October 5, 2014 by S David Acuff

(Excerpted)

Founded by Karen Covell in 2001, the Hollywood Prayer Network began as a resource for entertainment professionals in the faith-based community; it equips creative artists and professionals to thrive personally and professionally in the arts, media, and entertainment industries.

And it just so happened they were partnering with "The National Day of Prayer" group for an event called "The Summons." For 5 days in Hollywood, strategic prayer partners from all over the US met with Hollywood Insiders to hear how God is moving in the Film and TV industry. The goal was not just to be blown away by Tinseltown stories and testimonies, but so that they could come alongside these Hollywood professionals to support them in prayer and intercession.
 
Now, there are people who pray, and then there are Prayer Warriors. Just like there are people who play paintball in the woods, and there is Seal Team 6. You must imagine that this group that gathered from across the United States was the Seal Team 6 of Intercessors. A Task Force of Prayer Ninjas headed up by Shirley Dobson.
 
Everyone was encouraged to hear that when The Hollywood Prayer Network began, they were able to find about 8 Christians around Hollywood. Today there are over 10,000. That is quite a remnant the Lord has established.

"You know it surprises me how many Christians are in the industry here," said Nathan Wisener from Colorado. "My mindset was that I didn't think there was anyone out here. You know you're always given the impression from other people that it's a very dark place. But I came here and saw some light."

Each of the Hollywood Insiders had stories about being involved in Projects that they initially wanted to run from, but told how, because they stayed, God was able to use them to change lives, redirect scripts and to be a shoulder to lean on for other crew members in crisis. Karen Covell, for instance, was mortified when she was assigned to Produce a one-hour TV story on Playboy Creator Hugh Hefner. But God had other plans.
 
It culminated with an interview in which the icon of sexual promiscuity told about being raised by harsh, distant parents who never told him they loved him. "His mother never hugged or kissed him, he said, because of her fear of germs." In the opulent Playboy Mansion, surrounded by Playboy bunnies, the interviewers brought Mr. Hefner, clad in his black pajamas, to confess that "he's still just a little boy trying to find love." They exposed his futile attempt to substitute sex for love and the pain behind the Playboy façade, the God-shaped vacuum in Mr. Hefner's heart (worldmag.com).

That interview which Hef described as "my favorite interview" opened doors for Covell to encourage him on a couple of different occasions. And baby steps like that are happening all across Los Angeles.
 
Dean Batali is a Television Writer and Executive Producer who wrote for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "That 70s Show." He talked about being the Salt and Light described in Matthew 5:13. He explained that while Salt has healing properties, in certain instances its primary use is to slow down decay. His continued prayer is for the Lord to lead him to the projects where he can do good - and from SpongeBob to UpTV it's been a fascinating journey.
 
Os Hillman is president of Marketplace Leaders, an organization whose purpose is to help men and women discover and fulfill God's complete purposes through their work and to view their work as ministry. He explained how Christians have fled from the 7 Cultural Mountains for years: Government, Education, Media, Religion, Family, Business and Arts&Entertainment. Their absence has created a void that now requires agents of change - talented and Godly individuals to climb back up those mountains to lead and direct.

Many of the Hollywood Insiders talked about their daily struggle in the workplace to be a force for the good, the true and the beautiful. They discussed openly the resistance they received from their secular co-workers - which they fully expected - but also, surprisingly, from Christians across the country who attacked them regularly.

For example, despite the major miracle for Martha Williamson to get a show on CBS Network Television about Angels dispensing God's love and mercy in every episode - "Touched by an Angel" - she got vehement letters from Christian brothers and sisters for selling out and for "hiding" Jesus and watering down the Gospel, etc.

In fact, what many of these Hollywood Insiders had found in their time in LA as they built relationships with Studios and Networks was that so many of the "anti-christian" voices in Los Angeles were people who at one time had been chewed up and spit out by the church.
Hm. Something to reflect hard upon.

So, after each Hollywood Professional had a chance to speak, the tables were turned and the Prayer Ninjas gathered around and went to work praying for each person. "I'm a Lutheran," one Producer joked, "I don't know what to do!" and the team laughed and told her to just sit there and receive their prayers. Another script writer admitted afterward that although he has been prayed for in the past, the three times he was prayed over at The Summons was unlike anything he had experienced before. With tears in his eyes, he thanked the group for their ministry, their encouragement and their Godly insight.

While one group of Prayer Ninjas sat in on various sessions, the others were sent out on buses to key locations around Hollywood, onto Studio lots, Scientology Headquarters, etc, just to walk and pray over the workers there.

"The hurts and facades of people are exacerbated in this city," lamented Dr. Lou Shirey of Oklahoma City. "I think that's what hits me so deep. A place of just insecure people who gathered together and if they can just hear the Good News of Jesus and have the security of Christ," he paused here tearing up at the thought of it, "ah, it just hits me so."

The National Day of Prayer Task Force considers this short term mission trip a huge success. "Because what we found is that God is alive and well in this city," said John Bornschein from Colorado. "He is moving in the hearts of people. We've been in Studios where the Executives are Christians, where staff are Christians, to find out there's 10,000 believers here who need us to come alongside and affirm them; letting them know that the Saints are going to be praying for them for the work that they're doing here in the Tribe of Hollywood!"

Whew. And all of this barely even scratches the surface of what took place over the last 5 days in Hollywood, California. I came away from the event with dozens of new friends, 15 business cards and industry contacts, a to-do list as long as my arm and at least 5 Prayer Ninjas who promised to pray for me, my family and my personal Hollywood Journey.

