One of IPC’s key partners, Seed Company, has provided a new interactive prayer resource for you!

Learn 5 prayer habits to help you pray effectively for Bible translation.  This 5-day devotional will enrich your spiritual walk and impact eternity through your prayers.

In what ways has the Bible changed your life?  When life hits us hard, we find direction and solace in Scripture.

But what if the Bible was not in your language? That’s the reality for over 1 billion people today.

Join this 5-day plan where you can partner your Scripture reading with simple and effective ways to pray for people without the Bible.

It’s available in the YOU Version Bible App – or HERE

Gathering the Church for 2021

Join a “Global Upper Room” event 12/31 all day into the new year as IHOPKC and leaders in the Body of Christ from every time zone across the globe join together to conclude the year and usher in 2021 with a strong shout of praise, thanksgiving, humble confession, prophetic prayer, and bold declaration.

From Oceania across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and spanning North and South America, we envision 24 hours of non-stop worship and intercession connected by technology in a ceaseless program of coordinated prayer.

At the same time, we are urging thousands of groups to coordinate their own communities for two to six hours on New Year’s Eve leading up to midnight that we may usher in New Year’s Day around the world with our hearts postured in unity, humility, and faith. We want to thank God for His leadership of history and enter the new year with expectation for mighty moves of the Holy Spirit in our day in every nation.

Let us re-enact Acts 1:12–14 unto Act 2 and Acts 4.

From the Chinese church in Taiwan to the intercessions of Herrnhut, Germany, and its Moravian Lampstand, the International House of Prayer in Kansas City wants to serve the Body of Christ with a historic moment of prayer and harvest that spans every time zone.

More info, livestream and sign up HERE

Ahead of the January edition of the monthly IPC Connections email, we would like to bring to your attention three significant prayer initiatives that are happening this next 24 hours – that we would not want you to miss!

The first is a major partnership between many ministries around the world in a Global Family 24/7 Prayer Room, that launches at 16:00HRS Jerusalem time on New Year’s Day.

As we are writing this, the sun is rising in the East and lots of people are praying in the new year as part of the New Year’s Day Sunrise Prayer Relay.  It is not too late for many of us to take part!

Many ministries including IPC are joining with our friends at IHOP Kansas for their Global Upper Room which aims to conclude the current year and usher in 2021 with a strong shout of praise, thanksgiving, humble confession, prophetic prayer, and bold declaration.

Details of each of these projects follow below.

We would wish all of our partners in prayer every blessing for the year ahead.

Dr Jason Hubbard – Director
International Prayer Connect
http://www.ipcprayer.org

January 1^st 2021 marks the launch of the ‘Global Family’ Online 24/7 Prayer initiative that aims to unite nations, denominations and generations in a year of continuous prayer and worship.

Gifted Prayer leaders and worship teams from every continent will be leading the 168 hourly ‘Zoom’ sessions each week in several languages.  The meetings will be accessible to anyone, anywhere with an internet connection.

The project was founded by Dr Jason Hubbard (www.ipcprayer.org) and Jonathan Friz (www.10days.net) in 2020 along with a dedicated, multi-skilled team representing many different ministries and networks from around the world.

Jonathan Friz said "The ability to pray together as the global church in the same space is brand new - for the first time in history we can approximate the sound of that great multitude gathered before the throne from every nation and language, declaring "Salvation belongs to our God, and to the Lamb!""

"We would invite individuals, groups, Churches, ministries, anyone! - who shares our vision to join us, whether it’s for a short while or for many hours each week, in the presence of God, alongside fellow-believers from across the world. "

Launch Service…

The Global Family 24-7-365 will begin January 1st 2021 at 16:00 Jerusalem time, 8 AM CST, 2 PM GMT. The launch will include a two hour special “church” service. The first full hour will be focused on coming together as a Global Family and praying together. The second hour will be a teaching hour. After the church service ends, regular facilitated hourly sessions will begin.

