Local mothers harness the power of prayer

Janet Mackert knows the power of prayer. As the newly appointed state coordinator for Moms In Touch International, Mackert hopes others also realize the power of prayer.

"As my children have grown up, I've seen the importance of prayer in their lives," said Mackert, a mother of six children ages 10 to 21.

Moms In Touch International is a nondenominational Christian prayer ministry begun in the mid-1980s by a mother who wanted to pray for her children and their school. The group now has more than 18,000 prayer groups in the United States. Each prayer group meets one hour a week to pray over a particular school, its faculty, staff and students.

"There are about 700 MITI groups in Georgia," said Mackert, who in her new position will serve as a contact point for existing groups and will help form new groups in Georgia. She also will provide guidance to other leaders and encourage the growth of the ministry.

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Jack Jagoditsch, senior pastor at Lakemont Presbyterian Church, where Mackert is a member, said she is a "prayer warrior" and a great choice for her new position.

"She has a very endearing quality of faithfulness," he said. "I think several years ago God laid on her heart the power of prayer."

Jagoditsch adds that Mackert's lifestyle of prayer probably sparked an interest in people trying to fill the state coordinator position.

"It's more than a job or administrative task," he said. "Janet models the type of ministry one would want."

According to Mackert, there are more than 40 Moms In Touch prayer groups in Richmond and Columbia counties. Of the 26 schools in Columbia County this year, 20 of those are being prayed over by a Moms group.

"I feel like mothering and having children in school is such an overwhelming responsibility," said Jill Gunn of Augusta, who has been involved with a prayer group for 12 years. "I wanted to be with other mothers and pray for our children and schools."

Moms In Touch International has set a goal of covering every school in the nation in prayer by the end of 2003.

"We are well on our way in Columbia County and we are excited," said Mackert, who emphasized that the prayer groups do not meet in the schools, but in homes and sometimes churches. "We seek to be a support and encouragement to the school by our prayer," she said.

People interested in becoming part of a Moms In Touch prayer group in Columbia County can contact Gunn at 854-0126.