“Arise and shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Is 60:1).

Before I got married to an educator and had three small children, I spent time serving as a teacher and missionary in China. Someone might say that the frontlines of faith are in those countries where Christianity is a minority. However, if someone in those places were to ask me who are the frontline workers of the faith in America, my answer would be simple: our Christian educators and students in public schools.

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Over the past couple of years, many frontline workers of the faith in America have become evident to us all. Along with educators are healthcare providers, politicians, and the military, to name a few.

Psalm 10:4 says, “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God, God is in none of his thoughts.” And verses 8-10 go on to describe in greater detail the approach and character of the wicked. “He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net. So he crouches, he lies low, that the helpless may fall by his strength.” David, in this Psalm, then turns his attention to the power and promise of the Lord, “But YOU have seen it, for You observe trouble and grief, to repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man.”

Jesus bore witness to the Father’s heart regarding children:

• “Let the little children come to Me” (Mt 19:14).
• “Do not hinder them” (Mt 19:14).
• “The Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Mt 19:14).
• “Start off children in the way they should go and they will not turn from it” (Prv 22:6).

As a wife of a teacher, I have witnessed the oppression that has come upon our school systems, teachers, and students. Violence, sexual immorality, greed, lying, stealing, disrespect, hatred, fits of anger, apathy, fear, depression, oppression, addiction, and defiance have been the characteristics that describe a day in the walls of many public schools.

As I have witnessed many teachers, who have the Spirit of God living in them, crying out in this time, I have asked God how we (the Church) can help them. The answer is as simple as it is profound: Committed and united prayer.

Any persecuted believer would say the same thing. Prayer is the answer. Our educators, Director of Education authorities, bus drivers, students, and parents all need our prayer. We can never underestimate the power of humble and faith-filled prayer. And, oh how it pleases God!

Join me every Monday at 8am to pray for these people who are serving and attending the frontlines of faith each day. We will gather together as the family of Christ to pray for our education system and all those children who are loved by the Lord.

Psalm 10 ends with a promise that we can hold on to. “Lord, You have heard the desires of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do just to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.”

In Luke 1, the Angel of the Lord came to John the Baptist’s father (Zechariah) and told him that John the Baptist would come in the spirit of Elijah, that He would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and He would turn their hearts. Look at how their hearts would turn:

“He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Lk 1:15-17).

1. Children’s hearts would be turned to God.

2. Fathers’ hearts would turn to their children.

3. Hearts of disobedience would turn to the wisdom of the just.

May this mission continue within the walls of our homes and our schools.

Father, we trust Your Word that says to be in Christ is to be free. Even when we are in circumstances that may be oppressive, we are not overcome. The weapon of oppression shall not prosper against Your people, including the teachers who boldly show up every day to love and teach Your children. We pray that they will walk in the freedom and light given to them by the power of the Living God who lives in them. We thank You, Lord, that You have delivered us from being slaves to sin and You have given us hope with an eternal inheritance. I pray our students and teachers stand in truth and love and that our schools can be a place where You are loved and where neighbors love each other well. We pray for love and truth to prosper in our schools. The truth shall set us free.

You, Lord Jesus Christ, are that truth!

Will you commit to stop what you are doing at 8 am every Monday and join in collective unified prayer for the frontline missionaries–Christians working in the public schools?

Author Jessica Connelly is the wife of an educator and mother of three young boys. She delights in expressing her love of Jesus through songwriting and children’s ministry. Jes has served in missions overseas and continues to minister to and teach children in her community. She believes the power of praying God’s Word unites and humbles the Church to know God’s will and partner with Him in His work on earth. If you’d like to listen to Jessica Connelly’s music visit https://youtu.be/ExYxAV7-2OI.  This article was published originally at This Momma Needs Grace. Photo Credit: Getty Images.