The small groups of people walking in downtown Saxonburg on Saturday looked as if they were taking a quick stroll on their own.

In reality, nearly 40 people were united with one purpose: to impact the community through prayer.

The outing was part of a prayer walking seminar sponsored by New Life Christian Ministries and presented by pastor Mark Geppert, president and founder of the South East Asia Prayer Center.

"Prayer walking is very complicated — you walk and you pray," joked Geppert, who leads about 40 seminars a year.

Participants braved snow, ice and near-freezing temperatures to attend Geppert's Jan. 8 and 9 seminar at the Plantation at Saxonburg clubhouse in Jefferson Township.

The first session explained the Biblical basis for prayer walking and the second session took the teachings to the street.

The concept of prayer walking is nothing new, explained Geppert, who first heard of the idea in the early 1970s.

"From the time of Jesus, believers have walked in villages and prayed, so what we're doing today is not anything new, radical or unusual," Geppert said. "We are just trying to get the church to go out into the community and pray for the community."

Geppert encourages his groups to pray for five specific areas in a community: centers of government, commerce, communication, education and spiritual authority.

"One of the phrases that we use is that it is the role of the church to pray for the community," Geppert said. "Through prayer walking, we have fulfilled our primary role in society."

The interactive nature of prayer walking interested seminar attendee Margo Perotti of Middlesex Township, who said she looks forward to applying the teachings to her life.

"This seemed so much more real, to take (prayer) into action," said Perotti, who attends services at New Life. "I believe very strongly in the power of prayer."

Kim Zielinski of Butler said she has been praying to learn more about prayer and the seminar was exactly what she'd been searching for.

"It's really appropriate to go out and pray for others and have them know you're thinking about them," said Zielinski, who has prayed in her community before. "You get mixed reactions; some people aren't as open depending on their faith, but deep down I think people appreciate it."

There are no strict regulations and the prayer walking process is highly individualized, said Chris Marshall, lead pastor of New Life Christian Ministries.

Marshall also serves on the SEAPC board of directors.

"It can be as simple as walking in your community and praying for your neighbors," said Marshall, himself an avid prayer walker.

Marshall first met Geppert more than a dozen years ago through a parishioner, and the two hit it off immediately, Marshall said.

Geppert has led two previous prayer walking seminars at New Life, and Marshall admits the idea sounded strange to him at first.

"It just didn't seem to have enough of a purpose, but once you do it, you realize it's a very vital part of every day, walking with God," Marshall said.

After learning more about prayer walking from Geppert, Marshall established a prayer walking ministry that meets Wednesday mornings in Saxonburg.

The group usually consists of Marshall and two church elders, who prayer walk for about an hour within the immediate area.

Those involved in the prayer walking ministry often alternate praying aloud, which works because it is a small group, Marshall said.

When larger groups prayer walk, they often pray silently, he added.

The ministry presses on faithfully year-round, though they "prayer drive" in severe weather, Marshall said.

Although the group covers the same streets each week, the prayers have evolved to fit the changing environment, such as new businesses coming in, said ministry member Chuck Matus of Cabot.

"It's a personal satisfaction with me," said Matus, adding the fellowship is also important to him. "It's just another time to talk to God."

The ministry strives to be community-oriented, Matus said.

"As you walk the streets, you notice what is going on in the community, and it makes you very aware," Matus said. "A lot of people know us and ask for prayers along the way; many times, they will give prayer requests."

Those who are serious about their faith are interested in developing their prayer life, Marshall said.

"I think everybody wants to have a more effective prayer life — if they're a follower of Jesus, they want to have that communication link," Marshall said.

Prayer walking gives people the opportunity to bring more prayer into their daily lives, Marshall said, since it can be done anywhere.

"When I go out in the morning, even walking my dog can be a prayer walking opportunity," Marshall said. "As I walk past my neighbors' homes, I pray for them."

Marshall said he has seen prayer accomplish great things for the community and for New Life Christian Ministries, which was established in 2001 and currently worships at South Butler Primary School.

About 235 parishioners attend services each week.

The church hopes to break ground this spring on a 20-acre parcel of land on Knoch Road and construct a permanent building, Marshall said.

Lives can be changed through prayer, and prayer walking is a way to deepen one's faith, Marshall said.

"God just brings situations together and it's a really exciting thing for people to experience," he said.