. But a number of these didn’t have a prayer group, and because the CRE teachers taught on different days fellowship and prayer with each other was squeezed out, so that prayer became an automatic thing- made on the run.
This was particularly noticeable at one school where there was tremendous opposition to CRE. Although quite small classes, discipline was atrocious and we had to overcome many obstacles. There was no prayer group at that school- even the CRE teachers could only find time to pray on the run. There was no regular prayer meeting where we could encourage each other and persist in wrestling with God in prayer for that school. I believe our witness was seriously damaged by the lack of prayer, in spite of the commitment of all the CRE teachers involved.
Lastly I’d like to share an example of what happened when just 2 of us prayed together and how God answered wonderfully. I noticed during first term one year that a boy who didn’t do CRE himself, was very influential in persuading other children to join him in boycotting this class. As the term went on, the number of children absenting themselves from CRE and joining him increased, until less than half the class remained. I prayed alone and with my convenor, that God would draw him and the other children closer to him.
Imagine my delight when I saw this boy in CRE class in the second term after Easter. At first I wondered if he had come to disrupt the class- but this was not the case- he was very keen and responsive and as time went on I particularly noticed that he liked it when we were reading from the Bible in class. It was plain that all this was new to him, and he appeared not to know what Easter meant before this! It was wonderful to see that God had begun a new work in him. I just wish I knew how God’s plan for his life is now unfolding. One by one the other children began drifting back to CRE class too. So I praise God for showing me how He delights to be in the midst when 2 or 3 or even one of His servants commits to prayer. He is glorified and we are blessed.â€
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It’s really encouraging that more schools now have chaplains and more are applying. We really want to see PGS and ACCESS working together, uniting in prayer in and for our Victorian schools.
Let me leave this question with you, “How is God going to use you this year?â€
May I wish you all a year in 2008 where God will be at work in us, and through us. As we trust in him we hope to see PGS have a real breakthrough, where more schools will be involved and covered with prayer.Â
May God richly bless you,
Marilyn Ford (PGS Vic. Coordinator)