Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather together in my name, there I am with them.

I created and facilitated a Balloon Launch Prayer Service as part of the Popsicle Party, which was a family-friendly event to raise money for Pennies for Refugees, a grassroots effort to raise 1 penny for each of the 70.8 million refugees on planet earth right now.

Please feel free to replicate this idea in your own community! The more we Unite in Prayer for the most vulnerable people in our world right now, the better. If you do use these materials, just please do me a favor link back here to http://www.uniteinprayer.org  I’d love to hear all about how your event and how it goes! Please let me know if you’d like help planning your own “Pennies for Refugees” event and prayer service! I’m happy to help in any way I can and would love to include you in this grassroots efforts to do Christ’s work in the world.

To host this Balloon Launch Prayer Service, all you need is a group of prayer warriors, 10 helium balloons and 10 volunteers, who are willing to read a short prayer and release a balloon. One person could be in charge of reading all of the prayers and releasing each of the balloons, if you prefer. But at the event I planned, people of all ages volunteered to read, and it was powerful to see and hear all the different voices lifting intentions for those in need, especially the voices of little kids.

If it’s a windy day, you may want to keep the helium balloons indoors until closer to the time of the prayer service because our strings got tangled, which caused some confusion. To solve the problem, we just cut the strings shorter, which worked out fine, but it would have been easier if they hadn’t been tangled in the first place. Also ideally, have your volunteers sign up to be a reader in advance to avoid last minute confusion, and have a microphone to use if you will need to get the attention of a big crowd.

We also provided bubbles for the kids, who did not have a reading, so they could participate in visually sending “prayers” up into the sky. That was a nice way to help keep all the kids engaged in the prayer service.

First, the leader can provide some kind of intro and personal thank you to all those attending, along with an explanation of how the prayer service is going to work, including something like:

Thank you all for being here on this beautiful night. It is touching to see how many of you care deeply for the needs of those, who are most vulnerable in our world right now. We are going to have a short prayer service, where we release these balloons one at a time as as a symbol of the intentions we are offering for the 70.8 million refugees across the globe, who need our help right now.

Then, the leader reads the following poem and releases the balloon, handing the microphone off to the next reader:

I’ll start by reading this is poem called Free by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater:

last year

this girl

this girl you see

she was not a refugee

but just a child

who loved to read

to walk with grandma

by the sea

the nights were loud

they had to flee

so now we call her a refugee

she is a child

may she be free

she could be you

she could be me

Then releases Balloon …

2rd reader:

As I set this balloon free, I pray refugees who are exposed to the elements can be free to find safe shelter

3rd reader:

As I set this balloon free, I pray the refugees, who are hungry and malnourished can be free to have enough food to grow and be healthy

4th reader:

As I set this balloon free, I pray the refugees, who are thirsty can be free to drink as much clean water as they want

5th reader:

As I set this balloon free, I pray refugees can be free to wear adequate clothing to stay warm, dry and clean

6th reader:

As I set this balloon free, I pray refugees can be free from human trafficking operations and others, who wish to exploit their vulnerable condition

7th reader:

As I set this balloon free, I pray refugees can be free to receive access to quality medical care

8th reader:

As I set this balloon free, I pray refugees can be free to continue their education and find a sustainable source of income to support their families with dignity

9th reader:

As I set this balloon free, I pray refugees can be free to remain united with their families through all of their struggles

10th reader:

As I set this balloon free, I pray refugees can be free to practice their faith and experience “the peace of the Lord” in their hearts through all their trials.

Leader:

Closes with a thank you!

Do you have any questions about how to plan a Balloon Launch Prayer Service for refugees? Comment below, and I’ll be delighted to help in any way I can.

God bless anyone, who decides to plan a Balloon Launch Prayer Service for refugees. Guide them to create an event, which raises awareness about the needs of those, who are most vulnerable in our world right now and sends graces to those, who most desperately need Christ’s presence in their lives right now. Matthew 18 19-20 19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am with them.” In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

 

 

Written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org 8/31/2019