Displaying items by tag: prayer

In Luke 15: 11-24, Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son who rejected his father and left home. But his father waited for him and welcomed him home with a party! Many of us know prodigals. Let’s commit to pray for them to come home; that they might ‘come to their senses’ and realise their loving heavenly Father is waiting to welcome them back.

(written by Jane Holloway, World Prayer Centre)

The World Prayer Centre has been journeying with The Turning since summer 2016. We provided prayer cover as this all began to develop and Jane Holloway is part of The Turning National Leadership team. We see this as a part of all that God has asking His church to get ready for in this time of unprecedented shaking – an unprecedented harvest. 

Here is an update from Yinka Oyekan, leader of The Gate in Reading: ‘On the 29th of May 2016 we began what we thought would be a one-week mission at our Baptist Church ‘The Gate’ which would possibly stretch into two weeks. In the end because of the results we were witnessing on the streets we stretched out the mission for a total of four weeks. In that time, we saw over 1850 people prayed for on the streets of Reading with many first-time commitments and rededications to Christ. Quite apart from the large numbers of responses to the gospel the sheer number of people willing to let us pray for them on the streets took us by surprise.

Seven months on from The Turning outpouring that shook our church in Reading, we have been excited to see in practice that this grace can and has been released in other cities. We have gained much insight through conducting five months of mission which has culminated in seeing over 4150 people in England and at last count over 865 in Lille in France respond in prayer to an invitation to accept Christ.

In the UK leadership teams covering over 230 towns and cities have asked us to bring The Turning to their town or city. In England, we are calling the implementation of this campaign to bring The Turning to these places ‘The Big Bang’, a campaign that will be inviting cities and towns to receive the best training we can give them prior to launching a Turning Team in their city or town. We will also be launching a similar event in several other countries in Europe where we have invitations to bring The Turning’.  December 2016

For more information http://theturning.eu

As this continues to develop we would invite you to pray with us for:

• Protection for Yinka, his family and all the leadership team for The Turning and at The Gate church
• Wisdom and continued grace to flow as they travel across the UK and beyond
• God’s presence to be experienced at every training session
• God’s kingdom to come and His will be done as churches get ready for this harvest
• For an awakening across the body of Christ to respond to the Father’s invitation
• For workers to go out into the harvest fields

Jane Holloway….

We want to encourage you, as part of the World Prayer Centre family wherever you live in the world, to support The Archbishop of Canterbury’s call for Christians to join a wave of prayer across the UK and around the world. WPC will be providing resources and updates and will be working with church leaders in Birmingham to provide prayer points and prayer events in the city.

It’s not complicated – Thy Kingdom Come are simply asking people to pray in whatever way they want and with whoever they want for others to come to know Jesus Christ.

• Everyone is asked to Pledge2Pray by visiting www.thykingdomcome.global where there are resources to help and inspire. You can sign as an individual, family, church group, church, group of churches or organisation
• As Thy Kingdom Come falls in half term week in England resources are being prepared to help families engage wherever they are on holiday

The aims are:
• For people to pray with God’s world-wide family from 25 May – 4th June - individually, as a family or as part of a church

• For prayer events to be held across churches in the UK and the world. This will culminate in many larger ‘beacon’ events in cathedrals where communities gather to worship and to pray for the empowering of the Holy Spirit for effective witness.

• For people to be transformed through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

Last year in May 2016 the Archbishops of Canterbury and York invited people to join a wave of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost. The response in May 2016 was overwhelming as hundreds of thousands joined in from churches of many denominations and different traditions around the UK and across the world.

For 2017 the vision is even bigger. The hope is to see at least 80 per cent of Church of England churches and cathedrals taking part as well as many other denominations and the churches of the world-wide Anglican Communion. Leaders from the international Methodist church, the Free churches, the Roman Catholic Church, Pentecostal churches and several of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches in the UK have all signalled their support.

“This is not a Church of England thing, it's not an Anglican thing, it's a Christian thing! “ World Prayer Centre see this as a very significant element in a fresh call to pray for our nation and expect a great move of God.
What can you do?
We would love people to champion “Thy Kingdom Come” at a local level. In February 2017, further resources and information will be available on www.thykingdomcome.global including tips and materials to download on prayer and details of prayer events and how to organize your own. Please look at these and ensure local clergy and church leaders are aware. Encourage them to engage.

