Many churches are getting more serious about seeing their kids prayed for. One of the most effective ways is to assign adult intercessors to each child in the church, using information cards as prayer reminders.

A few years ago, the church I was going to at the time set up a prayer card program. I took a card of a four-year-old boy named Jonathan (my name). After church one day, about six months later, I introduced myself to him. I shook his hand and told him I was praying for him. His mom was especially blessed by our connection. Today, nine years later and living a thousand miles away, I still have that card in my Bible. I pray whenever I see it.

Designing a Prayer Card

Here is a simple way to get you started in praying more effectively for the children of your church. Using a digital camera, take photos of each child and develop an information card, using 5.5 x 8.5 card stock paper. Add important facts (child’s name, number of siblings, school name, etc.). For older children and teens, you might include other facts such as their dreams and desires. Don’t write anything a child or parent might be uncomfortable having others see.

After these prayer cards are completed, give them to adults to pray. If possible, make an announcement about the program in church services, the bulletin, etc. If you can have some platform time, make sure adults know why the church believes this is important to do.

Set up a sign-up table in the foyer of the church, where adults can pick up the cards. Keep a master list so you know which adult is praying for which child. You may want to add the phone number of each intercessor so that the church can call him or her if anything significant (such as an emergency health need) comes up in the life of the child. Keep setting up the table each week until all the cards are gone.

Instruct Sunday school teachers and other children’s leaders to inform you when new kids come to church so that you can make cards for them as well. I also recommend making new cards—with a new sign-up each year (allowing people to sign up again for the same child if they prefer). And if appropriate, encourage the adults to make contact with the children through a note in the mail or a greeting in the hallway.

JON GRAF is publisher of Prayer Connect.