‘Our Zoom prayer meetings make public and vocal our dependency on God, says Pilgrims’ Friend Society CEO, Stephen Hammersley. Louise Morse tells us more:
Every morning at 8.45 a group of us working for the Pilgrims’ Friend Society (PFS) meet for prayer over Zoom. It’s one of our two main daily prayer meetings: there are others in our housing and homes.
This morning the theme was ‘stones of remembrance’; thanking God for the prayers He has answered. Prayer is the only reason we can see why, in the centre of a region with an alarming Covid spike, one of our larger care homes stayed free of infection while others nearby had multiple cases. And how, at a time when funding for social care is scraping the bottom of the barrel and was not forthcoming for frail, elderly Hilda (name changed), we prayed and now she is happily resident in our Plymouth home.
Long line of stones
PFS has a long line of ‘stones of remembrance’, stretching over 213 years from its founding in 1807. Answered prayer raised monies so the foundling charity could deliver life-saving pensions, in person, to needy elderly Christians. Today we have around 530 employees and 500 people under our wing in housing and care homes in different parts of the country.
Covid brought care homes into the spotlight, but not always in helpful ways. On the one hand we’re praised for our care of vulnerable older people, and on the other criticised for protective infection controls that restrict relatives’ visits. We asked God to give our relatives understanding and peace, and in a recent survey of relatives, staff and residents most said we’d handled the situation well.
I don’t think people realise the affection carers feel for their residents, or how hard they work to make them happy. Knowing the extra workload when a carer has to isolate at home because a family member has tested positive, we ask the Lord to give them comfort and strength.
Praying for people
Our work is all about people and relationships, and 99% of our prayers are devoted to them. We bring to God everything, from a home under pressure to a staff member’s wife experiencing a difficult pregnancy. The reward of the latter was a photograph of a healthy, chubby newborn.
The results of our prayers are not always visible. The mountains we see moving are those in hearts and minds. As we pray for others, we ourselves are strengthened. Vicki, the manager of our retirement housing in Yorkshire says that the prayer time is a blessing that gets her through her days. She said: ‘It focuses me for the day away from my issues and gives me a sense that I am not alone and am part of a bigger team. I have smiled, cried, laughed, worshipped, been encouraged, and so much more.’
Family of Christ
Care home manager Chrissie, who is fairly new to PFS, says the way we see each other on Zoom and pray together deepens the sense of belonging to the family of Christ. Seasoned care home manager Beth Kneale says it is a powerhouse for prayer, needed more than ever in these Covid times. Abi, who heads the care team at Royd Court, said that starting the day with PFS joining together to invite the Lord into the day is an anchor that holds her in her work.
We take in turn to lead prayer times – bringing a Scripture, some thoughts, and a hymn. This preparation time is a special blessing in challenging times, says Ruth, manager of our retirement housing in Scotland. ‘The honour of being able to share … means more than I can put into words: as well as the reassurance that I and the house are being held up in prayer.’
‘For me it’s making public and vocal our dependency on God together,’ said CEO Stephen Hammersley. ‘It’s been particularly important when we have dark times when we cry out to God “How long”, as Habakkuk did, and God responds through the prayers of His people as others call on the Lord and remind Him and us of His promises and the wonder of our salvation and this reminds us that “He can do all things” (to quote Job).’