UsePledge2Pray and you’ll be kept updated on new resources and information and if you’re on Facebook or Twitter reminders will be posted there.

Pray for a great wave of prayer to hit our nation and your local area. This is a really important time to keep praying – “Your Kingdom come, your will be done.”

“Jesus prayed at the Last Supper that we, those who follow Him, might ‘be one that the world might believe’. We are invited to make a lasting difference in our nations and in our world, by responding to his call to find a deep unity of purpose in prayer.” Archbishop Justin Welby

As more information becomes available we will keep all WPC family updated. It is a privilege for us at World Prayer Centre to partner with Thy Kingdom Come and for me to serve on the national steering group.

Jane Holloway National Prayer Director

1) Just wanted to share a powerful video testimony from Steve Buss (director of One Hope) and Eugene, OR!  They launched the 1church1day/1 church initiative strategy in his city a year ago!  With 39 churches today each taking a day of prayer once a month every month praying for 10 different spheres of culture in their community, connected through a simple communication plan (prayer guide and praise report) they are beginning to see measurable results to the Glory of God! 

Here is the link below! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsWmEu-BxtY

Jason Hubbard 

Light of the World

2) New Mexico Prays, a movement of churches and ministries covering New Mexico in 24/7 prayer. New Mexico is in desperate need of revival and transformation. 

Our vision is to mobilize churches and ministries all over New Mexico to unite in 24/7 prayer to see God revive the Church and transform our state. We are starting January 1, 2017.

SIGN UP: 

Go to our website and sign up your ministry to pray for our state.

http://newmexicoprays.org/sign-up/

HALF DAY OR FULL DAY: 

Choose a day of the month on which your ministry can pray for 1 full day (24 hours) or a half day (12 hours). If you are going to pray a half day, decide if you are going to pray Midnight to Noon or Noon to Midnight. 

For example, you pray the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. of every month for 2017. We would like to cover every day of the month in prayer. Please check our Calendar for available days.

http://newmexicoprays.org/calendar/calendar/

RECRUIT INTERCESSORS: 

The goal is to cover every hour of the day in prayer with at least 1 intercessor. Recruit at least 12-24 people from your ministry to cover New Mexico in prayer. People can pray from home, at work, or you can also schedule a special prayer time at your ministry to gather people in corporate prayer.

AGREE IN PRAYER:

You can include additional prayer requests, but these are the 8 main areas of need in New Mexico that we are praying for:

1. PRAY FOR THE LOST TO BE SAVED. 
2. PRAY FOR UNITY AMONG PASTORS AND CHURCHES. 
3. PRAY FOR GOD TO HEAL OUR LAND OF ABORTION. 
4. PRAY FOR DELIVERANCE FROM A SPIRIT OF VIOLENCE. 
5. PRAY FOR FREEDOM FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 
6. PRAY FOR TRANSFORMATION IN OUR ECONOMY AND EDUCATION.
7. PRAY FOR GOD TO BREAK THE SPIRIT OF WITCHCRAFT. 
8. PRAY FOR RACIAL RECONCILIATION. 

ATTACHED RESOURCES:

Church and ministry signup (24 hours)
Print and pass out during service or put at your check-in desk.

Church and ministry signup (12 hours – Midnight to Noon)
Print and pass out during service or put at your check-in desk. 

Church and ministry signup (12 hours – Noon to Midnight)
Print and pass out during service or put at your check-in desk.

Prayer Focus (8.5 x 11 landscape)
This bulletin insert is meant to share our prayer focus with your members and intercessors.

Prayer Focus (5.5 x 8.5)

Easy to attach to an email to send to your church or upload to your website.

Pastor Brian Alarid, Co-Chairman

New Mexico Prays

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

Website: https://NewMexicoPrays.org

Report on Day of Prayer January 6, 2017

   Although we were few in number, there was representation from a wide spectrum of the body of Messiah in the land; both from the Arabic speaking sector (Israeli Palestinian and West Bank Palestinian), and from the Hebrew speaking sector including Ethiopian and Russian background brothers and sisters. We experienced a strong sense of the unity of the body. This was foundational for us as we joined our hearts in corporate prayer.

