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HOPE Heals is now on Facebook.
The Church That Re-appeared
In 1594 a group of earnest Christians in Santiago, Chiapas, Mexico, banded together to build a great church building to the glory of God. The valley where they had settled was fertile and the residents wished to show their gratitude by building a house of worship. Built of stone, when finished it was 183 feet in length and the bell tower stood nearly five stories above the ground.
As the area grew, colonists began arriving from Spain. Work was plentiful and food was abundant. Tragically though, they brought with them the Plague that was ravaging Europe at the time. By the 1770s the disease had taken its toll and the village was decimated.
With no parishioners now, the building stood empty for nearly 150 years. Then, a couple of decades into the 20th century, the government of Chiapas decided to build a dam at the end of the valley and create a giant reservoir to provide drinking and agricultural water for the communities below. As the reservoir began to fill, the deserted church began to disappear. By 1966 the water reached a depth of more than a hundred feet above the bell tower that once dominated the landscape. Most residents in the nearby towns forgot the church was even there.
Then in 2000 a severe drought settled in on the valley, and by 2002 the water level had fallen enough that the old church began to re-appear. Today it's almost all visible and fishermen take curious visitors there to explore this dramatic thing that has come to life in their midst.
How like God's church, I reflected when I read the story. Like the severe drought in Mexico we are eye-witnesses to the extreme moral blight of a decadent culture all around us. Some have even elected to forget that the church is there. But then it appears, standing tall above the murky waters and many come to explore.
Jesus said that His church - a house of prayer - would be like nothing else. Surviving the storm, surviving the drought, ultimately the gates of hell would not prevail against it. And it would fulfill His purpose to be a place of healing, of victory, where miracles were common, a wonder.
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HOPE Heals
We asked some pastors to tell us what they think of when they hear the term, "Houses of Prayer." Here are some excerpts from their responses.
If the church is prayer-saturated, then every part of the life of the church is bathed and undergirded with intercession. The Board meeting is a prayer meeting. Instead of perfunctory prayer and a devotional thought at the beginning of the Board, there is earnest prayer.
Let me tell you about one young man, Kevin, the cocaine addict. God says in Psalm 50:15, 'Call to Me in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and you will glorify Me.' Kevin came to my office one Wednesday afternoon feeling desperate and hopeless. I asked him to come to the House of Prayer that night and give his testimony. He said, "I need a miracle. I don't have a testimony - only failure." As he began to describe his journey people literally ran to the front, surrounding him, praying for him - and expecting a miracle. Several weeks went by, and there were some bumps in his road, but at the prayer meeting he was prayed for, because God's family refused to give up on him. Now he is there and praying for others because He experiences God's power.
When people hear that God is working, they come - it's like a prayer revival, and God is honored.
Derek Morris, President, Hope Channel TV
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The pastor, in the Board meeting, and in any activity of the church, sets the tone and teaches the importance of prayer by demonstrating the practice for instance of stopping and praying for specific needs and praises as they arise. We can know how vital prayer is, not by what we say, but by what we do. Marriages and families are restored, depression lifted, there are fruits, answers that only God can provide when His people make prayer the most significant priority and are engaging regularly, earnestly, for one another, and for their communities.
Rick & Cindy Mercer, Pastor, Morganton, North Carolina
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First of all, the 'House of Prayer' has a pastor and staff who are committed to prayer. Prayer is intentional and modeled by the core leadership team. Prayer is practiced, on the personal level and collectively. This carries over to families of leaders, and families of members because it's taught and modeled as a top priority.
David Long, Prayer Coordinator, Southern Union Conference
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A House of Prayer - a prayer-saturated church - is filled with the atmosphere of heaven. That doesn't mean that it is without problems, but overall, there is a supernatural power in everything the church does.
Could it be that we pastors need to come to repentance for the way we have viewed prayer? What have we been missing?
We need to study, pray - individually, in families, and corporately. Every church is unique, but a praying church is growing and glowing. It's a place of healing - healing of old bitterness and hurts. It's a place of unity, compassion, pressing together."
Mark Piotrowski, Pastor, Calhoun GA, and Georgia/Cumberland Conference Prayer Coordinator
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Don & I were having lunch with Henry and his wife, Marilyn, in their home recently, so I asked him the question, "Henry, what are the most significant guidelines for 'the praying church?"
"Don't overlook the obvious," he said. "Pray. Get into the Word every day to hear God's voice - as individuals and with the body of Christ as often as you can. This is what gives us direction, authority, and power. God has a plan, and after all, that's what we need. God's people need to hear His voice and speak with Him about their daily lives, as well as the big things of the kingdom. That's important too, but what a privilege to take everything to God in prayer."
