Silver Spring, Maryland: Prayer Stop - Tiny Church

A welcome rest stop for those with an urgent need to pray. Looks like a children's play house, with a couple of lawn chairs outside.

Prayer Stop - Tiny Church

The Prayer Stop sits by the side of a two-lane road, New Hampshire Avenue, way out in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. It was built in 2002 by a member of the neighboring Immanuel's Church. He wanted to reach out to people who need prayer, but might be intimidated by a large church (Immanuel's has 3,000+ members; the Prayer Stop is reported to seat 4). The man who started the Prayer Stop had hit rock bottom, drinking heavily, and had been convicted of a serious felony. After having a religious turn-around, he wanted to help others with his ministry.

When I visited it, it was decorated for Christmas, and there was a note tacked to the door which indicated it was closed for the day, but that the church is still operating it as one of their missions.

[Julie Mangin, 12/10/2011]

Prayer Stop - Tiny Church

This tiny prayer stop was allegedly built by a man who's life was ruined by alcohol. Once he hit rock bottom, he felt that God had saved him. Showing how grateful he was, he decided to create a tiny prayer stop on the side of a busy street so any motorist could stop and pray.

Go figure. We always thought it was a trap set by neighborhood serial killers. Seriously, it is a real eye catcher and very out of place in the 2 lane rural road.

[MJ, 08/30/2006]