Never underestimate the power of prayer. After serving for 13 years as the manager of The Upper Room Living Prayer Center, Migdiel Pérez has learned tha
t prayer crosses geographical, cultural and political barriers to bring physical and spiritual heal- ing to men, women, boys, and girls.
“I have the joy of being in relationships with people from all points on the theological spectrum,” said Migdiel. “They are only united in the belief that prayer changes lives. I provide training and schedule prayer times for 155 remote prayer line partners, and I provide them with the tools to make their prayer line experiences as simple and enjoy- able as possible.”
Migdiel grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where his family attended a Methodist church, so he’s been around Methodists all of his life.
Move to Nashville
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in advertising and mass communications from Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Santurce, Puerto Rico, he found his way to Nashville.
In 1993, he started work in Customer Care unit at the Upper Room of the General Board of Discipleship. He served in several positions with the board until he was named manager of The Living Prayer Center in 2005, a position well suited to this prayer warrior.
Migdiel not only works with those who answer the prayer line, he also spends time in prayer with those happen to call his office seeking information about the prayer line (800/251-2468).
One request, scores of prayers
Migdiel also enjoys working with 494 global covenant prayer groups and individu- als who receive prayers via email every week.
Migdiel Pérez responds to a prayer request at his Nashville office.
Those devoted volunteers join their prayers with those offered by the person who answered the initial phone call. This spiri- tual support system continues in prayer long after the first phone conversation has ended.
Migdiel is especially appreciative of the dedicated prayer advocates who operate remote prayer lines. “It’s not an easy min- istry,” he says. “You need to be able to remind yourself that God is in control as you respond in prayer to people caught in life-endangering situations. You lift the sit- uation to the Lord in the belief He will take care of something over which neither you nor the caller have any power.”
“It’s amazing to see God at work as He links caring volunteers with callers at the times they need prayer the most,” he says.
Response of a co-worker
“When I was a co-worker at The Upper Room, Migdiel was always the person I could go to when I had a prayer concern for myself or my family,” says Beth Wakefield.
“My oldest daughter always calls me from Alabama when she has a prayer request and asks me to call Migdiel and add her concern to the Prayer Line because she knows he will always support and show deep concern.”
Migdiel is a member of Hamilton UMC in Antioch, Tenn. He is married to Alma, and they are parents of 14-year-old Dale.
This article first appeared in the Winter 2019 edition of UMMen, the magazine of United Methodist Men in a special feature called “14 Men Who Are Making a Difference.”
On March 1, 2019, the World Day of Prayer, you are invited to join the staff of The Upper Room in responding to the prayer requests submitted on The Upper Room Prayer Wall. Mark your calendar and sign up to receive updates, tips, and tools as we approach this day of prayer with prayer partners around the world.
YES, I want to know more about praying with The Upper Room on the World Day of Prayer on March 1.
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