How to Implement the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

at Your Center

We are praying for God’s transformative power to be multiplied at every Teen Challenge program during our 21 days of prayer and fasting. In preparation for this special time with God, we, as leaders, are asking God to examine our own hearts so we may have spiritual eyes to lead others. Our families and the people we influence (staff, students, volunteers) are treasured individuals and we desire to see them transformed through Jesus Christ. Here are a few thoughts and ideas to consider as you are preparing for this time of prayer and fasting at your center.

• Give yourself permission to be vulnerable. Expect transformation in yourself as a leader

• Model humility. Lead your staff and students into the presence of God.

• Expect your staff and students to have an encounter with the Holy Spirit.

• Give the Holy Spirit permission to change your center schedule. Decide what physical or social activities you will restrict. Will you have the devotional and prayer time during chapel in the morning or in the place of a meal? Make sure to give the Holy Spirit time to speak.

• Decide how you will use the daily devotionals at your center. Teen Challenge leaders from around the globe have volunteered to minister to us in our devotionals. What a wonderful way to expand the world view of our staff and students and realize the enormity of our Teen Challenge family by receiving from global leaders.

• Decide the type of fast for your center to undertake (Daniel fast, fast only one meal a day, etc.).

• Fasting must be volunteered, offered as a sacrifice unto the Lord, not forced. Explain to your students what fasting is and what it is not and then give them opportunity to participate. Plan for the students who will be fasting and those who will not.

• Decide how much time each day you will devote to prayer and God's Word.

• Be prepared to minister to the deep needs of your students. Transformation happens with fasting and prayer.