Praying for the Unreached…

One of the primary focuses of the Global Family will be prayers for the unreached.  Jason Hubbard said “We are convinced that the Crux of the Great Commission and the reaching of every person by 2030 in the Go Decade needs to especially focus on the Unreached People Groups.  They are the ethne of Matthew 28, of which there are about 5000 such people groups still separated by language and culture with an average of only one believer per thousand. They need cross-cultural efforts integrated with focused, ongoing prayer to see indigenous gospel movements established in them.”

“As the church worldwide continues to work together to mobilize prayer and targeted mission efforts, it will be possible with the Lord’s supernatural help to see bible based, Christ exalting, Spirit-led churches planted in each one of these people groups by 2030! Let’s Go and Count to Zero!”

Prayer Leader Opportunity…

There are 50 or so hourly sessions available to would-be leaders in the weekly schedule as we go to press, and they are steadily being filled.  Prayer Leaders who would like to find out more about taking part are invited to visit the Leaders page on the website.

"The Father has a plan to answer Jesus' prayer in John 17,” said Jonathan. “ Prayer meetings like this that bring the family together in the presence of the Holy Spirit are a key part of His plan.  When the family comes together to glorify Jesus, the Father loves to pour out His glory on us all. Make no mistake, Jesus gets what He prays for!"

How to join…

To join the Global Family 24-7 Prayer Room, please register HERE.  The meetings are all accessed through an online ticketing system, apart from the launch service which will be also be live-streamed.

More at: http://globalfamily24-7prayer.org/

Sunrise Prayer Relay - New Year's Day 2021

Australia Christian prayer leaders invite their brothers and sisters in Christ, prayer groups, prayer networks and churches to join with them all over the world to pray at sunrise on New Year's Day 2021 at a public location such as a hill, lookout or landmark in your city or town.

This year our focus is to proclaim JESUS IS LORD. Over the last six years we have had registrations from 70 different countries including USA, South Africa, Namibia, Pakistan, Japan, United Kingdom, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand, and Australia.   

Warwick Marsh a prayer & family advocate in Australia said, “Psalm 5:3 says, ‘In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly’.

So, in the morning let us pray for revival and transformation for our respective nations according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Let us all also pray for a great harvest of souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. In the USA there is a strong need to pray for the integrity of the recently held election and a proper process of investigation for all concerned that the truth will be told. Pray that “what has been whispered in secret will be shouted from the housetops,” because as it says in Proverbs 13:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people”.

Marsh continued, “During this Sunrise Prayer Relay we are circling the globe with prayer, praise and worship and surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ for the glory of God. Paul the apostle says in Philippians 2:10,11. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Use the prayer resources on the website and social media and register your location at: www.sunriseprayerrelay.com    Our prayer is that with your help, this worldwide Prayer and Praise Relay will go viral.”

Pat Steele, a Youth for Christ missionary in Australia, said, “We encourage you to pray the Lord's Prayer together aloud as the sun rises and make a declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life, your family, your region and your nation.  At your location we encourage you to include praise and worship, prayers, and scripture readings. We suggest 30 minutes, but you can pray for longer. You could even take communion, shine a torch, or light a candle. What you do for your sunrise celebration is up to you.”

Share photos and videos from your location on social media.

Use the hashtag: #sunriseprayerrelay
Website: www.sunriseprayerelay.com  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sunriseprayerrelay
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sunriseprayerrelay
YouTube:  https://youtu.be/dbLpDBXfY50
Contact: Warwick Marsh 61 418 225212
or Pat Steele by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

In this video conversation, Dr. Jason Hubbard, IPC’s Director, discusses the development of digital prayer networks.

Following his presentation, the panel poses questions to further develop digital prayer networks.

Greetings!

We are pleased to bring you IPC Connections for December 2020.

In our Editorial article this month, Dr Jason Hubbard brings us an inspiring Advent devotional entitled ‘Rekindling the Glory of Christmas’ which takes us through the greatest love story of all time, when God’s own Son shed his garments of glory to become Bethlehem’s Lamb. It’s a compelling read.  The full eight-part series is available for download HERE.