   The day was very productive and we spent the majority of the time in prayer both for the Body of Messiah and the nation. We began with focused prayer based on the prayer points we had identified in our previous meeting. We sought the Lord for additional prayer points that we should be in prayer about.  After identifying further areas for prayer, we prayed into them.  (these additional points are attached)

     At the conclusion of the day, we corporately decided to continue with this initiative. Our desire is to widen the circle of those who come together in this initiative of transformative prayer. The participants were encouraged to recommend this initiative to others. We, the organizers will issue invitations to new participants.

 Evan Thomas and Lisa Loden

Prayer Points:

Prayer for ourselves and the Body of Christ

1. Need to return to our first love – Revelation 2:1-7
2. Imbalance between knowledge and obedience
3. For bridging the “generation gap” between pastors/leaders and the younger generation. (for greater sensitivity to the young people and their needs)
4. For greater sensitivity to the poverty that exists in the Body of the Messisah
5. For the congregations to be more relevant in the society
6. For recognition of the brokenness within the leadership community leading to healing and a willingness to pray with one another.
7. To identify the root causes if the young people’s disenchantment with the congregations.

Prayer for the nation

1. Pray into the issues of societal disorder, unhealthy hierarchies that leave the population oppressed or in despair
2. Pray into the issue of selfishness, sense of entitlement (particularly among young people) leading to rebellion against God.
3. Need for healthy alternative to media exposure of harmful values and ideologies
4. For God’s hand on those who inpositions of responsibility in government
5. To express radical love for government leaders
6. For the next generation
7. Romans 13:1

Lisa Loden, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

“Thy Kingdom Come” is the invitation of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to Christians around the world to pray during a focused time between Ascension and Pentecost from 25th May – 4th June 2017 that people might know Jesus Christ

The hope is that:

∙             People will commit to pray with God’s world-wide family - as a church, individually or as a family

∙             Churches will hold prayer events, such as 24-7 prayer, prayer stations and prayer walks, across the UK and in other parts of the world

∙             People will be transformed through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ

How did it begin?

In May 2016 the Archbishops of Canterbury and York invited Christians from across the Church of England to join a wave of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost. The response was astonishing as hundreds of thousands joined in from churches of many denominations and different traditions around the UK and across the world.

For 2017 the vision is even greater as more church denominations across the UK are getting involved and the invitation has gone to churches of the world-wide Anglican Communion. Participating nations that are taking part to date are: USA, Canada, Cuba, Bermuda, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Egpt, Sri Lanka, Australia, Mauritius, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Portugal.

You can join as an individual, church, network or group - the Archbishop’s invitation is simply asking people to pray in whatever way they want, with whoever they want and wherever they can, that others might know Jesus Christ.

Anyone can sign up on the website now and pledge to pray and get more information:   www.thykingdomcome.global

If you are happy to represent your denomination /network in your nation please email Nicola Martin to get more information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

“In praying 'Thy Kingdom Come' we all commit to playing our part in the renewal of the nations and the transformation of communities." Archbishop Justin Welby

Jane Holloway, World Prayer Centre, Birmingham part of Steering Group of Thy Kingdom Come

Bible Translations

Having the Bible translated into the local language is an important resource for reaching an unreached people group. The written word in their own language adds validity and acceptance to the message, as well as making it more available.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. -Hebrews 4:12

Lord Jesus,

You are the God of all, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love You and keep Your commandments. Lord we want to see the Oral and Oral Bible-less Peoples be some of those who love You and keep Your commandments.

Father we thank You for Your Word, and for those who sacrificed so much over the years so that we could have the Bible in our own language. What a blessing it is to read Your truth anytime we want. We pray Lord that you would provide that same blessing to the Every & All, to each of the Oral and Oral Bible-less Peoples around the globe.

We ask that you would accelerate the translation and distribution process for their language. We bless those who are working on this in Jesus name. We ask that You would release Your favor and grace upon them, and upon each project in the making. We ask for You to abundantly provide the funds they need to get Your Word out to the Oral and Oral Bible-less Peoples. In Jesus name, amen.

