This weekend while visiting friends, we worshipped at Antioch, Waco! This fellowship has been in existence for 25 years. In that time, they have planted 50 churches in the United States, six in the UK, dispatched 300+ missionaries around the world, and seen God move in incredible ways. Quite remarkable!

I walked into the sanctuary this morning and the presence of God was so tangible, I breathed “Glory!” Was this a small taste of what kept Moses from entering the tabernacle in the wilderness? (Exodus 40:34-35). The air felt thick, tears sprang to my eyes; I simply worshiped. It was so beautiful!

The opening music was rich, deep and impactful, and after a prayer something occurred which marveled me.

The pastor invited teachers to stand throughout the auditorium. Easily 300 adults stood up, in just this one service. Imagine the impact this one congregation has in a community of 138,000 with 300 of them serving in the public and private school system!

We all lifted hands and prayed for them. Then, he invited us to stand and applaud them for their faithful labor. How might it impact those teachers during the school year as they look back on this moment of 2000 people applauding their work?

Being a teacher is challenging and exhausting business, as many of you know. Many teachers become burned out both because of issues within the school and challenges with the administration. Don’t you know the stories!

Perhaps taking a lesson from Antioch Waco, we could position ourselves as people of prayer for teachers and schools. Many of you probably do this!

What if we prayed every time we drove by a school?

What if we prayed for students and teachers as we walked past? 

What if we invested in teachers we know — gifts, cards, time?

What if we said, “Thank you for your service! How could I best pray for you?” whenever we discover in a line getting coffee, or at the store that someone is a teacher?

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2). Let’s become such a people of prayer that God’s presence is manifest through us.