Maya Bradley is the Baptist Youth Ministries Administrator. She attends Royal Oak Baptist Church in Auckland.
At Baptist Youth Ministries, one of our favorite things is backing leaders who dream big, take risks, and create fresh ways to guide people to encounter Jesus. Jesse Major, from South West Baptist Church, is one of those leaders.
Jesse has developed Prayer Portals - a simple yet powerful tool that’s already helping young people step into prayer in new and meaningful ways.
So what are they?
Here’s how Jesse puts it:
“Prayer Portals are cards designed to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus through prayer. They serve as a catalyst, helping you bring both your good and bad things to God without shame or confusion. Whenever you feel an emotion, need something, or want something, try to find it on these cards. Flip it over, and you’ll find Bible verses connected to it, plus a prayer starter to help you get going. They won’t do the praying for you, but they’ll help you begin.”
Each card has:
· A word, colour, or picture on one side to connect with what you’re feeling.
· Bible verses on the back that speak into that theme.
· A short “prayer starter” to help you step into conversation with God.
Over King’s Birthday Weekend, Jesse brought Prayer Portals from Christchurch to Rotorua to share with North Island youth pastors and leaders. The response was instant; leaders could immediately see how these cards open up prayer in a way that’s simple, real, and accessible for young people.
One youth leader who has been using these cards reflected:
“The Prayer Prompts were incredibly helpful. Many of the teens in our youth group weren’t sure how to pray or where to begin, so I used the prompts to guide them. I especially love how each card features an emotion on one side, paired with encouraging Scripture and a simple prayer starter. It made prayer feel real and relatable.”
“The feedback from our youth group has been fantastic! The teens said the prompts were easy to understand and really helped kickstart their prayers.”
Already, Prayer Portals are making their way into youth groups across Aotearoa - and the excitement is spreading.
At BYM, we love walking alongside leaders like Jesse; championing creativity, resourcing bold ideas, and equipping youth leaders to create spaces where young people can encounter Jesus in ways that are real, life-giving, and transformative.
If you’d like to get your hands on Prayer Portals for your youth ministry, you can order them here: Prayer Cards – My Living Hope
Photo Credit: Maya Bradley
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