Because answered prayer is one of the fundamental beliefs of Guthrie Memorial Chapel, Pastor Fillmer Hevener, the Chapel's founder, has announced a new Bible-based prayer dimension, a prayer circle for pets.

Regularly praying for people is a practice of the Chapel family. However, this new dimension will also include a special prayer session for ill pets. Any member of the Farmville area community may attend the prayer assembly, explain the pet's physical problem, and request that the prayer group ask Christ to bless the pet with abundant life and renewed health.

For many, the pet is a part of the family unit, and when that unit is interrupted by the illness of human or animal, heavy hearts and sadness settle over the home.

Dr. Hevener noted, “God places very high value on the animals which He created. Christ, Himself, observed in Matthew 10:29, that not one sparrow falls to the ground without the Father's concern. Although only man is created in the image of God, man and the animals have the same miraculous breath from God, and for both, that breath returns to God at death. Ecclesiastes 3:19.”

Pastor Hevener said that the poodle of Celia, the Pastor's wife, was healed twice by prayer, once when his weak heart was strengthened and once when he was restored to full-health after a stroke.

The first pet to be prayed for at the prayer circle was the poodle, Paco, owned by Juanita Huffman of Cumberland County. Although Paco is old, he is still running, eating, and bringing joy to Juanita.

The prayer circle meets each Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the prayer room of the Chapel, 2663 Cumberland Road (Route 45), Farmville. Anyone having a prayer request for human or animal is welcome to attend. Before prayer, each person bringing a request to Christ will be given two-three minutes to explain the human's or pet's problem.

In Proverbs 12:10 Solomon concludes: “The righteous man cares for the needs of his animals.” The members of Guthrie Memorial Chapel are attempting to carry out this Godly advice. For further information or to reserve a place in the prayer circle, please phone Pastor Hevener at (434) 392-6255.