God's Prayer Center

Published in Minnesota Christian Chronicle, January 2011, by Delores Topliff

MINNEAPOLIS — After being closed for 96 days, The Prayer Center in north Minneapolis has reopened. This story starts in May, 2008, when Jariland Spence, a Christian seamstress from north Minneapolis, established The Prayer Center in her shop on West Broadway.

For 15 previous years, her shop had been a front-row seat witnessing increased murders, drug dealing and addictions. Although no one in her family has a prison history, Spence has mentored prisoners and taught Bible studies for 11 years.

As north Minneapolis witnessed increased violence and her customer base withered, Spence considered relocating. Instead, she felt challenged to stay and help bring change. With the help of several supporters, she transformed her shop into a place for prayer and Christian love—with amazing results.

One supporter, Ken Ehling, president of Montage Marketing, helps back Circle of Success projects that provide re-entry and other restoration programs.

“I met Jariland when we both volunteered at The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center,” he said. “When she announced that she wanted to convert her sewing shop into a Prayer Center, I joined those coming along-side. As a white suburbanite, my understanding of north Minneapolis was limited. However, as I attended prayer meetings and met neighborhood people, my understanding became, ‘God is here and I’m called to serve.’”

Opening in May, 2008, The Center had these goals: Provide spiritual leadership to people in need and build collaboration with groups inside and outside of the community; capitalize on collaboration to improve public safety. Within one year, drug dealing and violence on The Prayer Center’s block nearly disappeared. Police visited and shared lunch with ex-gang members volunteering in The Prayer Center who had left gangs and found life transformation; and encourage economic activity on the block. Besides the 4,300-square-foot Prayer Center, Spence rented an adjacent building for a thrift store bringing help to the neighborhood and generating some paid jobs among ex-gang members who volunteered and were hired by business people.

“Our primary desire,” added Ehling, “was to create a successful template in north Minneapolis adaptable to other neighborhoods for city transformation.”

Sean Morrison, president of Morr Construction, rehabs homes in north Minneapolis and hires ex gang members to help.

Earl Fort is a clean and reformed ex gang member. When young, Earl had murdered his step-father, when the man was beating his mother, and spent years in prison. When men like Earl and others got saved, it helped curb neighborhood violence.

However, financial support for The Prayer Center dropped with the 2009 recession. By August, 2010, Spence could not pay rent. Building owners told her to pay back rent or get out.

“I did not have it, so both landlords filed eviction papers and I was summoned to court for being over $2,000 in arrears,” she said. “When I was evicted Aug. 17, locks on the buildings were changed. Newspaper and television reporters covered our closing. I said, ‘Come back when we reopen!’ Some of them have.”

Several years earlier, both buildings had been for sale. Owners then told Spence, “Get ready; major developers have big plans for this property.” But that deal fell through, and Spence believes she’s under divine instruction to stay.

Recently, some advisors encouraged her to end the ministry, but Spence said, “The Prayer Center is not dead.” However, with the businesses of some supporters also suffering from the recession, she needs additional help.

Spence and remaining backers are pursuing purchasing both Prayer Center buildings. She has qualified for a three-year NAOIP grant, so that once ownership is established, she can fully upgrade both buildings. The current asking price is less than half of its starting point. Spence and friends are praying, believing and fundraising—seeking “a win-win for everyone.”

Last November, when Spence told the building owner that she’d like to host a free neighborhood Thanksgiving dinner, he handed her The Prayer Center’s new keys.

“After 96 days of being locked out, I was back,” she said. “The landlord is kind enough to help us go forward while purchase negotiations are underway.”

Supporter Deb Ingstad, CEO of a Minneapolis-based music media company said, “In a spirit of cooperation, Spence’s landlord allowed her to reopen to host a Thanksgiving feast for over 150 neighborhood residents. Afterward, he extended permission for her to operate The Prayer Center during purchase negotiations. Today, The Prayer Center is wide open, bringing faith, hope and charity to the neighborhood again.”

Her current goals?

“Reopen the thrift and furniture stores next to The Prayer Center to become self-sustaining while offering needed services,” she said. “Before being forced to close, we had many customers daily, creating 16 jobs. We will provide a safe, welcoming, spiritual environment to teach and lead people to Christ and also be a referral service helping meet people’s three biggest needs: jobs, food and housing. Our weekly Bible studies will teach people how to pray for the increased power of God in their lives.

