The Hidden Crisis in Our Schools
I still remember the first time I heard about what was really happening in our Arizona schools. I didn't know that teachers used their own money to buy students essential clothing like underwear, or that schools didn't have the resources to maintain buildings. I had no idea that teachers gave out canned goods on Fridays so that kids could eat over the weekend.
I didn't know about the number of students who were homeless, struggling academically, overdosing on drugs, or attempting to take their own lives. Even the churches right next door to these schools knew nothing about what was going on inside those walls!
So when four young men—Mike, Matt, Jon, and Keith—showed up at our ministry offices to ask if we would help them with an initiative to pray inside the schools of Arizona, I knew it was a God assignment!
We all heard the Lord say the same thing: Invite My transforming presence into the schools.
A Strategy of Hope
We began meeting with the principals of targeted schools. One of the first things we did when meeting with principals was to ask forgiveness for not taking time to find out the needs of their school. We said we were sorry for not praying and doing what we could to meet their school's tangible needs. Then we asked them how we could pray for their schools.
I remember sitting in the office of one principal and asking him, "What is the biggest problem your school faces?"
He broke down in tears. "That's an easy question to answer," he said. "There's no hope here!"
We knew God wanted to change this!
So we rented school auditoriums and prayed and worshiped in 26-hour prayer vigils in schools all across the state. I'll be the first to admit, this was a stretch. We struggled to step out in faith to raise the money to rent the auditoriums—and then labor all night in intercession every weekend that fall!
With broken hearts we cried out to God for food for the students, more teachers, money for repairs of the buildings, new sports equipment, and better test scores. In the midnight hours we worshiped and contended together against suicide, depression, and despair.
Transformation Stories
And then the reports came rolling in:
🏫 Mingus High School
Before: About 1-3 students a month were overdosing on Oxytocin. The school ranked in the bottom 25% academically and was on probation from the Arizona Department of Education.
After Prayer: Police conducted a routine drug search and for the first time in anyone's memory, found nothing! Three months later, still no drugs. In four years since, there have been no more overdoses.
Academic Transformation: Within one year, they moved to the top 25% (2012) and received an A-plus ranking from the Arizona Department of Education in 2014 and 2015.
The principal, who had not been enthusiastic about our prayer event, told our team: "I still don't believe in prayer. But I know results when I see them. I'd write a letter to any principal in Arizona recommending this event take place in their school."
🏫 Peoria High School
Impact: Academic scores improved so dramatically that the vice principal called us back to ask if we would host 40 days of prayer and fasting before students took their AIMS aptitude tests.
Recognition: In 2012, U.S. News and World Report listed Peoria High School among the top schools nationally and internationally—and they have received that ranking each year since!
Community Response: We solicited donations directly for Peoria High School, and took the vice principal shopping to buy sweatshirts, underwear, and socks for students. Nearby churches supplied school supplies and toiletries.
🏫 Manzo Elementary School
Crisis: Ranked an F school according to students' test scores. The school board had talked about shutting down the school and firing the principal.
Prayer Focus: We prayed for 12 hours during the spring, specifically about students improving in their academic scores.
Miraculous Turnaround: By the end of that academic year, the school had improved to a C-plus ranking. The Tucson Unified School District statistician called the principal: "How did you do this? No school moves up 22 points in one semester. It's statistically impossible!"
Result: Manzo Elementary School remained open, and the principal was not fired. In fact, he was given a promotion.
🏫 Central High School
Challenges: Run-down facilities, sports fields and landscaping badly needed refurbishing, couldn't afford adequate teachers. The general atmosphere was depressive with daily fights among students.
Divine Provision After Prayer:
- Arizona Cardinals NFL team donated cleats, jerseys, pads, and other gear
- NBA Cares Foundation provided $150,000 worth of furnishings, landscaping, and sports field refurbishment
- Phoenix Suns Charities gave $200,000 to hire additional teachers
Atmosphere Change: That fall Central reported no fights on campus. One teacher posted on Facebook: "The entire atmosphere of our school has changed!"
Most Desperate Need
The problems we discovered are not unique to Arizona. Most schools face similar issues.
Beyond the physical and financial needs—and they are great—our schools desperately need the healing power of Jesus. No wonder it seems hopeless. Secular institutions can't solve a spiritual and moral crisis or give kids what they need most: an encounter with the Lord.
The good news is, we've seen what God can do. Miracles happen when we invite His transforming presence into our schools!
We know of teens who, after coming to our prayer gathering at their school, changed their minds about killing themselves. At least two of them had planned to take their own lives at school that very night. Instead they heard the worship, came inside, and ended up giving their lives to the Lord.
When stories of what God was doing in schools got out, things began to change. The eyes of the community were opened. The Holy Spirit awakened the Church.
Now families and churches are getting involved in adopting schools for prayer and practical service everywhere across the state. They are providing backpacks, food, tutors, and mentors. In one school, at the request of the principal, we created a Serve, Watch, and Pray program. About 80 members of a nearby church signed up to serve as volunteers on campus, and we trained them how to "watch and pray" on the job.
Ways to Connect
There are so many ways to connect with a school in your community. Here are practical steps you can take:
Adopt a School
Build intentional relationships with your neighborhood schools. Ask, "How may we serve you?" Then take their answers to your church body or family for prayer and action. United, fervent prayer aimed at local schools, along with building long-term relationships with school officials, will open doors to meet tangible needs.
Host a Prayer Vigil
Meet with the school principal and discuss renting the school auditorium to host a prayer vigil. Ask about specific needs and promise to pray for these during the event. We schedule 12 to 26 hours because the spiritual atmosphere changes when we stay long enough to saturate the school in worship.
Mobilize a Prayerwalk
Organize a 21-day back-to-school prayerwalk. Individuals, families, and church groups can prayerwalk schools in their neighborhood. Some churches invite teachers and administrators to a weekend service where the church honors and prays over educators before the new school year begins.
Every Prayer Counts
You may not be a church leader or have the time or connections to launch a major prayer initiative. What can you do?
Grab a prayer partner and go for a prayerwalk around a school. If you have school-age children or grandchildren, pray with them about their school during a mealtime or before bed. When you are dropping off or picking up your child at school, arrive early and pray over the students and teachers you see—and anything else God puts on your heart.
Vital Prayer Issues for Every School:
- Protection from evil: Pray Psalm 91 over the school and ask the Lord to station His angels all around. Ask God for protection not only from shootings and violence but also from bullying, drugs, gangs, and evil spirits that come to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10).
- Overcoming hopelessness: Declare, in Jesus' name, that all thoughts of suicide, depression, hopelessness, and despair are broken off (see Jer. 29:11). Pray with expectation and confidence that students will experience salvation and the joy that comes from knowing Him.
- Prospering in school: Ask the Lord to place each student with the teachers and classrooms where that particular student will prosper. Ask Him to send godly influences to the young people to encourage them in their studies and their walk with Jesus Christ.
- Contending for purpose and destiny: Ask God to raise up young people with godly purpose and destiny to contend for righteousness and justice at their schools (Amos 5:24) because our schools are gates of cultural influence in our nation.
There may be principals, teachers, and students in your community who feel there is no hope. But we know the answer that can result when the Church comes together and seeks God for His blessing and transformation in our schools. We just need to take the initiative.
Join the Movement
For free school prayer guides and more information about mobilizing school prayer in your community, visit our resources page.
Author: Cheryl Sacks, Co-founder of BridgeBuilders International