On 1^st January 2021 we will be launching a Global Family 24/7 - 365 Online Prayer Room in association with several of our partner organisations.  The vision is to host worship-saturated prayer around the throne, around the clock and around the globe for the whole of 2021.  Read more below about the plans and our invitation to Prayer-leaders to join us from around the world to host the 168 hourly slots each week.

We have heard encouraging news of breakthroughs with the development of vaccines for Covid-19 this last few weeks.  The pandemic has now affected 63.5 million people worldwide with 1.47 million now losing their lives.  We bring you up to date information on the situation along with prayer points and links to various resources.  

Let’s continue to be in prayer for the United States as the results of the recent Presidential Elections are finalised.  There are a number of legal challenges to the ballot counting procedures, systems and security that are still going through the courts including allegations of voter fraud.  The results will be ratified by the Electoral College on December 14^th.  Congress will be sworn in on January 3^rd 2021 and will certify the winner of the election on January 6^th. 

This year, November 11^th marked the 400 year anniversary of the signing of the Mayflower Compact, 11-11-1620.  While still aboard the Mayflower, the Pilgrims, risking their lives on a perilous ocean crossing, agreed to foundational principles for the new community they would form when they went ashore. 

This document, which became known as the Mayflower compact, stated that they had come to the new world, ‘for the glory of God’ and to ‘advance the Christian faith.’  They agreed to govern themselves in a ‘civil body politic’ that would frame, ‘just and equal laws’ in the best interest of their community.  May God grant to us mercy to continue in this calling and legacy.  Please pray that God would bring forth justice, expose corruption in every sphere of society, and prepare us for a 3^rd Great Awakening!

John Robb’s Retirement as Chairman

We are sure that you will want to join us in honoring and thanking John Robb as he steps aside as the Chairman of the International Prayer Council at the end of this month.  John is a remarkable man of God who has led us tirelessly over these last nineteen years.  He was one of IPC’s founding members back in 2001.   John shares some of what has been achieved in his ‘Time to move on!’ article below. 

We cannot let John move on quietly!! We will be following this up aptly in the New Year and would welcome receiving your short videos and / or emailed messages of appreciation of John!  

Please send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 20^th December.  

In the meantime, we all extend our sincere love, prayers and best wishes to John and Lori for a long, happy, healthy and blessed life as they focus on other ministries they are involved with and any future ones the Lord calls them to undertake.

Dr Jason  Hubbard’s Appointment as Director

Jason Hubbard will be formally taking on the leadership as our Director from January 2021, along with the Executive Team under the guidance of our newly elected Board.  We will bring some further details to you all in January.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us in mobilising and informing united prayer across nations, denominations, movements, and generations for the fulfilment of the Great Commission.

May we express grateful thanks to Andy Page and the IPC Editorial Team who put this email together each month.

Wishing you and your loved ones His continued blessings at Christmas and for the New Year 2021,

Jason Hubbard - Executive Coordinator
John D Robb – Chairman
International Prayer Connect

Please use this link if you would like to sow into our ministry with a donation

Disclaimer…
The views and opinions expressed in IPC Connections and the articles on our website are those of individuals and our partner organisations. They do not necessarily represent the policies or views of IPC or its individual leaders.
We aim to respect the diversity within the prayer movement and yet embrace our unified calling to mobilise prayer for the nations. (2 Chron 7:14)
If you wish to discuss the appropriateness of any articles, please contact us.

Bethlehem’s Lamb

To rekindle the glory of Christmas is to take a fresh look at the greatest love story of all time, when God’s own Son shed his garments of glory to become Bethlehem’s Lamb. This is the story where the author of the book steps into his own tale. The Word became flesh and dwells among us. He will make himself vulnerable to pain and human suffering. He will discover the feeling of a tear rolling down his cheek. He will lay his life down as a Lamb, conquering sin and death and giving eternal life to all who believe! Oh, it’s the wonder of the ages. The glory of the incarnation, God himself now with human skin! The Creator has become a created being. Staggering! He who made man is made a man. The infinite has become an infant. The Shepherd of eternity has become Bethlehem’s Lamb.