“This is God’s battle,” Spence concluded. “My job is to keep the faith, pray, praise and worship Him.”

ACTION BOX: For more information on The Prayer Center, visit www.godsprayercenter.org, call (612) 522-3015 or e-mailtheprayercentermn@gmail.com. The Prayer Center is holding a re-opening ceremony Jan. 29, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 821 1/2 West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis.

Be still and see the salvation of the Lord! That is what I am doing now, today. My faith is still in God. He is Our Father, who will never leave or forsake us. We walk by faith and not by sight. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. The locks were changed on Kingdom Square today. For those in the natural, it looks like God is defeated. But that is not so! Who can defeat The Almighty God? No one. So I ask those of you who can still have faith, and that is many, many, many, of you, to continue in prayer, praise and worship. God is not done!

If the locks being changed is the end, then the whole bible is a lie. But we all know that God’s word is Truth! And Truth will always prevail. On Sunday night,  July 25th, I was Ministered to by an angel. My strength comes from God. Otherwise, I would crumble and run for cover. This is my calling and I am comfortable with it. I am not a saint, just a servant who loves God and is surviving on His strength. God cannot fail me or anyone who truly believes. I am simply living up to my name “crazy lady”. But God calls it peculiar. My daughter, Jasmine, simply calls me “odd”.

So please know that all of you are my “Aaron’s”. When Moses’s arms got tired or weak, Aaron held them up, and the  victory continued in God. I feel your love, concern, presence, and prayers. You all are” holding up my arms” while I stand on God’s Word. The experiences I have had in my life has prepared me for this. So please, just keep the faith in the Word of God. Speak victory. Think victory. We have God’s resume of what He has already done. He is still the same God today.

Remember, rehearsing and talking about the “problem” over and over, gives it more energy and fuel.
Instead, rehearse the solution over and over by agreeing with whatever God’s will is in the situation.

I actually see this as a great avenue for the wealth of the world to be transferred to the Kingdom. I believe in many situations, God’s property is in the hands of those who don’t love Him or want to do His will. In every test and trial I have been in, I came out “increased”.
The 800 block of West Broadway is my station in life. I shall be back there!

I am not close enough in God’s head to know why He did not handle this exactly the way I would have. But that is why He is God and I am not! I do know that He always comes through, just not on my time schedule. For sure God is a man!

This is as close to “blogging” that I will get. I will keep you updated and informed.

Delay is not denial. Stay tuned to God’s channel for His next episode.

Beginning Wed, Aug 18th, 6pm til 7:30 those that can and want to, will meet in the Prayer Center parking lot for praise and fellowship. Bring a chair, a cookie, and praise reports. Let’s praise our way to Victory!!!

Jariland Spence

Thanks so much to all of you who watched the channel 9 piece and desire to support me or get more information.

As stated, I am just one woman who refuses to give up and leave The Northside. There is so much good that happens here that never makes the news. I am convinced that there are people like you and me that can make a difference.

We simply cannot let a small segment of troublemakers put us on the run or cause us to live in fear. It is important for us as a State, to make sure that ALL communities are safe and vibrant.

Thank you for helping me to make a change. But I cannot do it alone. I need not only your financial support, but support in several other areas. Please feel free to contact me, let’s meet and discuss solutions. Your thoughts and ideas are welcome. Let’s stand up for our children who are doing well, but also reach out to those who aren’t. I am waiting to hear from you very soon.
Let’s put some ACTION in motion to effect positive change in all of our neighborhoods.

Jariland Spence
jarilandspence@hotmail.com
821 ½ West Broadway Av
Mpls 55411
612 275 7469
612 522 3015

Wow! What a great day!
We had three baptisms at The Prayer Center!

Lord-Jamie Greene and Arthur Fields, ex-gang leaders, baptized three people today at The Prayer Center.

We set up a “baptismal pool” on Thursday and baptized three today!

All praise and Glory to Our Father!

Know anybody who wants to get baptized, send them to:

The Prayer Center
821 1/2 West Broadway Av
Mpls, 55411

http://www.godsprayercenter.org

Jariland Spence