What a difference a year can make. In 2023, I was scrolling social media when a local prayer movement in my city, San Antonio, caught my eye. I reached out hoping to write and spread awareness about a ministry that engages Christians to intercede for and at their children’s schools. What God has done in 365 days is nothing short of miraculous. If you have children or any loved ones heading back to school soon, lock your prayer shield with us.

Last year, when I interviewed Keli Caraveo, founder of Lock the Shields, it was a local ministry. Anyone desiring to adopt a school and commit to prayer throughout the school year could do so. There were 200 schools/districts signed exclusively in Texas. I was thrilled to hear about the mission and knew other intercessors would be, too. 

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To read more about how the ministry began, you can read the original article here: Praying On-Site at Schools. After Intercessors for America published the article, the sign-ups drastically increased. People from various states started adopting campuses. Not only did IFA raise awareness, CBN News also shared the article, as did Charisma News. The message was loud and clear: God was looking for intercessors for our children at their schools. 

Soon, this local ministry became nationwide. Lock the Shields has more than doubled. 580 schools/districts are represented in 40 states, including Alaska and Hawaii! Isn’t that amazing? “We believe God is calling His people to serve as watchmen on the walls through prayer over schools,” Keli said. She gives all glory to God for the ministry’s growth. “We know that we are not the only prayer ministry. There are many initiatives and prayer movements taking place right now, and we need them. We are just one of many, and I am just grateful to do what I know I am supposed to do.” 

Look What the Lord Has Done

Because of God’s favor over Lock the Shields, more opportunities for intercession and connections with other ministries flourished. Officer Doug Green found favor with San Antonio Police Chief McManus and started a prayer gathering for law enforcement. “We have been blessed to join other believers there monthly for this powerful prayer time for law enforcement and the city,” Keli shared. On the first Wednesday of every month, they hold a gathering called “Mountaintop,” where they go up to a parking garage and pray while looking over the city.

They have also partnered with Canines for Christ. In October 2023, Canines for Christ and Lock the Shields organized a prayer walk for Faith in Blue weekend. They also partnered with the San Antonio Police Department to pray for law enforcement and first responders. Prayer guides for schools and law enforcement can be downloaded from the website. Keli was asked to send the prayer guides out nationally. Our law enforcement and first responders are in definite need of prayer. The more, the better.  

Lock The Shields has also partnered with Bibles In Schools. Keli shares this information during prayer events. By promoting the need to see Bibles in our public libraries, churches have signed up to bless schools with Bible donations.

During the Collegiate Day of Prayer on February 29, 2024, they collaborated with college ministry leaders in San Antonio to cover every college/university campus in the city.

Lock the Shields participated in city-wide prayer and worship events by partnering with Pastor Gene Loeffler of Lighthouses of Prayer International and Jarell Flowers of One City Collective. They met monthly with believers nationwide to pray for schools in San Antonio and nationwide.

More recently, Lock the Shields has partnered with a group of pastors who have been working to remove pornographic and explicit material from schools. Pastor Mark Lugo of San Antonio Impact, a local ministry, is one of three ministries that have asked Lock the Shields for prayer covering.

“We are notified when these Pastors are going before the school board. We then share with other prayer networks to which we are connected. As intercessors, we provide air support for those with boots on the ground,” Keli said. 

Amen, intercessors are the air support. Do you realize that when we intercede, our prayers are at work? When you stand in the gap for someone, whether a person, ministry, or leader, your prayers provide relief and cover.

Here are just a few testimonies I am blessed to share with you. 

“Thanks to South Texas Youth for Christ, another ministry partner, student-led Bible clubs have been taking off. In one high school district, students and staff requested a Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and they were approved. For five years prior, no religious groups were allowed to operate. Praying for schools is bearing fruit; thank you, Jesus!”

“We saw God miraculously respond to our prayers concerning a charter school. A liberal interim state superintendent would have drastically changed the trajectory of that set of charter schools all over Texas. Several parents joined us in prayer and committed to pray for three months. We recognize that God sets up and removes those in positions of authority (see Daniel 2:21).  We prayed that there would be a change of heart, like Saul to Paul, and if not, he would be removed. Three hours later, parents texted us that the interim superintendent resigned. Our time of prayer together was Spirit-led. Now, we are continuing to pray for the right person to fill that seat,” said Keli. 

