September 2026

As we explore the gift of prayer through the voices of God’s people across the LCMS Northern Illinois District. You will read what is on the hearts of fellow believers—and you also hear from others who share how prayer shapes the life of their congregations, strengthens faith, and connects God’s people to one another and to His promises.

For Rev. Kevin Seabaugh, senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, prayer is far more than a practice—it is a way of seeing the world.

“Prayer is as much of an attitude as it is a practice,” he said. “It’s an ongoing conversation.” That perspective shapes the culture of Immanuel, where prayer is woven into ministry, decision-making, outreach, and everyday life. Rather than viewing prayer as something reserved for specific moments, Pastor Seabaugh sees it as a continual reminder that God is already at work.

Over the years, his own understanding of prayer has changed significantly. Early in ministry, prayer often felt transactional. Through his involvement with the World Mission Prayer League, however, he came to see prayer as an expression of complete dependence on God. “Prayer gives us eyes to see what God is doing,” he said. “If we have eyes to see and ears to hear what God is already doing, we can respond to that.”

Today, Pastor Seabaugh is especially praying for Immanuel’s school, which has experienced both challenges and renewal in recent years. He also asks for prayers for a ministry team currently serving in Liberia. Looking back, he points to the school’s continued growth as one example of God’s faithfulness in answering prayer.

He has also seen prayer become a powerful outreach tool through Immanuel’s “Encourage Elmhurst” events. Volunteers simply offer free prayer to people they meet in the community. “We bypass so much time and having to build relationship with that one simple question,” he said. “What can we pray for?”

If he could ask every reader to pray for one thing, it would be that God would send more workers into His harvest field. And each day, he continues to begin with the same expectation: that God is already at work and inviting His people to join Him in what He is doing.