Unique Prayer Ministry Targets Soldiers
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Marty Enniss, wife of Gary Enniss, pastor of Lamb's Fellowship (Lake Elsinore, CA), wanted to do something special for U.S. troops fighting terrorism around the globe. A longtime quilter (and leader of the Women of the Cloth quilting ministry at Lamb's), Enniss prayerfully sought direction — hoping for something that would involve fabric. A friend dropped by, and when she showed her Psalm 91 a new ministry was born.
To date, more than 100 soldiers have received prayer cloths from Lamb's — rectangles of cotton silk-screened with Psalm 91 in the center, surrounded by the stars and stripes. At the top, the soldier's name, branch of service and the date are handwritten; signatures of Lamb's members and attendees who have committed to pray for that soldier adorn the other three sides. Each prayer cloth is mailed abroad, along with a copy of that week's bulletin (which lists all the cloth-bearing soldiers to date) and the legendary story of Psalm 91 and the WW I regiment who committed it to memory, recited it repeatedly — and remained unharmed through four years of combat. (Interestingly, Enniss had never heard the "Psalm Ninety-One Regiment" story until after she'd chosen the passage to adorn the prayer cloths.)
The Ennisses'
son-in-law and members of his tank crew in Iraq — including the nonbelievers
— have received prayer cloths and tucked them into their helmets
or the pockets over their hearts. A local Muslim man who fasts from speaking
on Thursdays broke his fast to request a prayer cloth for his son. The
Elsinore community is abuzz with news of the prayer cloths, and the congregation
is finding the project to be a perfect bridge to those outside. After
all, what could be better than reminding men and women in harm's way —
and loved ones back home — that there's a God in heaven who loves
them, and in whose shadow they abide (v. 1).
