What happens when you pray for your neighbourhood
From a video by Transform Our World
Benjy & Jesica MacNaughton are the directors of the Youth And Family Ministry for Transform Our World (TOW). At a TOW Conference in October 2025, Jesica spoke about their experience of neighbourhood transformation. Here is an abridged version:
Two of the hindrances or roadblocks that try to creep in and hinder us from reaching our neighbours or wherever God has placed you are 'our offence' and 'hopelessness'. We know the enemy loves to plant seeds of offence and hopelessness, especially in the places we are called to.
When we moved into one neighbourhood, there was a drug house next to ours. It was very dark. We put a 5000 lumen floodlight on that side of the house, and when we prayed for them, we would turn on that analogy of the Light of Christ. We said we can't curse darkness - it's the absence of light, so we're going to bring the light. And it's amazing - when the light of Christ shines, it illuminates all the crud that's there. With the power of being the Ekklesia, the kingdom of God comes, and, when the kingdom of God comes, it's amazing. It changes everything.
That's why we can't let these seeds of offence and hopelessness creep in, because offence can take root, and it can even feel like a conviction or a right that we're owed, and it can completely blur our objectivity and discernment. And so we can't let that happen. We can't let hopelessness creep in. And we know that's something in all the neighbourhoods we've lived and worked in, the enemy tries to do.
We want to share testimony of a precious couple that heard us preach at a church one Sunday.
They said, "This sounds great. We love what you're saying about how neighbourhoods can be reached. We just want you to know we're game for that, but we just hate where we live and hate our neighbours."
We said, "That's okay, let's start there. Awareness is good. We believe for your neighbourhood. We're going to pray with you for 40 days, but we want you to be honest with the Lord and just say, 'God, I need your heart for my neighbours', because we know that's a prayer God's going to want to answer."
"Walk your neighbourhood for 40 days and pray the promise. Don't pray the problem. Pray the promise and ask the Lord for His heart, because he is, he is so longing that none should perish. And he loves your neighbourhood. And you're there for a reason. The enemy wants you offended. He wants you hopeless because he does not want you to activate it."
We partnered with them in faith and belief and, around day 24 they said, "Something's changing. We're actually starting to care, and we've been praying and praying and praying".
On day 27, they called and said, "You guys are not going to believe this. The FBI just raided our next door neighbours and it was wired with so many explosives, the whole neighbourhood, including our family with our children, was going to be blown up."
An FBI agent told them that they had received an anonymous, random tip. They had to defuse the situation, literally. And as a result, that whole neighbourhood was spared. This couple realised, 'What if we didn't stand in the gap, what if we stopped caring? We would not be here.'
They have now faithfully pastored that neighbourhood and brought God's kingdom to that neighbourhood, because they realise God is so worthy.
God is looking for those who can partner. With those who are willing to say, "Lord, I'm here."
We get to partner with the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, to be His hands, feet and mouthpiece. How could we not want to do that? Because the battle is His. He's just looking for people who are obedient to say, "Yes, Lord, I want to care about the things you care about." And God cares about the lost.
Watch this 5 min video:
See also these articles:
Word on the Streets : Guide to prayer walking
Word on the Streets : A story of ‘Regeneration and Rest’
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From a video by Transform Our World, 10/03/2026