 The Shield a Badge prayer ministry has been
successful in many parts of the nation, primarily praying for police officers.
The goal of this ministry is to involve church members in a commitment to pray
daily for public servants, such as law enforcement officers and firefighters in
the community. Anyone who wears a badge could be included, from FBI to school
crossing guards. Shield a Badge is an opportunity to express support and
concern for public service officials and their families.
Prayer could be for such things as safety, good
judgment, and a safe return home each day. If you would like to make a
commitment to pray daily for a police officer, firefighter, or other person in
the community who wears a badge, discuss your interest with your pastor, or
talk to the prayer ministry coordinator, if your church has one. God may be
calling you to take the lead in getting such a ministry started in your
church.
Some Guidelines to Consider:
Determine the length of time for a commitment. Some
churches have said, "This is a one-year commitment by the prayer partner
(citizen) to pray daily for the safety and well being of an assigned public
servant and his or her family."
Decide how much information will be shared. Many
churches have found that limited information is best. Typically, a fictitious
badge number is given for the officer or firefighter so he or she can be
anonymously assigned to his or her prayer partners. Basic information would
include if the public servant is a man or woman, married or single, if he or
she has children, the type of work he or she does, and if it is known that he
or she is a Christian.
Determine how correspondence will be handled. For
example, the church Shield a Badge chairman could be responsible for collecting
notes of encouragement to deliver to his or her contact at the police precinct
or fire station. If the public servant has a specific prayer request, it can be
given to the contact person at the precinct or station to pass on to the Shield
a Badge chairman to get to the appropriate intercessor. Birthdays could be
listed, or other greetings could be sent to let the public servant know he or
she is being prayed for regularly.
Establish a "no personal contact" policy to protect
both parties. The goal is to pray for the public servants. Cards and notes to
the officer or firefighter via his or her agency will be sufficient. Gifts
should be discouraged.
Make provision for interruptions in the
relationship. If the officer leaves his or her agency, the prayer partner can
be notified and another officer assigned. If for some reason the prayer partner
cannot fulfill the commitment, he or she should notify the Prayer Coordinator
in charge.
Keep motives pure. The prayer partner should enter
into this ministry with no ulterior motives. No expectations should be placed
on the officers and firefighters. The prayer partner should expect nothing from
the officer or the agency in return for prayers rendered.
Share the blessing and answered prayer stories.
Depending on your situation, you may invite the person in charge or the contact
person at the agency to speak at your church about how God is using the prayer
support in the lives of those in your community who wear a badge. At least
annually, the intercessors participating in the ministry could come together to
share how God is using the ministry in their lives, too.
Host a service or dinner in honor of the public
servants in the community to show appreciation and to reaffirm that they are
being prayed for by your church intercessors.
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