Power of Prayer

Earlier this year, an urban church in Bristol, England, developed an interesting response to the high crime rate in its neighborhood. It developed "Prayer Patrols" that take place three times daily. Volunteers walk through the streets, knocking on doors, collecting prayer requests, and praying with the inhabitants. Police officials say that the number of robberies has been reduced by 51 percent and burglaries are down by 21 percent. City officials say that prayer has broken the "siege mentality" that had gripped the neighborhood as a result of gang warfare.

 - Turning Point Daily Devotional, 10/15/03