Welcome to Hollywood.

Please thank God and continue to pray for the transformation of Hollywood, an industry that has such an enormous influence on our world, either for good or evil. Our prayers will help determine which influence that will be.

"Darkness covers the earth and gross darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you," says God to Isaiah (see Isaiah 60.2). At this season of the year followers of Christ around the world remember his birth.   He came as the Light of the world to begin to dispel the darkness.   His coming was in a blaze of heavenly light - at night - when "the glory of the Lord shone around" the shepherds.   His coming was accompanied by a "bright star in the East".Thank God for Jesus.   Thank God that His coming has made a difference.

And yet - the darkness has not been entirely dispersed.   In fact, it seems that spiritual darkness has intensified.

As we look at the world we see the acceleration of the kingdom of God in certain places, but we also see the increase of evil and the acceleration of opposition to the Gospel.   When we consider the terror and trauma being meted out on millions of innocent people in the conflicts at present occurring, or we look at the political alliances and their use of power, or the subtle ways in which ungodly policies are being imposed on nations by governments, or the corruption endemic in various economies and economic practices, or the new alliances being created as power shifts take place, we are left in no doubt that the world is going through traumatic changes.

How alert are we to these changes and the challenges they bring?

If we look at the progress of the church since its beginning, we perceive that every advance has been fiercely contested by our enemy, Satan, and all his demonic powers.  Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, shared that he had been in prison frequently, been flogged severely, faced death again and again, had been beaten and stoned, and had been shipwrecked.   He had been in constant danger, often going without sleep and food, and faced many deprivations (see 2 Corinthians 11.23-29).

Today it is no different.   There are many situations on this planet where, in the past year, believers have been driven from their homes and churches, beheaded or shot, narrowly escaped death, have had to move home frequently to avoid detection, have been imprisoned for their faith, and live in constant danger.   Consider Iraq, where ancient forms of Christianity are in danger of being wiped out, and thousands of Christians have fled for their lives.   Consider Syria, where the civil war has severely affected the church.   Consider Nigeria, where despite the growth of the church in the south, the activities of Boko Haram predominantly against the Christian population, has brought kidnappings, burning of churches and the slaughter of hundreds of followers of Christ.   Consider North Korea, where the church that experienced widespread revival a century ago is now a beleaguered minority with many thousands of Christians have lost their lives or been confined permanently to harsh concentration camps.

Whilst the gospel undoubtedly has spread (there are now more believers in Christ on the planet than ever before in history), it is true to say that collectively the body of Christ is more at risk than it has probably ever been.  

However the prevailing darkness is expressed in many other ways.   Millions are being brought into or left in modern forms of enslavement.   The grip on power globally that strong secret societies have is also a severe threat to religious liberty.   It seems that there are dangerous spiritual factors at work.   The powers behind false religions, religious fundamentalism, global terrorism, political and financial alliances and the primary sources of manipulation need to be understood and counteracted by well-targeted prayer.

In the past year or more, the IPC has begun to bring into being a global task force to focus on the dark places and dark powers.   There have been consultations with a few leaders in North America and in Europe.   The working group for Europe has met three times in the past year, and has explored some of both the historical and contemporary influences that have been at work in the Continent, that God first chose for the Gospel to spread, but which is in urgent need of re-evangelising.   A gathering in June in Macedonia sought to address some of the issues raised by the two 20th Century world wars (recalled and commemorated Continent-wide during the past year), which made Europe the most blood-stained Continent in the world.   Over 100 million people were estimated to have died in these two wars!    The Europe group, who met last month in Greece, wants to tackle in on-site prayer and through teaching some of the factors that we have been up against, and to release a spirit of hope in the Continent that things can change and that revival can again be experienced.

A day conference in South East Asia last September will, it is hoped, be followed by a consultation in South Asia in the first half of 2015.   Those we have brought together globally have experience of spiritual warfare and knowledge of principalities and powers on each of the Continents.   We are together seeking to understand better what we are up against, how the enemy has been at work throughout history, and where his power, time and attention is focussed today, and how modern forms of communication are aiding his work.   

A book, examining in more detail how our enemy Satan works in individuals, communities, nations and through Governments and other institutions of power, and how we can combat him, is being written.   The church, particularly in the West, needs to be reminded of what we are up against and how we can take our stand against the devil and his schemes.   Interestingly, leaders in Africa are well aware of the demonic powers they face.   Many have written books on the subject.   But in Westernised nations there is religious debate even about whether Satan actually exists!   Fortunately Scripture is not silent about this.   Satan is mentioned over 50 times in the New Testament.   Jesus Himself knew that his calling was to preach, heal the sick and cast out demons (see Matthew 4. 23-24).   He commissioned his disciples to do the same (see Matthew 10. 7-8).
 
We are looking for connections with practitioners, researchers, those with knowledge of how Satan has worked in different cultures, with a view to seeing more regional consultations taking place.   We are wanting to connect with people who are active in the seven pillars of society and have understanding as to what agencies Satan is using today, and has used in history.   If you are such a person, or know anyone who is, please get in touch with us, with a short bio concerning what you have been involved with, and in which country you are based.   We have a name for the group, but do not wish to release it in an open context such as this!

So, at this season of the year, our call is for more intentional prayer for more of the light of God and less of the darkness of the evil one in society around us, and in the rest of the world.

Brian Mills

IPC Senior Advisor
Email contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.