PRAYER TENTS? WHAT ARE THOSE?

By Laurie Damoth, Redding Transformation Lead Intercessor

Click here for a 4 min. video explaining prayer tents

Almost two years ago, I drove up to the Krista Foster Care parking lot in my old pickup.  The back was filled with a shade canopy, chairs, table, an ice chest, signs that read PRAYER, a long pole with a blue and green flag on it, a roll of plastic (just in case) and duct tape (just in case).  I felt the excitement and uncertainty of doing something brand new.  Would people really stop for prayer?  Would it pour down rain and get very cold and windy like the weatherman predicted?  Would the Holy Spirit meet people with His love and power?  The answer to all these questions was YES!!

Jim and Greg were already there when I arrived, cups of hot coffee warming their hands.  As we set up the shade canopy, brand new out of the box, the wind picked up one corner, whipped it around and broke a brace in half.  Like well-prepared scouts, we pulled out the duct tape (just in case) and wrapped it up.  Nothing was going to stop us.  The guys had 5 gallon paint buckets that we bungeed to the canopy.  The rain began to fall, wind began to blow and it was getting colder by the minute.  We used the roll of plastic to make 3 walls to keep the rain and wind out.  Nothing was going to stop us.  Jim brought out his propane heater and fired it up.  The rest of the team arrived and we got comfy in our home for the day on the corner of Yuba and Pine.  Nothing was going to stop us!  We began to encourage each other in the Lord, laughing and telling stories.  We knew God was going to bring people in that needed His touch that day.

Immediately a woman pulled up in her car.  She had heard on the radio about the tents being up all over Redding and was on her way to see her husband in the hospital.  She saw our sign and came in for prayer.  She left encouraged, strengthened and with greater faith.  That was just the beginning of an awesome day of praying for many different people with many different needs and watching God touch them with His love and power.

The prayer tents began as an idea of one way to put the vision of Redding Transformation - unity in the Body and prayer in the city - into a tangible, practical expression. Churches unifying in a variety of venues outside the walls of the church was a key to the week of prayer surrounding the National Day of Prayer that May.  Many churches participated, manning their own tents with people from their individual church.  Since then we have begun to fill tents with pray-ers from different churches having fun getting to know each other and working together for the sake of the people of Redding.

The concept of a tent as a place of ministry is an interesting one with many facets.  The word “tent” in the Strong’s Concordance means to be seen clearly from a distance and to shine.  The prayer tents are truly that since we locate them in areas clearly seen from the street.  A simple sign that says PRAYER designates their function.  The team creates a safe place where people are not judged but blessing, forgiveness, identity, destiny and healing are spoken into them.  The unity of over 20 churches and organizations working together in just this one approach is contributing to the change of the spiritual atmosphere in our city.  The people of Redding are seeing the church as she really is and feeling the support of a loving, united front.  Pastors are encouraged to see more of the saints doing the work of the ministry - and enjoying it.

I want to tell you how that first rainy, cold, blustery, prayer tent day ended.  A man stopped by about 4:00 and said his girlfriend had just gotten into a car accident. She was in the emergency room and the doctors said she had severe internal injuries.  The team agreed with heaven for her healing and encouraged the young man in the Lord.  He came back with her a couple hours later laughing and happy saying, "Look what God did!"  She had no injuries.   She said, "If God could do that then He can get me off drugs and alcohol all the way!"  She received prayer and they left filled up with God.


I have told you about one idea God gave to creatively reach a portion of Redding and mobilize the church.  God has many more ideas that He wants to give us.  Father God, we ask that you release those ideas to your children, brand new strategies that come from your throne room.  We ask for the courage to come together to put them into practice with genuine love and honor.  We put our confidence in the fact that you want Redding transformed more than we do and we place ourselves in alignment with your plan.  Release your ideas Lord, more Lord, Amen!!