Small Group Prayer Idea

I have a passion to see students grow in the context of small groups. They are dear to my heart and actually are the context I came to faith through. Not an alter call, or a youth group gathering but a great small group that met in a living room.

A large part of those nights were spent praying and that has shaped who I've become today. As much as I want to say that I pray daily for those students who are a part of the small groups I lead today I honestly can say I don't. My wife had a great idea about this problem a few weeks ago...

• Sharing prayer requests is important because it builds trust among the group. I always lay down the mandate that what is said in our group during this time is trusted information. It's not a time for gossip and I always follow up on anything that raises red flags. 
• Praying out loud during these groups not only builds up faith but it also creates an atmosphere that everyone plays a roll not just the super Christians.
• What we've done (thanks to my wife) is that each week after we've shared things that we want to go to Jesus about we then assign one person out of the group that each member is praying for. For example I pray for Timmy, Timmy prays for Hector, Hector prays for Tina, Tine then prays for me. That way everyone's prayer requests are covered and it allows me to focus on for Timmy's request. 

God's big enough to handle our blanket prayers yet my heart desires to really intercede for my students in such a way that we can visibly see God's working in their life.