Ohio City Prayer Group Marks 6 Years 

by Robert Mitchell 

“Pray without ceasing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:17  

Prayer groups often come and go in local churches. They see highs and lows and ebbs and flows as they do battle in the spiritual realm. The commitment among the prayer warriors can fade over time, but not at The Salvation Army in Ohio City, Ohio, just outside Cleveland. 

A nine-woman prayer group, which started during the seclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, recently marked six years together and held a celebration at the church where they minister. The group handled the prayer, worship, sermon, and testimony time one Sunday morning. 

Senior soldier Alexandra Lacantra, the group’s leader, said she felt God leading her to start the prayer effort, which involves sharing all sorts of requests via daily texts through WhatsApp. The members also come together at the church to pray. 

“We pray a lot for everything in the world,” Alexandra said. “God works through our prayer. If you don’t pray, He doesn’t work. You have to put your trust in Him.” 

Captains Marlon and Ivonne Rodriguez lead the corps and said the prayer group is the “muscle” behind the church. Captain Marlon believes the fact that its genesis came from God has kept it going. 

“The trust and faith that this group was from God is really the driving force behind this, and that’s why they’ve been able to stay together for so long,” he said. “They’re doing it believing in God and trusting that God is using them in a special way.” 

Seeking and seeing answers 

The prayer requests are typical: healing for the sick, the life challenges faced by congregants, the needs of the corps and community, and for unbelievers to put their faith and trust in Christ. 

“They pray for the sick,” said Captain Ivonne. “They pray for everyone and testify to what God is doing. They give all the glory to God. They have seen God answer prayers.” 

The group has seen some dramatic answers to prayer for health needs, including a woman who recovered from cancer. 

Captain Marlon said the group also prayed for the salvation of the sister of one of the group’s members. That sister has now professed faith in Jesus Christ, reads her Bible, and attends church. 

“There really are some beautiful testimonies,” Captain Marlon said. “That’s what motivates them. As pastors, we tell everyone to seek God first and everything else will fall into place. That includes prayer.” 

Captain Joel Ashcraft, the area commander for Greater Cleveland Area Services, said the women are “kind, faithful, and care deeply.” Captain Marlon said the members of the group often emerge from their prayer closets to engage in service projects, including praying for the homeless and others in a local park. 

The group recently visited the local fire department and not only gave firefighters a fruit basket but offered words of encouragement and prayed for their safety. The women also engage in prayer walks around the neighborhood, giving out tracts and Salvation Army magazines while wearing their uniforms. 

A healthy church 

Captain Marlon is encouraged about the spiritual well-being of the church because visitors often tell him they feel the Holy Spirit’s presence and are touched by the experience of being in the congregation. 

“They felt something special and different here spiritually,” he said. “They tell us the spiritual environment is different here than other places they have been. We keep hearing that. 

“If we are not praying Christians, prayer warriors, then the presence of God would not be here. We have to invite the presence of God. We do that by being in prayer here all the time.” 

Recently, Captain Marlon was preaching when he noticed a distraught young woman in the lobby. Members of the prayer group came to her assistance with prayer, food, and water, and gave him the sign that he could continue his sermon. 

“They took care of the situation,” he said. “That was helpful. In a time of need, it’s a relief that I don’t have to be everywhere. I know they can handle it. That’s comforting to us as officers.” 

Credit where it’s due 

Captain Marlon said the praying saints are humble and “old school” and generally don’t like to talk about their work, preferring to give God all the glory. 

“I know it’s God who put them together,” he said. “When you have that calling to pray for people and you have that feeling in your heart and you know for sure that God answers prayers, I think that’s what has kept them together. It’s not about them. They know it’s about God.” 

Captain Ivonne said prayer groups like the one in Ohio City are crucial to the corps in fighting the spiritual battle going on around them. They know where to go for answers when life gets tough. 

“If we’re not talking with God, how are we going to know if He’s there? When you’re not talking to a person, you’re ignoring that person,” she said. “Here in Ohio City, we know that God answers prayer, so we’re not ignoring Him.”  

Visit the website for The Salvation Army in Ohio City, Ohio, for more information.