Prayer Watch International - Christmas 2019
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God With Us
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Norway
South Dakota
California
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You Are A Most Special Gift From God!
 
On behalf of Prayer Watch International (PWI), we would like to wish you a BLESSED CHRISTMAS and an ANOINTED AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
 
The year 2019 was a most precious year with many blessings and some challenges. But God has been faithful to His vision and all of His promises!
 
Phyllis and I are deeply grateful  to all of you, our prayer and ministry partners, around the world. Without your prayers and faithful support, it would simply be impossible to fulfill the Vision of Prayer  God has given to the body of Christ through PWI. May God bless you abundantly for your persistence in intercession, faithful ministry service and generous financial support during 2019 (and earlier). Your commitment and dedication to prayer and the PWI ministry of prayer continue to make a significant and abiding impact around the world!
 
May the Lord shower you and yours with His abundant grace, peace and unending joy during this Christmas Holiday Season and throughout 2020 in Jesus' Almighty and Everlasting Name!
 
Overwhelmed by God's Love, Grace and Generosity,
 
Pastor Bjørn and Phyllis Pedersen
Your Partners and Servants of Jesus Christ in
Prayer Watch International

Immanuel - God with us 
Written by: Pastor Bjorn Pedersen  

It is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:
 
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'-which means, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:22-23 NIV).
 
The angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and be a son. From the angel's declaration, we learn this important truth about Jesus - He was both God and human. The infinite, unlimited and omnipotent God of the entire universe took on the limitations of humanity so He could live, minister and die for the sins of a fallen world and bring salvation to all those who believe in Jesus.
 
Jesus  literally means "the Lord saves." Jesus came to earth from heaven to save us from sin and all of sin's consequences. It was necessary because we cannot save ourselves. No matter how good and kind we are, we cannot get rid of the sinful nature we were born with that is present in all of us. Only Jesus can do that! Jesus came to die on the cross for our sins. He paid the penalty of sin. The precious Lamb of God, Jesus, shed His blood on Calvary's cross to satisfy all of God's righteous demands for the punishment of sin and disobedience to God's will - all of them.
 
During this Holiday Season, let us remember to thank and praise Jesus for His life-giving sacrifice for our sins and iniquities. And ask Him, with the Holy Spirit's empowerment, to take wholehearted control of our lives, work and ministries. Let Christmas and the New Year be the beginning of renewal, revival, and preparation for the return of Jesus for us and our families!
 
According to Matthew 1:23, Jesus was to be called Immanuel. This was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah:
 
"All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us'" (Isaiah 7:14 NLT).
 
Jesus was God  incarnated in human flesh. Consequently, God literally was walking among us here on earth. He was here " WITH US ." The name Immanuel actually means " GOD WITH US " or " GOD IS WITH US ." This is an enormously important reality for human history and civilization. The Creator of the entire universe, in Jesus - THE IMMANUEL, was present in human society with all its limitations and weaknesses!
 
Just as impressive is the fact that, today, because of the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ is present in the life of every believer! God is present because Jesus requested the Father to send the Holy Spirit to every believer:
 
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17 NIV).
 
Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is present today in every Christian believer. Literally, God's presence is dwelling within us in the form of the Holy Spirit!
 
What Does Immanuel Mean For Us Now?

1.  It means  GOD'S PRESENCE is among us. HE IS WITHIN US.
 
The Apostle Paul recognized the importance of this reality when he wrote to the believers in Philippi:
 
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13 NIV).
 
Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit in every believer, everything is possible with the help and strength of Jesus Christ. That should encourage all of us to continue the good fight of faith!
 
The Apostle John also counted on the indwelling presence of God in every believer when encouraging them to fight against the devil and his forces:
 
"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4  NKJV).
 
          2.  God's presence in us and in our PRAYERS is what anoints and empowers our prayers.
 
"But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!" (John 15:7 NLT)
 
God's presence makes prayer lists alive and anointed expressions of God's plans and purposes. It makes prayer more than a monolog. Prayer becomes a meaningful dialog between God and us, His beloved children.
 
God's presence  gives believers effectiveness in drawing near to God in order to sense and experience His heartfelt desires, plans, even His very heart.
 
His presence changes and transforms our hearts, minds and lives to become more and more like Jesus. God's presence also can change marriages, families, churches and even entire communities. This should encourage us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the presence of God, and to pray and minister more and more with the presence of God!
 
