As we watch and pray and learn how the Lord has been speaking into the situation about what is happening in N Africa and the Middle East, we are reminded again of the importance for us as His church to be listening to how the Lord is directing and guiding us here in this season of shaking in our own nations. 2011 is seeing the continuation of the multiplication of prayer around the British Isles. Scotland is moving into its 2nd year of continuous prayer with the nations of Wales and Ireland starting this year. New initiatives and calls to prayer are springing up every week. My time in Norwich in early Feb, as they opened their new House of Prayer and a spending a day last week with leaders of the different expressions of Houses of Prayer (at Beacon HOP in Stoke on Trent) reinforces the truth that when God’s people make prayer & worship a priority, fruitful mission is the result!
Lessons from Olympic Park. The countdown is on for us to host & bless 205 nations next year. I joined with a prayer trip onto the Stratford Olympic Park site this month and was reminded of what the Lord showed me on my first visit over a year ago how much the picture of the building of this site can teach us about His desire for how He wants to see the body of Christ operating
- He is looking for a pure and holy bride (they have needed to purify and clean all the soil on the site because of the dumping that has taken place over years in E London).
- He is looking for His church to prepare the way for the Lord (the rivers have been cleaned, the landscape prepared – through our prayer, worship, obeying His word)
- His mandate for us is to bring in His kingdom together (all those working on the site have the clear goal to complete by their target dates – we should all be working in unity).
- He wants His Church to function honouring our diversity in unity (different companies to clean soil, dredge rivers, build stadiums, install IT & power etc)
- He has given us His word to guide and lead us (they are all operating to the same rules and guidelines which has led to an accident free zone).
These principles for transformation are not new, but I sense we may well need to have some more joined up strategic thinking in order to plan and work more effectively together in this next season. Answers on a post-it-note welcomed!
19th March: WPC are hosting a day on Authentic Transformation in Birmingham on 19th March with Alistair Petrie. Remember the story of Cali Columbia on the first Transformation video? Alistair is coming to share about all that God is doing around the world to both encourage and challenge us to continue to pray and work to see more of God’s kingdom released here! Do publicise it please! Everyone needs to reserve a seat.
Full details www.worldprayer.org.uk
Looking ahead to hosting the Games in 2012. – we want to encourage prayer for the release of God’s blessing and presence everywhere!
- Pray alongside the Torch Relay. We want to see united prayer take place connected to the Torch Relay, which will start on18 May 2012 and travel for 70 days visiting 3 places a day.. Once we are a bit clearer on how the prayer can be mobilised for this we will ask you to link in locally to make it happen! The places on the Torch Relay route will be announced by LOCOG by end of March 2011! www.morethangold.org.uk
2011
Days of synchronised prayer and fasting have been called by Ian Christensen (Senior Minister New Life Christian Centre International, Wembley) working with other leaders for: January 30 2011; April 30 2011; July 30 2011; November 30 2011 - full details go to www.prayerforum.org/news/national. At this meeting Keith Powell shared his prophetic insight ‘the Battle for Britain 2011’ www.suttonchristiancentre.org.
Global Day of Prayer takes place: 2-11 June:10 days; 12 June Pentecost Sunday, GDOP; 13 June-10 Sept 90 days.. We will not longer be asking those hosting single events in the UK to formally register as previously for more information www.globaldayofprayer.co.uk. For info on 500 days of prayer and Global Day of Prayer London events www.gdoplondon.com
Commonwealth Prayer Initiative 2011. The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) which brings together 54 national leaders, foreign ministers and other forums takes place in October 2011 in Perth, Australia and will be opened by the HM the Queen. Church leaders in Perth have set up the Commonwealth Prayer Initiative and already it has become a global wave of prayer as churches, ministries and even a prison have adopted nations. Several non Commonwealth nations are also participating. Find out more: www.commonwealthprayer.org
Hope (2011-2014) is the first phase of the four year programme of engaging the church in mission, see hundreds come to faith, and communities changed. Hope will provide prayer resources for use on 31st December and for January each year and seek to help churches make prayer a priority in ongoing mission. In 2011 the key mission opportunity is Easter. Hope for Easter resource book is now available which provides creative mission ideas, Easter reflections and small-group study guides.
Looking ahead: World Prayer Assembly Jakarta14-18 May 2012.
Its aim is to bring together prayer leaders, intercessors, church and marketplace leaders, children and youth to accelerate the development of an ongoing, interactive global prayer movement towards the fulfilment of Habakkuk 2:14. Brian Mills and Ian Cole from the UK are part of the planning team.. Do check out the website, think about coming and pray!
**The World Prayer Centre annual conference ‘In His Presence’ still has spaces 6-9 March 2011 at Swanwick www.worldprayer.org.uk
And that is just a few of the things that are happening! More updates www.prayerforum.org.
‘The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations’. Psalm 33:8-11
Jane J
Jane Holloway ~ Prayer Forum
Office Tel: 0121 633 7393 Cornerstone House 5 Ethel Street Birmingham B2 4BG UK
Web: www.prayerforum.org; www.worldprayer.org.uk; www.morethangold.org.uk; www.hopetogether.org.uk
