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HOPE Heals is now on Facebook.
The National Day of Prayer
The first Thursday in May - is part of our national heritage. It is an annual observance inviting people of all faiths in the United States to pray for our nation. But for Seventh-day Adventist Christians it's a double-header. Not only is it a golden opportunity to come together to pray for our nation, it's also a perfect time to meet and pray with Christians of other faiths. I love the quote in 6T 78 that instructs us to pray with and for pastors and Christians of other fellowships. Here's a great opportunity to do that. To pray for them is easy. To pray with them completely changes the dynamics.
From a small beginning the event has grown till it now includes millions who come together in more than 40,000 different places across our nation, organized by more than 100,000 volunteers. Picture people coming together in every state - at state capitols, county court houses, on the steps of city halls and in schools, businesses, churches and homes - people who stopped their activities and gathered together to pray.
Now picture a plane circling the capitol building in your state, with its passengers praying for the governor, state legislators and other leaders, and for their state. Then realize this is exactly what is happening on the National Day of Prayer in every state in the Union.
And prayer makes a difference - not because of who we are, but because of Who is listening and has promised to answer. As Scripture assures us (Jer. 33:3):
"Call to Me and I will answer, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know."
It may surprise you to learn that the very first call for a day of prayer came from the Continental Congress in 1775, when George Washington and others of the founding fathers urged the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation. Thomas Jefferson, in 1808, said that fasting and prayer are necessary in our nation, and that the "right to pray can never be safer than in their hands [the American people] where the constitution has deposited it."
Since that time, the annual call to pray has continued, including President Lincoln's proclamation of a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer" in 1863. Looking back we discover that it has been particularly in times of trouble that our nation has paused to look up, knowing that the God of the universe has promised His guidance.
Another call to pray came from President Harry Truman, in 1952. A law was written to declare that a national day of prayer should be held nationally. Then in 1988 President Ronald Reagan, with urging from Vonette Bright and others, amended the law and permanently set the day as the first Thursday of May. Each year the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on the National Day of Prayer. Last year all 50 state governors plus the governors of the five populated US territories signed similar proclamations. This day belongs to all Americans and transcends all differences, bringing people together from all backgrounds.
The present chair of the NDP, Mrs. Shirley Dobson, reminds us:
"We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep. I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom too."
Where we live we are especially privileged this year to have Dr. and Mrs. Henry Blackaby and their grandson, Michael, as presenters on May 5, at the Towns County Conference Center here in north Georgia.
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Download the
National Day of Payer
Poster
Here. |
We do not have an Adventist church in our county, but this is the third year we've joined with other Christians in providing a prayer breakfast on the National Day of Prayer. The first year 300 came together to pray. Last year there were more than 700 - including more than 200 students from our high schools and college. This year we're praying for and expecting God will gather more than a thousand. He blesses these gatherings. We encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and plan and/or join others to pray on the National Day of Prayer - and watch God bring new friends into your life - people He wants you to love for Him.
And in Other Places
Over the past two weekends the Pacific Union was blessed with prayer gatherings where God was conspicuously at work.
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| Elizabeth Talbot spoke to a full-house at the Northern California Conference Prayer Retreat |
The Northern California Conference Prayer Retreat in Leoni Meadows, with Elizabeth Talbot, planned by Conference Prayer Coordinator, Naomi Parson and her faithful team, was blessed with a full-house and the presence of the Holy Spirit. God provides these sacred and powerful weekends as He meets the individual and corporate needs of His people.
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Pastor Gary Taber presents
Surprised by the Lord's Prayer at the SECC Prayer Breakfast |
A Prayer Breakfast for Southeastern California Conference local church Prayer Coordinators became an anointed time of prayer and sharing. Why? Because as these prayer leaders press together to pray and to share their creative ideas, it becomes a time of asking, "God, what would You like to see happen where I am?" Karen Martell, Pacific Union/Southeastern California Conference Prayer Coordinator, regularly provides these events for training, resourcing, and prayer. More than 45 churches were represented.
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| Northridge Adventurer Club at SCC Prayer Coordinators Event. |
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The Southern California Conference Prayer, Spirituality and Renewal Team, led by Janet Lui, hosted a meeting with local church Prayer Coordinators. They highlighted HOPE Heals, and the Pathways to Health in Los Angeles April 26 to April 30. Each person in attendance got a special treat when the Adventure Club from the Northridge Church presented them with a special Prayer of Blessing Card to let them know that they had all been prayed for. |
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Pastors Phil and Jan White (left) of the Simi Valley Church in Southern California have
implemented
the
Houses of Prayer Everywhere
initiative in a powerful way. Here's how Pastor Phil White describes it:
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SiMi HOP is a House of Prayer ministry at the Simi Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Simi Valley, California. We launched it on Wednesday, March 9, as a mid-week prayer experience. We start at 5:30 pm with a light supper in our campus center followed by prayer at 6:30 pm in our sanctuary. The prayer experience involves praise and petition, interspersed with singing and testimony. Our approach is very kid friendly as well. At 7:30 pm we offer a Bible study for those who wish to stay. Our opening night saw 40 people in attendance including some nonmember families.
Blessings,
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Ruthie Jacobsen
NAD Prayer Coordinator
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This Month's Zinger
God gives us His heart for people when we pray for them.