Henry Blackaby, President Emeritus, Blackaby Ministries International
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We asked Karen Martell, one of our strong west coast leaders, the same question: What comes to your mind when you hear the term, Houses of Prayer. Her answer was so profound we decided to include the entire response here:
I have never been more excited about prayer ministry than I am now. The North American Division Prayer Initiative for 2016 is really what prayer is all about - HOPE - Houses of Prayer Everywhere. "Hope" is what happens when we go into our churches, meet with committees, have board meetings, conduct programs, worship, and the individuals involved become immersed in intense, two-way conversations with God regarding (
read more...)
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We hope these comments brought up some high energy pictures in your mind.
What thoughts come to you when you hear the term Houses of Prayer Everywhere? If you have an inspired idea send it to us. We'd love to hear from you.
Blessings,
Ruthie
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Ruthie Jacobsen
NAD Prayer Coordinator
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This Month's Zinger
Criticism is the devil's counterfeit for intercessory prayer.
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 Contents
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Prayer Events - all across North America
Pray for our Camp Meetings
During the summer months we see more camp meetings, but there are so many where prayer is emphasized.
Here are a list of the camp meetings where prayer is a priority - it's only a token list. There are many more:
| June 17 - 25 |
Southern New England Conference |
| June 19 - 28 |
Canada - Alberta Conference |
| June 19 -28 |
Canada - Ontario Conference |
| June 24 - 25 |
Southeastern Conference |
| June 24 - July 2 |
Mountain View Conference |
| June 25 |
Ohio Conference |
| July 1 - 2 |
Southeastern Conference |
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| July 15 - 23 |
Central California Conference |
| July 15 - 23 |
Northern California Conference |
| July 17 - 26 |
Georgia-Cumberland Conference |
July 25 - August 2
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South Central States Conference |
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And 6 Camp Meetings across North America for the deaf!
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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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(Continued from
here.)
...plans, activities, and the challenges that face the church. The answers needed come faster than they can write them down. "Hope" happens when we trust God for what only He can do, what He wants, and what He needs to do. It is all about developing a "prayer culture" not only in our personal lives, but in our families, our ministries and our church communities. It is our understanding that nothing happens unless we pray! I have learned this lesson, often the hard way. Prayer has changed my life and my ministry.
As I see churches in the Pacific Union and across North America recognizing the need to pray - and they are - I see changes and transformations in individuals and in churches. Praying churches are growing churches! They are positive churches with a deep faith and trust that God is in control. Prayer is embedded in the very culture of the church. It is everywhere. Anyone who steps into the Sanctuary knows that "God is in this place." Everyone in the congregation is seeking and experiencing God's presence in their lives. They are deeply engaged in the activities of the church.
The leadership and members understand that prayer is like fire - one spark is all you need to instill Hope. Prayer meetings happen on a regular basis and happen everywhere, and anywhere, in church and out of church. They include small groups, prayer partners, youth, children and shut-ins. Homes become prayer houses, and workplaces become prayer walks. Classrooms become prayer rooms. "Hope" always starts with one - one person praying for God to make a change in him/her. That person then begins to pray for another, with another and then another. I have seen young people rescued from the occult, spiritually dead people resurrected to new life, vibrant ministries born, ministries blessed, people and relationships healed. An ordinary person, a humdrum ministry, a dying church, can call out to a waiting God for extraordinary answers to great big prayers.
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| She prayed that God would fill each empty chair with praying people. |
You say, "It is impossible for my church to look like that!" A young woman showed me a Sabbath School room in one of our churches - she had created a circle of chairs around the room. She told me that she faithfully sat in one of those chairs every week and prayed that God would fill each empty chair with praying people. Finally one came. Then another. Over a period of several weeks the room was filled with praying people as individuals came and sat in the empty chairs. God had birthed a "culture of prayer" and a gospel of "Hope" in that Church through the prayers of this woman. It takes time. Trust God to instill a culture of prayer in your life and your church. I truly believe that He wants us to pray for this experience. A House of Prayer is a catalyst for revival everywhere. "Hope" Heals! It starts with one. Join me and let's pray for our churches everywhere to become "Houses of Prayer."
Karen Martell, Prayer Ministries Leader, Southeastern California Conference and Pacific Union
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Children's Prayer Resources for the
Houses of Prayer Everywhere prayer initiative can be downloaded
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
July 7.
10:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m. (EDT)
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 - July 7
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