After IFA published the last article, Keli was contacted by several Canadians who wanted to adopt schools in their region. “Last year, the sign-up form wasn’t set up for addresses outside the U.S. However, this year, we have been able to update it to include not only Canadian addresses but addresses across the globe. More recently, Lock the Shields over Schools had its first school adopted outside the U.S. in the Cayman Islands.”

Jesus hears and answers our prayers! Intercessor, when you read IFA articles and pray and share, you are also responsible for these praise reports. Answered prayers are the spoils of intercession! No wonder James 5:16 BSB says, “The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.” 

Send Them Out

On August 11, 2024, Lock the Shields encourages parents and families to unite with neighbors, churches, or friends and gather at schools to pray for their children and students. Several prayer networks and churches have been praying that our children will be anointed as the oaks of righteousness to repair the walls and to be light on their campuses.  “Our theme is to send them out into the city. We pray and declare that our children are being sent and released into their schools. They will rise and walk in the anointing God has on them. That is what will shift the culture and atmosphere of our schools,” Keli said. 

Wow! Do you believe that? I do. God is not discriminatory when it comes to age. The Bible tells us this time and again. He called Samuel to the priesthood as a young child. He found young David in the sheepfold and trained him there. The young Hebrew captives were an excellent testimony of faith in a pagan land. I could go on. Let’s agree with this prayer that our children are anointed and will shift their schools’ atmospheres by the power of the Holy Spirit!

I asked Keli what she sensed God speaking during this season.

Then all the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together, and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; then he blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, who also gathered behind him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet them (Judges 6:34,35).

Keli said, “We know the story about Gideon’s army of 300. What God showed me is that when he blew the trumpet and sent messengers into the land, he was summoning the tribes of Israel to join him. Gideon was calling for God’s family, and they were his army. It was the family that ran the enemy out of the land. It’s time for our families, educators, and churches to cover our schools in prayer. It’s time for the church to step out of their denominations. Whether Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, or whatever…Let’s go! God is calling His family to move in unity as one to make sure our kids are taken care of. If we could see the collective church move as a family for our families, we can repair the breaches and chase the enemy out.” 

She said, “I like to remind others that people are not the enemy. The enemy is the enemy. In our prayers, we deal with warfare behind the scenes. We are pushing back against the enemy, not against people.

Lock Your Prayer Shield with Us

I asked Keli which scriptures meant the most to her as she has been praying, and this is what she shared. Let’s agree and decree these Bible verses. 

• Decree that the King of Glory is over our schools. Invite His Presence and declare that this territory (school campus) belongs to Him (see Psalm 24:7-10). 
• Declare that our children will be free from anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and all mental strongholds. Speak this scripture over your loved ones: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). 
• Declare that the river of God will flow in our schools, bringing revival, restoration, and renewal (see Ezekiel 47:1-9). 
• Pray that the truth about Jesus will be shared with students, parents, and all staff. The truth sets us free, and God desires us to walk freely (see John 8:32). 
• Pray for states where intercessors still need to sign up. I’m sure prayer meetings or movements are happening everywhere, but if they aren’t, please pray with us. We need more intercessors for schools in these states: Montana, North Dakota, Utah, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont. If you know someone in any of these states who would be interested, share this with them.

The current website for Lock the Shields Over Schools is being updated. However, you can still sign up and adopt a campus here: Lock the Shields. You will also find downloadable prayer guides in English and Spanish, as well as for law enforcement. 

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for every answer and good report. Despite everything the enemy is doing to steal, kill, and destroy our children, You hear our prayers. We come into Your Presence with thanksgiving and praise. We come to you with anticipation and expectation for our children. We know that whatever challenges come, You will be with them. Your Presence will go before them on every campus. It’s Your Presence this generation needs. It’s what’s missing in the lost, broken, and hurting. 

We contend for revival in our schools. Countless seeds have been planted through intercession throughout our nation. Tears have watered it. You said those who sow in tears will reap joy. We believe it’s time! As we release our kids to go back to their schools, they will be the ones to shake up the culture and see chains broken as Jesus Christ is exalted. We lift our heads. We lift the gates and everlasting doors and declare the King of Glory is coming to our schools. Let the Spirit of the Lord come rushing in like a river. You said in Ezekiel 47 that wherever this river flows, there will be life. We declare life over our children and every school campus. 

We thank You for stirring the youth and young adults in previous years. Lord, I pray that what we have seen is only ankle-deep waters. Take us deeper, in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

What is your prayer for your loved ones going back to school? Post in the comments and please share this article with a parent or grandparent. 

IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share.