Take it to the streets

‘ Prayer is being pushed towards the streets. The streets are being pulled to Jesus. We have stepped up and taken the mantle of prayer; now we are to step out in boldness. Take the things God has placed on your hearts in here and literally walk them out. Church walk again ' Belfast City Centre Prayer Room May 2008.

November 2007 saw the Methodist, Church of Ireland and Catholic churches in Clonakility, West Cork step up and step out by taking a shop on their main street for four weeks and open it for prayer. God challenged, blessed and surprised during this time. In May 2008 we had the opportunity to run 3 weeks of 24-7 prayer in a property in city centre Belfast, no longer only praying for mission but prayer itself had become missional as people encountered God for the first time, were reintroduced or spent time on their knees for their city in that space.
In both places the press were intrigued, the community encouraged and questioning and prayer had been taken out of the church to the streets.

 

Churches together in Newtownards in January 2009 stepped up and stepped out - lets hear their story so far...

Newtownards

Have you heard? The Word is out! Yes indeed, the Son did make His face to shine upon Newtownards on a dark and dismal stormy week in January 2009.

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The turkey was still on the menu, children where still reeling with excitement at the gifts they had so recently received and New Years Eve was a day away when members of the Newtownards Churches/ Community Forum gathered in, a specially opened church for the occasion, to organize a rota for a 24/7 Prayer Room to be opened in commercial premises in the town, which had just been made available to them. Ten churches took part in this adventure.

The premises, which had been given for 2 weeks, had lay vacant for a long time and where dirty, mouldy and in need of a good clearing out. It didn't take long for a group of expectant people, and God did not disappointment them, to transform such a place into a warm, welcoming and inviting place which became ‘home' for many, young and old during the week.

The premises opened on Thursday, 15 January at midnight and remained open for prayer until Wednesday 21 January and finished with a time of praise and thanksgiving. Through the week many hearts where touched, strengthened, restored and set free and we give thanks to God for his blessings.

The 24/7 Prayer Room brought peace, love, joy and unity to the churches involved and when the week ended, although there was sadness, there was a sense of expectancy - where do we go from here? What has God in store for us? Watch this space.....

Georgie Herron - Movilla Abbey