Linda Bemis

International Orality Network

[International Council Member]

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

ION Prayer Blog: IONPrayer.com  

International Orality Network

- Influencing the body of Christ to make disciples of all oral learners 

       - 80% of the world (5.7 billion) are oral learners / 1/2 are children! ~Visit: Orality.net 

http://orality.net/

On January 29, the court sentenced Petr Jasek to life in prison for espionage, to six months in prison for spreading rumours that undermine the authority of the state, to a fine of 100,000 Sudanese Pounds (approx. USD 16,000) for undertaking NGO work without a permit, and to one year in prison each (to be served consecutively) for inciting strife between communities, for entry in and photography of military areas and equipment, and illegal entry into Sudan.

Rev. Hassan Abduraheem Kodi Taour and Mr. Abdulmonem Abdumawla were each sentenced to ten years for abetting Jasek in the crime of espionage, and one year each for inciting strife between communities and spreading rumours that undermine the authority of the state (even though the legal maximum penalty for this last crime is six months in prison). All of these sentences are to be served consecutively.

The lawyers have indicated they will appeal the sentences within 15 days.

Separately, in a court case against the threatened demolition of four Christian churches, a court ruled that the authorities must supply the lawyer for the churches with an official order for the demolition of the churches. To the lawyer's dismay, the official decision does not just involve the four churches he was representing, but also applies to another 21 places of worship (most of them churches) that are scheduled for demolition.

Christians in Sudan request prayer:

1. that the three convicted Christians will know the Lord's strength and comfort during their ordeal
2. for wisdom for the lawyers defending them
3. for a fair appeal process, and that the three men will be acquitted soon
4. for an end to the increasing pressure against churches and other religious minorities in Sudan, and that Christians will know the peace of the Lord
5. that all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him 

Middle East Concern

meconcern.org

twitter.com/MiddleEConcern

facebook.com/middleeastconcern

URL for this prayer request: http://meconcern.org/2017/01/29/sudan-update-on-imprisoned-christians-8/

Global persecution of Christians has risen for the fourth year in a row and is on a "rapid rise" in Asia fueled by "extreme religious nationalism," a new report warns.

The report from Open Doors UK, released Wednesday, offers a stark picture of Christian persecution around the world.

"Religious nationalism is sweeping the globe according to figures released today as part of the Open Doors 2017 World Watch List," said Lisa Pearce, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, Catholic News Agency reported.

"Persecution levels have been rising rapidly across Asia and the Indian subcontinent, driven by extreme religious nationalism which is often tacitly condoned, and sometimes actively encouraged, by local and national governments."

According to the report, all top 10 countries with the worst persecution of Christians are in Asia and Africa.

North Korea is still the most difficult place in the world to be a Christian, with Somalia ranking second, followed by Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and Eritrea, the report found.

Other "key findings" were:

• Islamic extremism is the main engine of persecution in 14 out of the most hostile 20 countries in the World Watch List, and 35 of the top 50.
• In the Middle East, Christians face pressure under both radical and autocratic regimes.
• Over 200 million Christians in the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian experience high levels of persecution because of their faith.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/christian-persecution-middle-east-africa/2017/01/12/id/768326/

Let’s pray for the rejection and overthrow of religious nationalism and for our brothers and sisters in Christ, especially in the countries listed, who continue to suffer great abuse and even death for their faith.

‘One of the most important issues of our time is how to integrate refugees into German society. Integration works best by involvement in everyday life - in a day-care centre or school, in learning a trade or in a place of work. Here the refugees can come into direct contact with the German language and culture and can also become familiar with the social norms and customs of our society. Integration into the job market however takes time; this might be because of lack of qualifications, or few opportunities for apprenticeships or vocational training. Many refugees remain in temporary accommodation for a long time, with no prospects for work or a more permanent place to live. The ready availability of social housing is an essential component of a successful integration plan: but a home of your own must be affordable not only for refugees but also for the low wage earners, the unemployed and pensioners. These also should not be forgotten! Much patience is often expected also from them. To ensure the keeping of peace and harmony in communities, the task of effective integration requires our constant prayer.’