If the intercessors among your congregation seem a bit livelier this week, it may be because they're rending the heavens alongside millions who gathered and will gather this week for mass prayer rallies around the nation.
Last Sunday in the heart of New York City, a reported 40,000 to 60,000 people showed up at Times Square for the third Prayer in the Square rally. More than 250 churches, 70 youth groups and countless ministries joined host Times Square Church in putting on the event, which was helped with the support and appearance of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. For one hour the gathering of believers stood under racy billboard ads down Broadway proclaiming God's sovereignty and asking Him for forgiveness and mercy upon the country.
"The Lord called us to host, fund and organize this event for the last three years," said Times Square Church Senior Pastor Carter Conlon. "He told us that the first year would establish credibility with the city, and we have received positive feedback from various city agencies, including the office of the mayor himself, commending us for honesty, order and keeping our word. The second year confirmed to local churches that this was not the beginning of some new ministry but rather a gathering for the sole purpose of one hour of prayer, in humility, with all denominations represented and no personalities or ministry showcased. Those who have attended can attest to the fact that this has been so. Everything has unfolded exactly as the Lord impressed upon our hearts it would."
On Wednesday morning, an estimated 2 million students gathered around their school flagpoles for the 20th annual See You at the Pole (SYATP) rally. Led entirely by students at each site, the event covered all ages from elementary school through college and was once again for the sake of youth crying out for their schools, communities and nation.
"Historically, youth have been at the forefront of moral and spiritual awakening in our country," said Doug Clark, director for field ministries for the National Network of Youth Ministries and a SYATP spokesman. "I really believe that when students come and there's the kind of surrender that we often see at See You at the Pole—and they're not just there to make a show and they're not there to pray in front of their friends, but they're there seeking the heart of God for their campus—that God's going to move on some of these groups and do some amazing things."
Along with these and other events, several ministry leaders have asked for increased intercession prior to and during Friday's Muslim prayer rally on Capitol Hill. In light of the 50,000-plus Muslims that are expected to show up at the event, TheCall founder Lou Engle issued an urgent call to prayer last week, and has been joined by such leaders as Shirley Dobson, chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and Nigeria-based prayer leader Mosy Madugba.
"We are calling the church of America to fast and pray that Muslims would be moved by the Holy Spirit, convicted by the testimony of Christ, and even be visited by Jesus in dreams," Engle said. "We must pray that God would restrain the spiritual powers behind Islam and grant us the great awakening that we desperately need for America."
In a recent newsletter, Intercessors for America President Emeritus Gary Bergel pointed out that Muslims have been holding Jummah prayers on Fridays in the Capitol building for several years now, and he understands why Christians would be concerned that those prayers are being made more public. But he urged supporters to respond to events such as this not "in a spirit of agitated civil religion" but with a heart of compassion for their Muslim neighbors.
"An appropriate response would be to go in our prayer closet and fall on our face—realizing our own need for mercy, grace, forgiveness and our own redemption—and see how the Lord would direct each one of us to take up this matter in prayer to pray compassionately for our Muslim neighbors," Bergel said. "If we live the gospel and demonstrate the love of Jesus, then we can defend the truth," he added. "Then we'll get a better hearing, and we'll get a better response. We won't just trigger more angry reactions." [wnd.com, 9/21/09; washingtontimes.com, 9/24/09; charismamag.com, 9/9/09-9/24/09]
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