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 
(1 Corinthians 3:16  NIV).
 
Do we fully appreciate that God of the universe lives in us by the Holy Spirit?
Shouldn't that be a powerful source of strength and confidence!
 
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16  NIV).
 
          3. God's presence in us brings HIS POWER and STRENGTH!
 
We are helpless without the power of God in our lives and in our prayers.
But the good news is that His presence makes the impossible possible for all believers. Listen to what Jesus said:
 
"'If you can'?" said Jesus.  "Everything is possible for him who believes" 
(Mark 9:23 NIV).
 
It is a powerful reality -  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH  GOD ! Immanuel reminds us again about
God's presence- GOD IS WITH US. And because He is with us and in us nothing is impossible.
 
It is the presence of God that brings earnesty, fervency and anointing in our prayers:
 
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.  (James 5:16-18 NKJV).
 
Let us be empowered by the presence of God to pray with fervency, earnesty and Holy Spirit anointing. Pray with confidence knowing that with God nothing is impossible.


We   BLESS  you , beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, with a double portion of  GOD'S PRESENCE  today and every day during 2020 to see  MAJOR BREAK-THROUGHS  for you and yours; and may you experience many new and powerful answers to your prayers  as well as  seeing "God's kingdom come and His will be done!" Praise the Lord!
PWI Leadership Training Seminar 
Pastor Herbert and Rita Lang

In September 2019, PWI returned to Europe for the  European Prayer Mission 2019 . It included a Prayer Seminar at Jesus People Church in Hof, Southern Germany. It was the first time the new Prayer Seminar, Sharp and Alert For Jesus' Return: Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus! was presented overseas. Pastor Herbert and Rita Lang were the host, hostess, and coordinators of the event. The PWI teachers were Dr. Jean Zehnder and Pastor Bjørn Pedersen. It took place the week of September 12-14. Special thanks go to Pastor Herbert and Rita Lang and their exceptionally well organized team. God bless you abundantly! The prayer seminar was well received and well attended. Praise the Lord!

 


          
 

PWI International Prayer School VI
 

                

 The second leg of the European Prayer Mission 2019 brought PWI to Lyngdal, Norway

Prayer School VI,  Strategic Intercession and Warfare Prayer, was presented by the teaching team from September 16-21.  This marks the completion of PWI Prayer Schools in Lyngdal. All seven PWI Prayer Schools have now been presented in Norway! Glory to God! The PWI teaching team was comprised of Dr. Jean Zehnder and Pastor Bjørn Pedersen. Thank you so much to Dr. Zehnder for all her wonderful help with teaching! Jean Zehnder's daughter, Lauren, and her friend, Steffan (from the Færøy Islands) were part of the PWI team. Lauren and Steffan are participants in the Sola, Norway YWAM camp. Steffan was also the Worship Leader during Prayer School VI at Å Bedehus (Church) in Lyngdal, Norway.  
Magne and Annlaug Drageland are the leaders of PWI-Norway. They and an anointed organizing committee prepared the Prayer School, provided prayer support and attended to the logistical details with skill and commitment. Thank you Magne, Annlaug and the Lyngdal prayer team and organizing committee on a job well done! The challenging topic of spiritual warfare was well received by the Prayer School participants. For Bjørn it is always a special joy to return to his former homeland, Norway. After the Prayer School he was able to spend some time with his family in the Bergen area of Western Norway.

      
 


Leadership Training Seminar

PWI returned to the  Great Sioux Nation of Lower Brule, South Dakota for the TENTH ANNIVERSARY ENGAGEMENT on August 22 - 24, 2019. The first PWI prayer engagement in the Native American community of South Dakota was Prayer School IA,  Face To Face With God , held at The Carpenter Shop in Mission, South Dakota where Bob and Theresa Stead were the pastors. This took place during the week of September 7-12, 2009. The first PWI Prayer Mission had a strong team of ten members led by Pastors Karl Kruse and Bjørn Pedersen. It was the first full Prayer School PWI had done in the Native American community - the World Premier!



 

    

On a visit to see daughter AnneMarie in Hailey, Idaho (Following the Prayer Mission to South Dakota), Pastor Bjørn (with AnneMarie and her daughter Hazel) went up on top of BALD MOUNTAIN (near Ketchum, Sun Valley, Idaho) praying for Sun Valley, Idaho, Western USA and the USA. 
Asking God for a  major spiritual break-through  over this region and the entire country: Father, may Your Kingdom Come and Your Will Be Done! 
This took place Wednesday, August 27, 2019. Praise the Lord!

