Pastor Bill Villapiano believes in the power of prayer. So do the other members of the Houston Ministerial Alliance. That’s why the group has the vision to continue making the school districts in Texas County the most prayed over schools in south central Missouri.
Launched in the fall of 2011, the Prayer Zone Challenge has rallied believers with an annual event and yard signs to pray for students, teachers, administrators, staff and all personnel in area schools – both public and home schools.
Villapiano said the mission is among the most important duties for Christians.
“The significance depends on what you believe about prayer,” he said. “John Wesley once said, ‘It seems as if God does nothing on earth unless men first pray.’ If the church is going to believe anything, we’ve got to believe in the power of prayer. As believers, we ought to believe that prayer moves mountains.”
The concept to make the county a ‘Prayer Zone’ was developed during an alliance monthly meeting. Villapiano said as the group was discussing ways to serve the community, a pastor shared about another ministerial alliance that was praying for its school. Each time a person saw a crosswalk, they prayed.
The Houston pastors liked the idea and made it their own. They organized an event, erected a sign on the south edge of town and passed out “Prayer Zone Partner” signs for the public to post in yards, hang on buildings or display in business windows.
Every time a believer sees a sign in Texas County, they are asked to pause and pray for their local school district.
“Prayer is something that covers things, protects and sometimes provides a way,” Villapiano said. “With those thoughts in mind, we’re trying to cover something, see it protected and we’re also concerned about the way the kids are taught – the facilities, tools and resources that are necessary.
“It takes everyone. The role of the janitors having classrooms ready every day is as significant as the bus drivers, teachers and administration. All of them working together with the parents is important. We’re praying for unity in all the different aspects within the school to be successful.”
The 2015 Prayer Zone Challenge – the fourth annual edition of the event – is 7 p.m. Sunday inside Hiett Gymnasium on the HHS campus. Villapiano said the alliance is encouraging members of each community in Texas County to attend. He also said students, families and all school staff are asked to come to a night of worship and prayer specifically for them.
Villapiano said the Houston Ministerial Alliance has been encouraged by the public’s response. More than 600 people attended the first event, and attendance has been steady in the second and third years. He hopes that those committing to praying as well as those connected to county schools will make an effort to attend the service as a reminder of the call to pray.
“In the Bible, they set up memorials as reminder of the things they needed to do or the things God had already done. We have a yearly Prayer Zone event to remind the community of the challenge,” Villapiano said. “Will you not just come to an event, but will you commit this year to regularly and faithfully pray for your school?”
Pastor Todd Haley of Ozark Baptist Church is this year’s guest speaker and will share a message about the principles of prayer. Worship will be led by Tayler Holland, leader of the praise team at Undivided Hearts.
A prayer guide with specific instructions about praying for schools will be handed out to those in attendance. At the conclusion of the night, new signs will be available to pick up.
Villapiano stressed the importance of specific prayers for county schools and the people who work with children on a daily basis.
“If we won’t pray for our schools, who will?” he said. “It’s important for us to take a local responsibility for praying for the people who spend the most amount of time with our kids in a week. It’s necessary for us to pray for not only the students, but also the people who will leave a long lasting impression on our kids well into adulthood. When someone has that type of impression, they are certainly worthy of our prayer support.”
“The significance depends on what you believe about prayer. John Wesley once said, ‘It seems as if God does nothing on earth unless men first pray.’ If the church is going to believe anything, we’ve got to believe in the power of prayer. We ought to believe that prayer moves mountains.”
– PASTOR BILL VILLAPIANO
- WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9
- WHERE: Hiett Gymnasium
- DETAILS: New signs and prayer guides will be available.