House of Prayer Spotlight is a monthly feature of Fragrance Arise (and honestly, probably my favorite series)! Every other month features interviews with different houses of prayer, and the in-between months feature interviews with my fellow staff members at The Prayer Room. God is doing so much in the house of prayer globally and this series aims to shine a light on what it looks like in different places.
This month I get to highlight one of my wonderful friends and co-laborers at TPR. Vence has been a core part of our community for about two years, and I got to know him when he did our School of Supernatural Ministry and jumped on volunteer staff. He also did our Immerse internship and is currently in our Fire in the Night internship!
I blogged obliquely about him a while ago when I wrote about 6 Things I’ve Learned About Praying for Justice, because Vence has been my prayer leader on that intercession set for most of the year– except for a couple of months when he left to train as a parole officer to make justice literally his full-time career. This guy seeks the heart of God in a rare and wonderful way, and I’m honored to call him a friend and delighted to share him with you today!
What do you do at The Prayer Room?
I am currently on volunteer staff at The Prayer Room. I have the amazing job as the Encounter Service Usher for our Encounter services on Saturday Nights. I get to greet guests and share the vision of The Prayer Room. I enjoy reaching out to the guests that come and building relationships.
Along with our other volunteer staff members, Vence also participates in our weekly staff meeting and serves on at least two prayer meetings. Right now, he is also an intern in our Fire in the Night internship, taking classes and serving in the prayer room 9pm-1am three nights a week!
How did God lead you into being involved?
After I graduated from college, I felt the Lord telling me to come home (Fort Worth, TX). I did not know why nor did I want to come back. When I came back, I stepped into a dry season; I felt nothing was going right and I felt like my walk with God was becoming static. I asked the Lord to help me find a place that would help me grow in Him like a plant in the right soil. A week later God gave me a vision of The Prayer Room, when it was still on Pioneer Parkway (the location we used to have about 6 years ago). Benjamin (my mentor) would take me there sometimes when I was younger. When I got the vision I asked Benjamin, “Where is The Prayer Room?” He gave me the address of the new location and I have been here since. I am a plant that has found its soil.
What is meaningful to you about being on staff?
I think the meaningful thing about being on staff here at The Prayer Room is friendships. I have been on staff a little over a year now, and I have been engulfed into a loving community. I don’t feel like just a name on a roll sheet, but I feel that I’m a part of a family that really cares for each other. I get to serve alongside friends that want God’s heart and want to see God move in our midst in incredible ways.
What has been the greatest difficulty and the greatest joy of being part of The Prayer Room?
The greatest difficulty of being on staff for me is sacrificing. When I joined staff I had to sacrifice many things that I thought mattered to me, like my time or my wants, but even though I’m sacrificing myself I’m also gaining Christ. I am learning that when I’m sacrificing myself I can see more Christ in the mirror than me.
The greatest joy of being on staff is the investment from others. The leadership here doesn’t just want me to serve, but to be transformed by the one I serve. I have been invested into by so many people on staff, whether it’s answering a question I have, teaching me to play keys, or helping me in something I need. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by people who are willing to invest in me and see me do well in Jesus.