Does prayer have the power to change lives and impact the world for the better?

Twin Falls resident and lay minister Lisa Powell has created a Web site to help answer that question and provide a community forum for believers who share a desire to cover the state of Idaho in intercessory prayer for education, religion, business, government, family, entertainment and media.

"We are nondenominational, so it's not about this person's ministry or that person's ministry," Powell said. "We have our problems in this country with drugs (and) pornography and need social change, but God hears the prayers of the righteous and moves because of them. So being united in prayer is a catalyst for revival."

The idea for a Web site began to take shape in 2007 when Powell was on her way home from a Dutch Sheets Ministries prayer conference in Colorado Springs, Colo. It was at this point that she began to feel the Lord's hand prompting her to do something positive with her mountain-top experience.

"Sheets' book on intercessory prayer changed my life, and the passage in Ezekiel taught me that prayer is not all about the limits of my wants or the needs of family," Powell said. "It's unity in the body of prayer for those who are praying as well as everyone across this nation who may be in need."

With no concrete concept of what she would be facing, Powell was reluctant to take on the task but continued to follow God's direction. And about two months ago the prayer network site came online.

"I came at this kicking and screaming and started out trying to build Web pages with programs already on the computer," she said. "I'm computer illiterate, so the first ones looked like a grade-school project, but we were able to find sites on the Internet that take you through the process."

The site has a vibrantly-colored format with at least a dozen separate pages. Content features short teaching discussion on topics ranging from petitions in the Lord's Prayer to explanations for the names of God found in scripture. There are prayer models and strategies as well as a book page, event calendar and inspirational quotes from the country's Founding Fathers.

Visitors can also make prayer requests. Clicking on the prayer icon will bring up a list of Idaho counties. Clicking on a county

name provides a dedicated e-mail form. Powell hopes to eventually form a network of intercessory prayer partners in each county who would be willing to pray for their area's specific needs.

As people become more familiar with the site, Powell also plans to expand the variety and depth of material by accepting contributions from fellow prayer warriors. Submission requirements are available on the Web site, www.irpn.org.

"All the content that's on the site right now is mine, but we welcome teachings, suggestions and contributions from ministers as well as lay people," she said. "We want the site to be a place open to all people of faith, so everything that's accepted will appear anonymously. And we ask that topics stay away from discussing theological differences within the different branches of the church body."

Though the site has only been available for about two months, comments from people who have logged onto the site have been positive.

"I think the thing I want people to take away from visiting the Web site is that you don't have to be a Billy Graham to effect change in people's lives," Powell said. "God will complete that by answering the prayers of those who trust him and are willing to stand in the gap."

John E. Swayze may be reached at 208 326-7212 or swayzef@aol.com.