 


Men of Prayer Meeting -  PWI Prayer Conference - Sermons - Prayer-Walking 
 Debbie & Pastor John Saethre

In October, Pastor John Saethre and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Easton (Fresno), CA hosted a , presented by Pastor Bj ø rn.

The PWI mission and ministry turned to California in October. On the invitation of Pastor John Saethre, PWI participated in a Community Prayer Conference, including several prayer events in the Easton area (Fresno and San Joaquin Valley) of Central California. It started Thursday morning, October 10 with an early morning Men's Regional Prayer Breakfast where Pastor Bjørn Pedersen delivered a message on Mighty Men of Prayer (6 AM). The breakfast meeting was well attended and receptive to Pastor Bjørn's encouragement to spend more time in intentional prayer, especially spiritual warfare. 


 

A PWI Prayer Conference started Friday, October 11 and continued Saturday, October 12 and culminated with a call for Healing Prayers. Many came forward to receive a Special Touch from Jesus. All sessions were well received and well attended.

 

Pastor Bjørn preached on Lord, Teach Us To Pray during Sunday morning Worship Services at Easton Presbyterian Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church, both located in Easton, California (Suburb of Fresno).  Special thanks to Pastor John and Debbie Saethre for great hospitality and precious friendships over the years!

 

At the conclusion of the Easton Prayer events, Pastor Bjørn felt called by the Holy Spirit to travel to Sacramento where he prayerwalked the State Capital Complex and prayed for (1) The State of California (2) The People of California (3) The Government of California (4) The Christian Church in California and (5) God's Plans for California (Based on Jeremiah 29:11). After some spiritual warfare, standing on Luke 10:19 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, some enemy strongholds were pulled down. He also prayed for major spiritual break-through over California.

 

The next day, October 14, 2019, Pastor Bjørn traveled to Carson City, Nevada and prayerwalked the State Capital Complex for the state of Nevada praying similarly for the five areas of concern expressed above for California. He stood on Psalm 2:8, "Ask of me and will give you the nations;" and we add, asking for "the cities and the states." That is, we ask for the city of Carson City and the State of Nevada as our inheritance in the Kingdom of God! (As well as Sacramento and California). Let's ask for all the cities and states in the USA!

 

The final official PWI event for 2019 was a Men's Breakfast held at Bellevue Heights Church in Sun City, Arizona on Monday morning, December 16, 2019. The coordinator was Don Carlson from BHC. Pastor Bjørn Pedersen spoke on David's Mighty Men and Being A Mighty Man of God - A Mighty Man of Prayer and Valor. The prayer encouragement was well attended and well received.

 
In addition to the above mentioned prayer events, there were numerous prayer meetings, prayer counseling sessions and spiritual consultations. It was a most blessed year in so many ways with several break-throughs to God's glory and the enrichment of God's people.    


Prayer Conference at Immanuel Lutheran Church (Pastor John Saethre) in Easton (Fresno), CA - October 11-12, 2019
      
         

Easton Presbyterian Church (Pastor David Abdo) where Pastor Bj ørn preached on Sunday Morning, October 13, 2019
     

Prayer walking the California State Capital and Nevada State Capital: Praying for the states, the people, the Christian Church, and God's Plan (Jer. 29:11)

 
Testimony from Pastor John Saethre 

One of the immediate fruits of the Prayer Conference is a weekly prayer emphasis initiated by one of our deacons, John Jensen.  This has been most effective during our transition time and call process for a new pastor.  We are more intentional about personal and congregational prayer.  Bjorn's ministry to our neighbor, Easton Presbyterian Church brought healing during a time of spiritual challenge.  Pastor Bjorn set a standard for what deep, abiding prayer life looks like.  We were challenged as a congregation.  Praise the Lord!

Pastor John Saethre
Immanuel Lutheran Church 

Pictured: Pastor John Saethre, Debbie, and their son Peter

 
Bellevue Heights Church - Face to Face With God Prayer Seminar

In addition to the above fall events, the year started with a three-month (13 weeks) Prayer Seminar entitled,  Face To Face With God , started on Wednesday, January 16 at Bellevue Heights Church in Sun City, Arizona . The PWI team was comprised of Phyllis Pedersen (Sun City, Arizona), Shelley Hedlund (Willmar, Minnesota), Gina Althof (Peoria, Arizona), Jan Fosen (Sun City Grand, AZ) and Pastor Bjorn Pedersen (Sun City, AZ), the Prayer Bible Teacher. Pastor Miriam Perry and PWI Prayer Coordinator Lola Reyna coordinated prayer before and during the seminar. AnneMarie Schmidt provided office, social networking and marketing support for the event.

