 |
|
HOPE Heals is now on Facebook.
The National Day of Prayer, first Thursday of May (as signed into law by President Ronald Reagan), is the one day for people of all faiths to come together to pray for local, state, and federal government, and the needs of our nation. There were more than 47,000 gatherings this year, in churches, synagogues, court house steps, city squares and a host of other venues, with millions of people participating. In each state there is a plane that flies over the state Capitol with people inside who are praying for that state.
This was the third year we have conducted a Prayer Breakfast for our county and an adjacent county, to come together to pray. Dr. Henry Blackaby and his wife and grandson, Michael, were our special guests. This was our largest response so far with about 750 people who filled our County Recreation and Conference Center for breakfast and a blessing. Students from our local public schools sang, and pastors and laymembers led out in the prayer times. At the close, a private jet (provided by a local business) flew over our city with the pilot and passengers praying for the two counties. After the jet was at a safe distance, a red, white, and blue balloon launch, symbolizing our prayers ascending, marked the end of the morning event.
Some of the comments overheard:
"This was wonderful. There were so many pastors who came and prayed."
"Beautiful time together. I especially loved hearing the young people sing, 'I Believe,' and 'The Star Spangled Banner!' "
"We appreciated the special prayer for the high school seniors as they came to the platform for prayer."
"Great time of unity and fellowship. We loved it."
___________________
The monthly all-night prayer calls have been life-changing - and we thank God for the participation of so many across North America. This past Thursday night we had nearly 300 accumulated hours of prayer among 170 people. One of the reasons these times are such times of healing and hope is because He does meet with us as He has promised. And the testimonies that are shared on the calls are heart-warming.
Pastor Randy Maxwell, (Washington Conference) told a story you'll like. It illustrates how our great God choreographs events behind the scenes for His eternal purposes. He is not only willing and able, but eager to save. Randy's story began with a need for a pianist in his church. The Lord provided a lady who had just begun attending church there. But they were surprised to learn that she was a graduate of the same academy from which Randy & his wife Suzette had graduated, though they had not known each other on campus. The school was Lynwood Academy, in California. Randy was impressed that this lady seemed familiar though they had never met. Turns out she was the younger sister of a very good friend of his, his former running partner. In fact, Randy had told the story many times of his friend, Phil.
As often as Randy and Phil ran together, Phil never won. Never. Randy always beat him - until the very last race their senior year. Phil finally finished first. When Randy asked him what happened, how he had run faster than ever, Phil replied, "All this time I've been running in tennis shoes, but now I got some running shoes." As Ephesians 3 teaches, how we're equipped makes a difference.
Of course Randy was delighted now to meet Phil's sister, but he was most eager to hear about Phil. But why did she seem familiar? She had been only 2 years old at the time of their races. Could this be another Holy Spirit nudge?
"He hasn't been to church for years," Phil's sister reported. "He had a negative experience in his church, and was hurt. He's never been back." She gave Pastor Randy Phil's contact information, and later that day Randy phoned him.
It was an exciting reunion. If you know Pastor Randy, you know that joy just radiates - even from his voice. He apologized to Phil for whatever had happened, and then said, "I just want to give you a special invitation to come back where you belong."
"What I really need, is to learn to pray," Phil responded. So Randy sent him a copy of his book, "If My People Pray," and Phil is beginning to sense God at work in his life once again! Our God will go to great lengths to reach someone in need.
______________
Warren Ruf pastors in New Haven, Connecticut, and is the Prayer Coordinator for the Southern New England Conference.
Josia Gowin, one of his elders and an architect, asked God to use him in the marketplace so he would know which of the people he met really needed prayer. Word got around in his church and one day a group of five women from his small group Bible Study asked if they could go with him to "learn how to do it."
|
Pastor Warren Ruf
|
Elder/Architect Josia Gowin
|
After they prayed, they decided to board a commuter train and begin looking for someone whom they thought might welcome a prayer. God led the elder to a man who was going for a job interview and was open to having someone pray for him. After praying, the elder felt impressed to give him some money and he handed the man a $20 bill. Through his tears, the other passenger confided that this was exactly the amount he needed for a prescription for his mother who was sick. At first he was reluctant to take it, but then it began to register that God was answering the prayer that had just been offered. Happenstance or God's providence? There is no word for "coincidence" in the Hebrew language. God's people had seen Him perform too many mighty miracles for that.
