Local Non-Profit Organizations | One Hundred Years
October 10th, 2024
Video
Audio
In this episode,
In this episode of A Beautiful Church Podcast, Adam Whitescarver sits down with Tony Souder, CEO of One Hundred Years and founder of the Pray for Me Campaign, to discuss his work with Chattanooga’s youth leaders and his mission to connect generations through intergenerational prayer.
Tony shares his journey into ministry, the early days of founding the Chattanooga Youth Network, and the development of the Pray for Me Campaign, which equips churches and individuals to build lasting, impactful relationships between adults and young people through prayer. This episode highlights the importance of intergenerational relationships in the church, the development of prayer practices for youth, and how ministries can be more effective in discipling the next generation. Listen in to learn how you can engage with the Pray for Me Campaign to foster deeper community connections within your church.
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Jump Through the Conversation
[0:00] Introduction to the podcast and Tony Souder’s role as CEO of One Hundred Years and founder of the Pray for Me Campaign.
[0:48] Tony shares his background, including his childhood, family history, and his path to youth ministry in Chattanooga.
[2:00] The early days: Tony’s role as the first full-time director of the Chattanooga Youth Network.
[4:00] How the Chattanooga Resource Foundation and other local efforts shaped the network’s formation.
[6:20] The challenges of starting a youth network and funding it in the early years.
[9:20] How Tony connected youth pastors in Chattanooga to create collaborative efforts despite competitive dynamics.
[13:00] The development of Pray for Me Campaign: Understanding the need for multiple adults to invest in the spiritual growth of young people.
[16:40] The Pray for Me Campaign begins: The challenges of turning a concept into a practical ministry tool.
[19:20] The shift from the “Generation Builders Initiative” to the Pray for Me Campaign.
[23:25] How a conversation with a church member helped Tony crystallize the focus of the Pray for Me Campaign on prayer.
[25:55] The role of the prayer guide: Helping adults pray effectively for the next generation.
[28:30] How churches implement the Pray for Me Campaign: Creating intergenerational prayer relationships.
[31:10] The impact of the campaign on youth: Stories of connection, prayer, and transformation.
[34:15] The Pray for Me Campaign in different contexts: From youth ministries to family-focused and multi-generational churches.
[37:55] The importance of belonging: Why creating meaningful intergenerational relationships is critical for youth staying connected to the church.
[40:10] A personal story of how the Pray for Me Campaign transformed lives through prayer and relationship-building.
[43:00] The campaign’s expansion into different languages and its growing reach in churches worldwide.
[46:20] Tony’s reflections on his journey and the importance of equipping churches to create lasting intergenerational connections through prayer.
[48:50] Call to action: How churches and individuals can get involved with the Pray for Me Campaign.
Prayer Requests for Love’s Arm Outreach:
Prayer Requests for the Pray for Me Campaign:
Pray for the continued growth of the Pray for Me Campaign, both nationally and internationally.
Pray for the youth leaders, pastors, and volunteers working to connect generations in meaningful prayer relationships.
Pray for more churches to embrace intergenerational ministry and for stronger connections between adults and young people.
Links and Resources
A resource of the Chattanooga House of Prayer