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Two weeks ago Gayle began having strokes. She had zero stroke risk factors and yet she had strokes. It took almost a week and a half of MRI's CT scans, and more before they figured it out. Gayle has pancreatic cancer that has spread to her liver. This cancer can cause strokes.
While medicine has no cure for this condition, we know the Master Physician and trust Him. We will accept His will whatever it may be.
Please keep Gayle in your prayers. God has given her to me for 40 years of love and ministry. I'm selfish enough to wish for more.
~Mike Tucker
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 You can read Mike's post and post messages of prayers and encouragement
here.
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Prayer Events - all across North America
MARCH:
South Central Conference:
South Central Conference, March 18 - 20. Shocco Pines, Alabama. The theme is:
"The Deeper Life," Prayer Summit. For more information contact
Pastor Roy Rugless, or call 615-226-6500.
Central California Conference:
Bakersfield Hillcrest Church in Central California Conference will host, "Utilize the Gift of Prayer," with Dr. Joseph Kidder, March 4-6. Joyce Mulligan is the director; for more information contact the CCC 559-347-3000.
APRIL:
Ohio California Conference:
April 1 & 2 -
Pastor Ron Halvorsen, Ohio Conference President, is providing a special Prayer Conference in Cincinnati with several guest speakers including
Pavel Goia &
Don & Ruthie Jacobsen. For more information contact the Ohio Conference - 740-397-4665
Mountain View Conference:
Charleston, West Virginia, is the site for the Mt. View Prayer Conference with Pavel Goia, the Kings Heralds Quartet, and Don and Ruthie Jacobsen, April 8 & 9. For more information contact Valerie at the Mtn View Conference office - 304-422-4581.
Kansas/Nebraska Conference:
Virgil Covel, Ministerial Director and Prayer Coordinator for the Kansas/Nebraska Conference, is also providing a Union-wide Prayer Conference with speaker, Kevin Wilfley, April 22. Contact the KS/NE Conference for more details. 785-478-4726
Southeastern Conference:
A Youth Prayer Convention, April 8 & 9,
"I Go To The Rock," is being planned by Nicolle Brisè, Prayer Coordinator for the Southeastern Conference. The Place - Majestic Life Ministries, in Orlando. Speakers are
Pastors Myron Edmonds, and
Lindsay Syeh. All are welcome. No admission fees. For more information visit: secsda.org or call 352-735-3142 ext. 127 or 130.
MAY:
Montana Conference:
Randy Maxwell is the featured speaker May 6 & 7 in Bozeman, Montana, at the Bozeman SDA Elementary Gym. For more information contact Donna Wagner - tltdonna@hotmail.com
JUNE:
June 1 - 4 , in Albuquerque, New Mexico this Centennial event is being planned with Pastor Jerry Pinzon, Texico Conference Prayer Coordinator. Included in the speakers will be
Elder Dan Jackson, President of NAD,
Jerry Pinzon, and
Don & Ruthie Jacobsen. For more information contact the Texico Conference office - 505-244-1611
This list above is a partial list. If you know of an upcoming Prayer Conference of event, please contact us with the details and we will help get the word out.
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Handprints - Highlighting and Sharing Ideas
One of the wonderful things about the stories and testimonies we share each month is that many of them include ideas that you might be able to use in your churches or prayer groups.
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If you see an article or photo with a handprint...
That means there is an idea that you may use or tweak for your own prayer ministry.
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I was not raised as a Seventh-day Adventist. We moved around a lot and I usually attended the protestant church that was most conveniently located to where we happened to live at the time. The same was true about attending Vacation Bible School.
I have been disciplined in respecting the boundaries of others. So much so, that often, when my mother would ask me to get something out of her purse, I would, instead, take it to her and let her retrieve it herself.
I was in high school when my mother asked me to go into her room and get something out of one of her dresser drawers. I resisted, "Oh no, mom. You, go get it yourself. I'm not comfortable!"
"It's okay," she interrupted, "please just get it for me. I'm too busy right now and you will be helping me."
Reluctantly I obliged. And I accidentally opened the wrong drawer. I was surprised by what I saw. I remember that moment so well. I stood there with my eyes wide open and my mouth dropped open. It took me a moment or two to scan the drawer's contents and process what I was seeing. I was looking at everything I had ever made during VBS. My mother told me that she had collected everything over the years and that that drawer was her "treasure".
As I reflect back on that spiritual marker in my life, I realize that that drawer was my mother's War Room. (If you have seen the movie, you will understand, very clearly, what I am saying.)
Jesus said,
"Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When He had placed his hands on them, He went on from there. (Matthew 19:14-15 NIV)
1. If you want to build a house of prayer you will find no more responsive group in your church than the children.
2. And when a parent sees their child pray, they begin to pray more.
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| Members of the Northridge Adventurers Club pray over each card before giving them to the local church prayer coordinators. |
We have received an overwhelmingly positive response to our stories and testimonies about children becoming a part of the
Houses of Prayer Everywhere, prayer initiative. We want to remind you that you can download free Children's Prayer Resources
here.
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All Night Call to Prayer
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Phone: 404-891-6338
ID 772 937#
Our next all-night call will be
April 7.
10:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m. (EST)
Mark that date on your calendar.
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Prayer Conference Videos
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Pray For Our Conferences and Their Leaders By Name
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Calendar
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All Night Call to Prayer - April 7
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Prayer Events
