On June 27, 2009 my oldest son, Jayson turned 30, an event, we could only dream of celebrating. Jayson was born with Alagillc Syndrome (AGS), a multi-characteristic syndrome involving the liver, heart, kidneys and bone density. A condition which could cost him his life. This project, this journey, began on the day of his birth. On that day, my understandings of God, concepts of healing and practices of prayer began to crumble.

Most of us are content with our lives until events become so uncomfortable that we are motivated to become seekers. During these existential moments, we search for answers that bring stability back into our lives. At first my prayer journey was personal: but as I looked into the faces of my congregations, I saw others searching and questioning, looking for an understanding of prayer that could deepen their relationship with God. I began to realize that my search was not my own. It was away to help others deepen their experience and practice of prayer. This project is more about a journey then a place. The seeds were planted in one church, nurtured in another, grew and matured in still another, and continues to bloom and grow today. It also did not grow in a vacuum. It has been nurtured with the examples of several other churches.

Two major components of this project emerged. First, I reworked my understanding and practice of prayer during worship. I reworked the pastoral prayer time of the Sunday morning worship service, and found over 150 prayer quotes which enhance the weekly teachings on prayer. Secondly, I developed a six week study, looking at the key foundational areas that I felt needed to be addressed to begin transforming and healing our paradigm of prayer. Most importantly we must understand that prayer, like our understanding and experience of God, like our concepts of healing and wholeness, is a living, growing entity, and the pages that follow are part of a living document that will live, grow and transform through the years.