Celebrating 50 Years of the Prayer Tower

For 50 years, a group of Highland Park United Methodist members has been praying for you, and you’ve probably never met.

The HPUMC Prayer Tower Ministry celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Starting in May of 1975, Prayer Tower intercessors have prayed over the prayer requests of church members, church ministries, church partners, and more.

“At the time I joined, there was a need for prayer intercessors,” Jo Guittard said. “I didn’t really know exactly what that was or who they were or what they did. As I asked around, it just seemed like something I could do to help others as a weekly (or) daily mission to come to the church, to the Prayer Tower, and pray for the church and people who were in need and were ill, whatever prayer requests came up. It was an honor to join the team.”

Since joining the Prayer Tower, Guittard has been on both sides of the prayers. She knows firsthand what it means to have someone praying for you and the effect it can have.

“I’ve been through cancer two times, and when the Prayer Tower was praying for me, I knew every day that somebody was praying for me,” Guittard said. “It made a real difference in my attitude, how I faced my illness, and how I ask God to help others face their illness or problems or whatever they’re going through where they need prayer.”

Then there is Camelia Girand who has been involved almost from the beginning, when Rev. Frank Warden and Adele Hatcher were getting it started.

At that time, she said she felt like she had Jesus in her mind, but not in her heart. In her desire to get to know God and Jesus better, she not only read the Bible, but she also had a desire to pray and ‘seek His space.’ Warden was helping Girand on her faith walk and suggested getting involved, so she joined.

Through the Prayer Tower and being an intercessor, her faith grew as she connected the people of the church to God through her prayers.

“It’s increased my faith because when you pray for others, it gives you joy in your heart that you’re helping someone,” Girand said. “… My faith has grown. I feel like I’m helping somebody. I’m doing something for the Kingdom of God. There’s so many people out there who need prayer.”

When Frank Merlino and his wife, Deborah, joined HPUMC in the early 1990s, they were quickly introduced to the Prayer Tower. The co-facilitator of their first disciple class was Clarise Nichols, who was a leader of the Prayer Tower at the time. She recommended they become intercessors, noting they would love it and it would be great for them.

He remembers feeling the Holy Spirit within Nichols as she spoke about the Prayer Tower. They joined, and 30 years later know she was right.

Part of that comes from knowing that we are not alone. When something in your life is in need of prayer, it can be a lonely feeling. But by requesting prayers through the Prayer Tower and the intercessors, it becomes much more than yourself.

“It’s a blessing to see that one’s own problems are not just their own; everyone has challenges,” Merlino said. “... The intercessors are so conscientious, so faithful that they’re great role models. Working with Rev. (Camille) May and the Pastoral Care team, you really see the commitment to the church and its congregation.”

There is so much that goes on at HPUMC and so many people who come through the doors for various reasons. It is impossible for someone to be involved in everything, but intercessors get close.

In fact, it was after a church service where different people were on the lawn outside the Sanctuary sharing information about different ministries and getting them to sign up that Martha Judkins was introduced to the Prayer Tower in the early 1980s.

Through the Prayer Tower and being an intercessor, she and others are involved in all of the other ministries and groups by praying for the people who make up the church.

“One of the things we hear a lot about our church is that it’s such a big church,” Judkins said. “I know there is a lot of effort put in to make it feel like a small church. Belonging is so important, and this ministry makes you a member of this church in ways you would never be a member otherwise. You can be a part of any of the ministries.”

Some people like to pray alone, but not Mary Bishop. She used to be on the Pastoral Care staff and, as a people person, feels she prays best in groups. So that’s exactly what she does.

“I like to pray in groups, three or four women,” Bishop said. “Praying individually, some people love that, that quiet silence. Because I’m an extrovert, I like to be with people. I like to lay hands on and like to pray for people who come to our group. There’s different ways to pray.”

Gerry Hudnall got involved when her grandmother was sick and needed prayers. She went to the Prayer Tower, where an intercessor wrote down her prayer request. Hudnall felt those prayers and was then called to be that voice in prayer for others.

Just like people she didn’t know prayed for her family, now Hudnall gets to be that person helping out those who need prayer.

“It’s a blessing because I pray for people I don’t know, and hopefully they will have the comfort and peace that prayer gives them,” Hudnall said. “Even though they don’t know us, they will hopefully see the results in some way and accept God’s answer, even though sometimes it’s not the answer we want. It helps us grow closer to God and grow closer to the fellow intercessors because we are on this side of heaven, helping people that need prayer.”

Being part of the Prayer Tower is being that extra voice for the people. It matters to the people being prayed for, but it matters to the people doing the praying, too. That chance to speak to God on someone’s behalf is not a responsibility the intercessors take lightly.

“I get a list every week. I feel like I know these people. I’ve never met them, but I’m praying for their needs, their hurts, and their pain,” Bishop said. “(When I was) on the Pastoral Care staff, being in charge of the Prayer Tower changed me because I got to be in people’s lives. It is something I feel like God called me to do. … I love the interaction of being with God’s people.”