Nashville, Tenn. 9/10/2009 1:43:20 AM
Global prayer initiative set to launch in September
PrayerGates.com creates online prayer community.
B&H Publishing Group in mid-September will launch PrayerGates.com, an online social networking community designed to minister to women around the globe.
The name "PrayerGates" derives from Acts 16:13 that mentions the city gates where women of Macedonia gathered to pray.
"In biblical times the city gates were the gathering place of power," said Andrea Dennis, B&H Publishing Group. "Today, we are calling women to gather virtually to unleash the power of prayer in their lives, church, community and world."
PrayerGates.com for 2009 will use Beth Moore’s bestselling Praying God’s Word to equip, minister and encourage women. Weekly excerpts from Praying God’s Word will be posted on the site and serve as discussion starters.
Personalized profiles, user-created prayer groups and multimedia resources will also be features of the community. The site will allow users to create prayer groups specifically for Beth Moore Bible studies and events. The online network will also provide a prayer community for individuals impacted by Beth Moore’s ministry.
Users do not necessarily have to create groups based on Beth Moore resources or events, though Praying God’s Word is the resource emphasis. The site will also feature other authors. PrayerGates.com each year will focus on a new resource related to prayer.
"PrayerGates is ministry-oriented," Dennis said. "We know that there are many women out there who are in need of prayer. There are women who also want to share how they have been impacted by Beth Moore’s ministry. PrayerGates is a safe environment where women can post their prayer needs, anonymously if they choose, and know that there are godly women who care enough to pray."
The site has an intentional kingdom focus, added B&H Publishing Group Women’s Acquisition Editor Jennifer Lyell.
Church groups and individuals can create a specialized prayer circle for Bible studies, ministry events and mission trips.
"This community will have incredible implications for mission workers," said Lyell, mentioning that privacy settings will allow users to create password-protected prayer circles. "Individuals on long-term or short-term mission projects can post prayer requests, praise reports and updates on PrayerGates."
PrayerGates.com will also provide custom commissioned worship music and videos that center on prayer.
A live, up-to-date news feed of new request and praise reports will post on the front page to keep users informed of prayer needs.
"Ultimately, we hope this global prayer initiative will be a place of refuge for many women and help them harness the power of prayer," Dennis said. "We also hope the evangelical message of PrayerGates.com will impact users who don’t have a personal relationship with Christ."
To learn more, visit PrayerGates.com.
