Setting up a Mum’s Primary School Prayer Group

This contributed piece was shared with CViE and published in the 2023 Summer Newsletter.  It is re-printed online with the desire that others may be encouraged to recognize the tremendous value of parents praying together for their school, and to start similar groups.

I already knew one Christian school mum through church connections prior to our children starting at the local primary school. When talking one day, we shared the idea of starting a prayer group to pray specifically for the school. She knew a couple of other mums who are Christians, so we started up a WhatsApp group and began meeting approximately once a month – we aim for twice per half term – in one or another’s home. There are now eight of us in total and we continue to pray that other mums who are Christians will be shown to us so that we can invite them to join the group. Typically we will go to someone’s house immediately after the morning school run and spend 30-45 minutes together. We take it in turns to lead, reading some verses from the Bible and perhaps making a few comments on the verses read. We talk about a few key prayer points for that occasion and then have a time of open prayer. Younger siblings, who are not yet at school or nursery, come with us and play while we pray.

We do not have an official status at the school; it is not a faith school and sadly our request to have a prayer box there was denied on the grounds that the Council will not permit an expression of faith like this in a maintained school.

Since September, when the group started running, we have seen some direct answers to prayers, which is very encouraging, especially with others joining the group and also concerning a recent OFSTED inspection. Many of us are active in school life, for example, being on the governing body, reading with classes or going on school trips, so we pray together that we may be a witness to those in the school and the community.

The mums in the group are from a range of church backgrounds, but we all share a common desire that there might be a Christian influence in the school. It is a blessing to meet with like-minded mums, to share concerns and encouragements, and to bring these to our God in prayer.

CViE is always interested in encouraging our supporters’ efforts in Gospel matters, and invite all to contact us if we can help to make more people aware of how they, too, might make a difference.