Please pray for my friend and her newborn baby girl, Daniela.” This was Fanny’s prayer request during the worship service. Daniela suffered due to unforeseen complications during her mother’s pregnancy. The doctors expected Daniela to live for only a few days.
Fanny, a Seventh-day Adventist believer, had traveled from the United States to Vienna to visit her friends Jenny and Woijtek. While there, she attended church, and when the church elder asked the congregation for prayer requests, Fanny told them Daniela’s tragic story. From then on, the church prayed continuously for Daniela. During a Week of Prayer and revival meetings, the church decided to especially pray for Daniela. United in prayer, the church interceded on behalf of the sick baby and her parents. Some members visited the little family in the hospital and offered their prayers and encouragement.
After several surgeries and close calls, baby Daniela’s health began to improve, and the doctors could not believe that Daniela had survived. They could only admit that a true miracle had happened. God had answered the fervent and enduring prayers of His people.
Daniela was completely healed even though she was expected to live only a few days. After eight months, she could finally be taken home by her mom and dad. Her parents were touched by the concern the Adventist church had shown. They wanted to get to know that congregation who had prayed for them and their baby.
One Sabbath, they decided to attend the church service to thank the church members for their prayers. At first, nobody knew who the family was. But once the congregation understood that it was Daniela and her family, they began rejoicing. They had witnessed a true miracle and experienced that prayers for a stranger are not in vain. This answered prayer encouraged them to continue in united prayer for others. Daniela’s family started coming to church. Soon, Jenny and Woijtek fell in love with Jesus and the Adventist message. After receiving Bible studies, they both decided to get baptized.
It all started with a prayer request made by an Adventist sister from the other side of the ocean and a church praying for a family they had never met.
Prayer for a stranger
Do you sometimes ask yourself, “How can I pray for someone I don’t even know?” Often, we pray for strangers just for the sake of having prayed for them. The next time prayer is requested for someone you do not know, think again! Your prayer can make a difference. United prayer can make a difference.
Ellen White writes, “The promise is made on condition that the united prayers of God’s people are offered, and in answer to these prayers there may be expected a power greater than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and one another.”1
Power in a church uniting
There is special power when the church unites in intercessory prayer. Revival takes place in the lives of those praying and those being prayed for. God can answer your prayers by healing sicknesses, restoring relationships, and blessing financially. But more than that, He wants to give us a renewed spiritual experience with Him. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8, NKJV).
- Ellen G. White, “Power for Service,” Central Advance, Feb. 25, 1903, 2.
