Persistence
When Glenn Cunningham was eight, tragedy struck his small Kansas town. A fire broke out in his schoolhouse, and Glenn was severely burned while trying to escape. The burns on his legs were so devastating that doctors recommended amputation — and warned his family he might not survive. But Glenn’s parents refused to give up, and neither did Glenn.
Despite being told he would never walk again, Glenn showed remarkable persistence. Day after day, he pushed himself through unbearable pain, determined to regain the use of his legs. Slowly, through countless small steps and relentless effort, he learned to stand, then walk, and eventually to run. What began as a struggle to walk again became an unstoppable drive to compete and win.
Through years of hard work and persistence, Glenn became one of the world’s greatest middle-distance runners. He set records in the mile and half mile, earned a silver medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and inspired people everywhere with his story of determination and resilience.
What if we approached prayer like this? What if our prayers become persistent (Ephesians 6:18)? Despite surrounding tragedies and thinking things will not change, we push ourselves to be on our knees, determined to see our city change. Slowly, through countless small prayer steps, we learn to trust, lean on His understanding, and eventually develop a thriving prayer life. Similar to Glenn’s story, these small steps would turn into an unstoppable hope that our city might come to see Jesus as its Lord and Savior.
I invite you this May to take a small first step with the full expectation that, like Glenn Cunningham, it will become an unstoppable force. We might not win Olympic medals, but we will win souls.
Our May prayer requests:
- Summer trips and camps: that our students grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus and one another.
- A family that we serve is going through a kid facing 9 months in jail as he turns 18 and a custody battle for another.
- Motorcycle discipleship program: The students working on the motorcycle will open up and share about their lives and growing as young men.
- Pray that the fatherless girls we serve will experience the deep love and fulfillment that comes from knowing God as their heavenly Father. Pray that He would place wise, loving mentors and support figures in their lives.
- Pray for unity and kindness among our middle school girls. Pray they learn to build one another up, speak life, and choose encouragement over hurtful jokes or teasing.
- Pray that D* and K* would be able to release the anger caused by the injustices they’ve faced and find freedom through forgiveness, especially toward their parents.
- Please pray that our new downtown center will be filled with students.
- Pray that Jesus would provide financially through our giving partners.
Join us every Wednesday 1 P.M. – 2 P.M. to pray for our city and praying for Spokane youth at our Hillyard Center! Please email us for further information.
Kevin Illidge, Executive Director at Spokane Youth for Christ
*Names changed/omitted due to privacy