"Your mother is a cause for wonder; the Lord entered her and became a servant; he who is the Word entered her and became silent within her; thunder entered her and made no sound; there entered the Shepherd of all, and in her he became the Lamb, bleating as he came forth. Your mother's womb has reversed the roles; the Establisher of all entered in his richness, but came forth poor; the Exalted one entered her, but came forth meek, the Splendorous One entered her, but came forth having put on a lowly hue. The Mighty One entered, and put on insecurity from her womb, the Provisioner of all entered and experienced hunger, he who gives drink to all, entered and experienced thirst; naked and stripped there came forth from her he who clothes everyone."-Ephrem the Syrian

Why Bethlehem? As the prophet spoke, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in 3 Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
(Micah 5:2)

Just seven miles outside of Jerusalem, these were the same hills where David tended his lambs. After God’s announcement came to Mary and Joseph, he sent angels to the shepherds. They were “keeping watch over their flocks by night,” which was only done during the ‘lambing season,’ when the baby lambs were being born in Bethlehem (March/April).

The only people lower than the shepherds at that particular time in Jewish history were lepers. These poor, lowly, unkempt shepherds, the last people on earth you would ever suspect, have seen what no other man on earth was privileged to see. To these lowly men an angel gives them the highest theology! These despised shepherds are the first to receive the announcement of the gospel! These men are the first to learn of “great joy for all the people.”

They understand that the gospel is not just for Israel but for all the nations that all may have this joy that comes,

“through the birth of a Savior, who is Christ-the Messiah, the LORD!” This the only time in the gospels that this phrase is used.

It’s the only time we see these 3 titles of Jesus come together, Savior, Messiah, and LORD! He will save his people from their sins, Jesus is the Christ the promised Messiah to Israel and, most staggering of all, He is Lord, He is God!

The angel not only gives the gospel to the shepherds, he reveals the true identity of Christ!

It seems God believes that high theology should be given to low people!

They saw the heavens roll open as the glory of God exploded through the night sky. They watched thousands of angels in glowing splendor declaring the glory of Christ! As Hughes writes and envisions,

“A heavenly flash and suddenly the bewildered shepherds were surrounded by angels. A great company is literally a

multitude, not 50, not 150, not 1500—but beyond count. I think every one of God’s angels was there because this

was the most amazing event that had ever happened in the entire universe…Job tells us that at the creation of the

world, ‘the morning stars (angels) sang together and all the angels shouted for joy (Job 38:7). Now the angels

again joined voices at the greatest creation of all—the birth of the God-man—perfect sympathizer and Savior”

And they heard the voice of an angel declaring the birth of a Savior. “This will be a sign to you. You will see a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)

These shepherds knew that mangers were used as feeding troughs and were found in shepherd’s caves, the place where baby lambs were born and wrapped in swaddling cloths! I can only imagine as these rugged, scraggly bearded men, approached the cave, they began to tremble and weep like babies as they looked into the face of God! I can imagine these shepherds, those who carry lambs, laying them down one by one as gifts at the foot of the manger.

But these were not just any lambs. These were Bethlehem lambs, born and bred for one purpose; to be sacrificed at the temple. Because the city of David was just outside of Jerusalem, these lambs born in the hills of Bethlehem, were born to be taken to the temple in Jerusalem and slain for sacrifice. A manger, this humble crib for a king, was the perfect place for a Lamb.

Why must he be brought forth among sheep and lambs? Because he is God’s Lamb, and a shepherd’s cave is a fitting place for a lamb. Why must shepherds be first, among all the people on the earth to attend his birth? Because shepherds always attend the birth of lambs. That’s their job. That’s their calling. And most of all why must he be born in the little town of Bethlehem? Lambs set for sacrifice were born in Bethlehem. Even as young lambs were

slain in the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus-the lamb of God- would be taken to Jerusalem to be slain.

That’s why in the greatest love story ever told, Jesus was Bethlehem’s Lamb.

Dr Jason Hubbard – Executive Coordinator
International Prayer Connect

Download the full devotional series: Rekindling the Glory of Christmas

Watch the amazing series of videos of inspiring #teachustopray 15-minute devotionals by Dr Jason Hubbard, documenting ‘The wildest stories of the Praying Church from Acts until 2020’