1000 miles of Marlboro

I completed my prayer walk of Marlboro today, with a final jaunt around the extensive municipal complex. I have trod and prayed over every inch of road, path, home, business and highway (Rt. 18 was scary, though I found my Blackberry there (see earlier posting)) in town. Spiritually, this is probably one of the most important things which I have done as pastor.

How did this happen? I used to simultaneously pray, walk, and walk my dog every morning. After my greatest-dog-who-ever-lived Baron died in May, 2006 (I am still sad about this) , I suddenly was adrift in the morning. I felt God tell me that He would give me every place where I set my foot, as in Joshua 1:3. So I began in August of 2006, and have covered about 1000 miles to complete the town. It amazes me to think that this is further than walking to Chicago.

Every morning I go out with a map in my pocket, and walk about 2-3 miles in about an hour. You can comfortably do this down to about 28 degrees, as long as there is no wind. Though I like hot weather, this is harder than cold weather. Unfortunately, I lost a lot of days due to rain (this is New Jersey, after all), severe cold, and just being away for vacations, trips, ministry, etc.

I learned that Marlboro has many beautiful, obscure, and unknown spots. There are 8 public schools, 2 Jewish schools, 2 trailer parks, 8 cemetaries, and 5 industrial parks. I prayed inside the Hindu temple, which is like being in another country. Vultures followed me once, which was weird. There have been a lot of odd spiritual adventures, which I will be posting as I go through similar experiences in Manalapan.

My goal has been to pray in the presence of God at every spot. I have tried to listen to the Spirit, and have discerned all sorts of things prophetically at various spots, many of which were surprising. I always carry my anointing oil, and have anointed every spot of any significance, including historic spots, worship locations, every main road, and every entrance to town.

Part of the way through God told me to pick up any coins I found (mostly pennies!) as a prophetic down-payment of the wealth that God would be sending into the kingdom through my prayers. I have put these in our church offering. Many of the coins are pretty beat-up- our counters probably have wondered why they have seen so many ratty coins!

I also leave a note at every home I know of where someone from our church lives, asking them to join with me in prayer for the town.

How has this been a blessing? I think I have pulled down some strongholds over town. Now I can usually feel the presence of the Holy Spirit like a wall when I drive into Marlboro. We have also seen a lot of new families in church from Marlboro, sometimes right after I have prayed for their development (I ask God for at least one family to come to our church from each day's walk). Also, I now know the town and its people in a new way- I feel like I have been at every home!

If you feel a burden, I would encourage you to prayer-walk your neighborhood and town too.