 
PWI is especially grateful to Senior Pastor Tim Andersen, Associate Pastor David Tomb, Visitation Pastor Eddie West and the Bellevue Heights congregation for inviting PWI to conduct the prayer seminar at their church. May God abundant bless you and the powerful ministry at BHC!  
 

Upcoming Events

PWI has already received several invitations for prayer events in 2020. In May, PWI will return to the Native American Community in
Lower Brule. Pastor Bill Goodwin and the Lighthouse Christian Church have extended an invitation to return to the  Twin Cities of Minnesota area at the end of summer or the beginning of fall. Several invitations have been received from Africa (East and Central). At the present time, we are praying for an invitation from West Africa (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast). PWI has been in East, Central and South Africa, on numerous occasions, but only limitedly in West Africa. Join us in praying for God's will to be done in His time regarding this important mission, perhaps in 2020. PTL!

Ten-Point Prayer Express

International people and mountains
(1)    Praise the Lord for His love and faithfulness to PWI and His Vision of Prayer
(2)    Give God the glory for a fruitful and breakthrough year in 2019!
(3)    Pray for the PWI prayer ministries in Africa, Asia, Europe and America
(4)    Pray for possible important PWI Prayer Mission to West Africa: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast. God's Will in God's Time
(5)    Pray for the release of prayer and financial resources so the global prayer ministry of Prayer Watch international can expand and grow - inwardly in greater depth with the Lord and outwardly reaching more believers in new places around the world
(6)    Continue to pray for the Vision of Prayer God gave the body of Christ through PWI - that the Bride of Jesus will be fully ready for the return of the Groom!
(7)    Special prayers for Rev. Stephen and Shakila Jackayya in India with increasing persecution of Christians - God's protection and guidance of PWI-India, the team and ministry
(8)    Pray for other PWI international leaders: Pastor Herbert and Rita Lang (Germany); Pastor Justin and Grace Oforo (Also Evangelist Elisante Swai all Tanzania, East Africa); Pastor Abraham and Rachel Kitui (Kenya); Magne and Annlaug Drageland (Norway) and Dr. Dmitry Morev (Russia)
(9)    Pray for the PWI staff members: AnneMarie Pedersen Schmidt (Accountant), Lacey Pedersen (Media Ministry Coordinator), and Lola Reyna (Global Prayer Coordinator)
(10)   Pray for Divine Wisdom for the PWI Board of Directors making decisions congruent to God's Will and Time: Pastor Steve Brown, Ginny Britt, Shelley Hedlund, Phyllis Pedersen and Rev. Bjørn Pedersen
MARANATHA - COME, LORD JESUS!
 
Would You Consider a PWI International Ministry gift?

 
As we are nearing the end of 2019, this might be a good time to prayerfully consider an additional mission gift to PWI. 
For quick access, feel free to use the link located to the right. The global ministry of PWI is making a difference for the Kingdom of God in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas!

Your prayer, ministry, and financial support will ensure that PWI will be able to fulfill God's Prayer Vision of April 27, 1986.  Thank you for your faithful support. May God richly reward your kindness and generosity!
Gratitude and Appreciation
 
PWI, the Board of Directors, and staff want to express our  sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all of you , our prayer and ministry partners throughout the world. Without your prayers, volunteering, work,  and faithful support, it would be very difficult to carry on and carry out the  Vision of Prayer  God has given to the body of Christ through PWI. God bless you abundantly for your perseverance in intercession, invaluable ministry service, and generous financial support. Please continue to remember PWI in your prayers throughout 2020. Your devotion and dedication to prayer and the ministry of prayer continues to make a significant and abiding impact around the world!     

AND MAY GOD GRANT YOU A JOYFUL AND ANOINTED NEW YEAR 
NOW AND THROUGHOUT ALL OF 2020!

Overwhelmed by God's Love, Grace and Faithfulness,
Pastor Bjørn and Phyllis Pedersen
Servants of Jesus Christ  
Prayer Watch International