Take It to the Lord in Prayer

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.‘’   (Philippians 4:6)

With tears trickling down her cheeks and her voice choked with emotion, a single mom struggling to raise two teenage sons whispered, “No one has ever prayed with me before. Never.” This exhausted and broken woman had come to a Living Stones meal for food to eat, but found encouragement and food for her soul, as well. All because someone cared enough to reach out, listen, and connect her in a very real and personal way to her Heavenly Father. 

That’s what Living Stones minglers do. They meet neighbors where they are, listen, and show them the love of Christ as they talk together, responding in understanding, non-judgmental ways to what is said and, if appropriate, asking if they would like prayer. If the neighbor is receptive, they pray together right where they are. If not, the mingler makes note of the need and assures the person he or she will be prayed for.



Many neighbors who come to our tables regularly and with whom we’ve developed sweet relationships, repeatedly ask for prayer at Sunday meals and My Monday Thing!. Some even call and ask us to pray when they’re going through a difficult time or a loved one has been taken to the hospital. Many times, neighbors come back with stories of answered prayer. One man, who had been angry at God for years, let go of his anger when he witnessed what he called a miracle due to the many prayers being offered on his behalf by Living Stones. His relationship with the Lord was restored.

Are you weak and heavy laden,

cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge,

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield you;

you will find a solace there.

Of course, not every prayer is answered when and in the way people ask, but as our neighbors often tell us, just knowing that we are praying for them gives them comfort, hope, and a sense of peace. It also reminds them that they are loved; that someone cares about them. And it encourages them, with a little prompting from us, to take their problems to the Lord in prayer, to talk with Him, and to thank and praise Him. And it is our prayer that, in time, we will see our neighbors make their way from the Living Stones table to the communion table.  

Perhaps you’re wondering what we mean when we say that Living Stones prays for our neighbors. Who actually takes their requests to the Lord, and how do those people know for whom and what they are to pray? It’s a simple process. Each time we serve, our minglers collect the prayer requests they’ve received, either through conversations or on Prayer Request Forms completed by our neighbors. Those requests are then combined and e-mailed to all the volunteers who served that group, to the Living Stones leadership team, and to a group of prayer warriors who have humbly asked for the privilege of praying for those we serve. Each Sunday we serve, we receive an average of 15 to 20 requests, depending in part on how many neighbors we served that day, which currently averages about 80 per meal. We also pray with and for those attending My Monday Thing! and for any of our volunteers who ask for prayer.

If you believe in the power of prayer and feel led to join the dedicated group of prayer warriors who consistently and earnestly pray for members of the Living Stones family, please e-mail info@growlivingstones.com. You are sure to be blessed as are those for whom you pray!



Come to the Table

Second Sunday of every month

Brentwood Presbyterian Church

3725 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227

Third Sunday of every month

North Way Christian Community Church

Corner of Espy Ave. & Potomac Ave.

Dormont, PA 15216

Across from Potomac Avenue T stop



Last Sunday of every month

Fairhaven United Methodist Church

2415 Saw Mill Run Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15234

To support the work we do, simply scan a code below or make a check payable to

Living Stones and mail it to

Living Stones, PO Box 13077, Pittsburgh, PA 15243

Thank you!

Living Stones fosters the cultivation of relationships with neighbors who join us for meals at Living Stones tables. As relationships develop and deepen, Living Stones volunteers come alongside those individuals and families to assist them in navigating the challenges in their lives and encourage them to find hope in Christ as they learn to trust Him.

"Won't you be my neighbor?"

Fred Rogers