We invite you to join the monthly all-night prayer call - the first Thursday night of each month. Circle the next one on your calendar - Thursday, June 2. The access number is just below. Some come on and stay all night and some stay for shorter periods of time, but your presence is valued. Your story of praise is encouraging to others, and your requests are taken seriously. As we press together, we are watching God lead our churches to become Houses of Prayer - Everywhere.
God Bless,
Ruthie
Join us at 404-891-6338 - ID 772 937 #
 |
Ruthie Jacobsen
NAD Prayer Coordinator
|
|
This Month's Zinger
In some Jewish homes the parents pray the priestly prayer of blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) over their children each Friday night as they enter into God's Sabbath together.
What would our homes look like and what would we be teaching our children if we prayed that simple yet powerful prayer with them each Sabbath?
Happy Mother's Day
Happy Father's Day
|
|
 Contents
|
|
 |
Prayer Events - all across North America
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.
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:
| May 25 - 31 |
Washington Conference |
| May 28 - 31 |
Texico Conference |
|
|
| June 1-4 |
Northeastern Conference |
| June 2 - 4 |
Chesapeake Conference |
| June 6 - 8 |
Ohio Christian Bikers Camp Meeting |
| June 8 - 14 |
Kansas-Nebraska Conference |
| June 13 - 21 |
New York Conference |
| June 13 - 21 |
Carolina Conference |
| June 17 - 21 |
Northern New England Conference |
| 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 |
|
|
| July 15 - 23 |
Central California Conference |
| July 15 - 23 |
Northern California Conference |
| July 17 - 26 |
Georgia-Cumberland Conference |
July 25 - August 2
|
South Central States Conference |
|
|
|
And 6 Camp Meetings across North America for the deaf!
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
__________
It had been a long day for Lettie; a special day-for sure-but a long one, none-the-less. It was her birthday and her husband, her children and others who loved her all wanted to celebrate it with her in their own loving ways. So, by the end of the day, though she had appreciated all the outpouring of love and affection, she was tired. All she wanted to do was to go to bed.
The children were in their pajamas, and she was close to getting off her tired sore feet, when her oldest daughter disrupted her plans. "We can't go to bed yet, mommy," Angelique insisted.
"Why?" her mother asked.
"Because..."
"Because... why?"
"Just because... I can't tell you."
"Will you just go to bed, Angelique? I'm tired," her mother pleaded.
"I can't mommy."
Finally Lettie relented, "Do whatever you have to do, to get whatever you're up to over with!"
Angelique smiled and hurried off. When she returned, she had the priestly prayer of blessing card that she had gotten from the Adventure Club. (Download below). And she told her mother, "It's your birthday. And we couldn't let you go to bed until we prayed this blessing over you."
The children all gathered around their mother as Angelique prayed, "The Lord bless you, mommy, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you, mommy and give you peace."
Lettie has told me that her children pray differently ever since we have made prayer a central part of the Adventurer Club. (Fifteen minutes is allotted for the prayer ministry or for prayer focus during each meeting.)
The Prayer Ministry has used the priestly prayer of blessing as a centerpiece verse from scripture to help teach the children how to pray God's Word but also how to pray a prayer of blessing for someone.
|
|
| Adventurer Ava affectionately holds up the Mother's Day card she decorated. |
For Mother's Day we used Numbers 6:24-26 to create a simple Mother's Day Card (printed on card stock) that the children could decorate. And we have created a card for Father's Day too. (Download here.) The children were instructed to (not only give the card to their mother, but to) pray the prayer of blessing over their mother too.
|
|
Download Children's
Father's Day Card HERE |
At Northridge Church we are noticing members having deeper more enriched prayer experiences because they are being influenced by the children's deeper more enriched prayer experiences.
"...and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6
____________
Children's Prayer Resources for the
Houses of Prayer Everywhere prayer initiative can be downloaded
here.
|
|
|
All Night Call to Prayer
|
Phone: 404-891-6338
ID 772 937#
Our next all-night call will be
June 2.
10:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m. (EDT)
Mark that date on your calendar.
|
|
|
Prayer Conference Videos
|
|
|
Pray For Our Conferences and Their Leaders By Name
|
|
|
Calendar
|
All Night Call to Prayer - June 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prayer Events
