Dixon Chibanda is a psychiatrist in Zimbabwe, where mental health problems are rampant. Many of them are summed up in one word: kufungisisa, their Shona-language term for brooding, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, etc.
When one of his patients committed suicide in 2005, Chibanda was motivated to find a solution to the desperate need. Eventually he hit on a plan.
Nearly every village had respected “grandmothers”—elderly women who were time-tested, life-wise, and often excellent listeners. Why not use them to help the many suffering from kufungisisa?
Chibanda began a program that came to be called “The Friendship Bench.” In village after village, grandmothers were given several weeks of training. Benches were set up, perhaps under a tree or near a clinic, where the elderly women could meet with troubled villagers (by phone during the pandemic).
Over six sessions, according to friendshipbenchzimbabwe.org, “participants are encouraged to open their minds to identify their problems, choose one to work on, identify a feasible solution, and agree on an action plan” with the guidance of the grandmothers.
Grandmothers in the Church
What about in the Body of Christ? Do believers suffer from some form of kufungisisa? Do congregations deal with depression and discouragement in ways that are spiritually insightful and bring comfort? Or are pastoral leaders overwhelmed, prayer warriors underutilized, and urgent prayer requests neglected?
Imagine recruiting, training, and mobilizing grandmothers—and grandfathers—for a Prayer Bench program in your church. Volunteers don’t need to be literal grandparents, but any older, wise, and godly men and women willing to “pray for each other so that you may be healed,” for “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Those benches—or cell phones—could become altars on which hearts open up to the healing work of the Holy Spirit. They can be sites of emotional and spiritual victories. Benches of intercession will be an immeasurable benefit to younger adults.
Coming Soon to Your Church?
If the Holy Spirit seems to lead in that direction, here are some suggested steps to start a Prayer Bench program in your church or ministry (prayerfully adapt to your own situation):
- Develop a team, appoint leaders, and establish a framework.
- Identify potential grandmothers/fathers and approach them about participation in the Prayer Bench program.
- Determine methods, i.e., Zoom, phone call, appointment in prayer room, etc.
- Provide training by experienced intercessors/Christian counselors. It’s important to learn to listen well and provide encouragement without overstepping professional counseling boundaries.
- Set additional boundaries on length and number of sessions and when to refer a person to counseling. Be upfront with participants before the first session. One-hour sessions three times is a good place to start.
- Select a coordinator who will pair up initial requests with a prayer partner and arrange a time to pray.
To ensure success and keep the Prayer Bench program going, remind participants often that the point is intercession, not counseling. It’s good to listen well, but make sure that a portion of the time is spent in prayer. Keep the prayer focused on bringing the person to Jesus for His healing touch. It is Jesus who restores and brings hope—and the grandmother/father is the one who points the person to Him.
Praying the Word is always powerful, so encourage the praying of Scriptures over the person, such as Romans 12:1–2, 15:13; Philippians 4:6–28, and Hebrews 12:1–2.
Finally, pray over your grandparents, pray for those they’ll minister to—and then begin in faith that God will keep your Prayer Benches filled!
SANDY MAYLE is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to Prayer Connect.
