When her daughter Laura came out as transgender, Francine thought her world would crumble. “We thought we had done everything right,” she said. “We brought her to church every chance we could get!” But still, Laura became convinced she was supposed to be male. She walked away from her godly upbringing and began pursuing cross-sex hormones, surgery, and a new life as “Jake.” But God had certainly not forgotten her! And neither had her praying mother…
After many years of fasting and praying and through a painful process of surrendering her own life fully to God, Francine witnessed a miracle! Her daughter returned home and into the arms of Jesus! “It’s been the most radical transformation I’ve ever witnessed in my life,” says Francine.
Inspired by this powerful story of transformation, Francine, and the ladies in her Bible study group felt compelled to begin praying for other prodigal children who had walked away from the Lord. That’s when they started the Prodigal Prayer Box.
According to Francine, there is nothing magical about their box. It’s just a basket filled with index cards on which they write the name of an individual who has walked away from the Lord. The power comes from the prayers offered up by these women when they gather together regularly to plead for God to break through in the lives of every name submitted. This mighty group of prayer warriors has witnessed 17 prodigals repent since they began praying. But they believe this is just the beginning.
“My heart’s desire is that more churches would start a Prodigal Box,” says Francine. “Our prayer lists, like everyone else’s are filled with people with physical illness. But we wanted something for people with spiritual illness.”
A few weeks ago, American Family Studios released the film In His Image: Delighting in God’s Plan for Gender and Sexuality which features the full story of Laura’s transformation. (to view for free, click HERE)
Since its release, the film has been viewed over 300,000 times and the filmmakers have received hundreds of emails from people requesting prayer for family members who struggle with the issues discussed in the film.
Because so many who have watched the film have requested prayer for prodigal family members and friends, we are designating this week of November 16-20 as Prodigal Prayer Emphasis Week at AFA and AFR (American Family Radio Network). If you or someone you love is wrestling with same-sex attraction, transgenderism, or other issues of sexual brokenness, prayer is the first step. Our prayer team would be honored to pray over your request which can be submitted HERE.
We also will be providing valuable tips and daily prayers you can pray over your prodigal. See below for today’s Prodigal Prayer:
Father, I pray You will overwhelm ______________ with Your Holy Spirit and humble her/him. May God reveal Himself to her/him in Truth and convict her/him of sin and righteousness.
Lord, I pray she/he will bow before You and confess with her/his mouth that Jesus is Lord. May the Word of God that he/she has known and memorized burst to life within her/his heart and spirit. May God’s Word truly be living and active and sharp as the two-edged sword that would pierce her/him as far as the division between soul and spirit and judge the thoughts and intentions of her/his heart.
May she/he come to a full and clear understanding that her/his
sin separates her/him from God and that the blood of Jesus atones for her/him and may she/he understand her/his desperate need for Jesus Christ as his/her Savior. Amen.
(Click below to watch a short 3-minute video featuring Francine and Laura Perry)
