National
Pastors'
Prayer
Network
CITY CONNECTIONS
CLICK HERE FOR PAST UPDATES
6/29/2004
2004 Year of Prayer for Pastors
http://www.prayingpastor.com
I N T H I S U P D A T E ... and for
our prayers:
* A NOTE FROM PASTOR PHIL
1. LEARNING TO LOVE NINEVAH
2. BOOK LOOK
3. CALIFORNIA CONSULTATION ON TRANSFORMATION
4. YOUR CITY REPORT...
5. CITY IMPACT ROUNDTABLE - REGIONALS
6. NEW ENGLAND REPORT
7. CHURCHES PER PERSON; 50 LARGEST CITIES IN US
8. SPRINGFIELD, IL: PRAYER AT THE STATE CAPITOL
9. TOLEDO, OH: MARKETPLACE & AIDS INITIATIVES
10. CITYWIDE BIBLE STUDY STRATEGY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* A NOTE FROM PASTOR PHIL
The stories and strategies identified here are just the tip of the ice berg!
God continues to improve our communication, increase coordination and inspire
new collaboration!
What can you to spread information across your community or city?
Can you connect various groups of ministries so they may serve one another's
existing programs or activities?
When can you invite Christian leaders to sit and pray and talk at the same
table with a view toward new collaborative ideas and action steps?
Working together toward a John 17:23 Church,
Phil
___________________________________________________>>>
1. LEARNING TO LOVE NINEVAH
>From: Newsletter@LeadershipJournal.net
--->NPPNote:
Finding a heart for ministry in a place (or situation) you don't
like.
by Eric Reed, Leadership managing editor
"You really do love this town, don't you," I said while visiting with a
pastor-friend in a city where I once lived.
"I don't love its debauchery, I don't condone its sin; I love it enough to
confront its sin. I love it enough to stay here," he said as we drank cups of
the strong coffee the region is known for.
We talked about the new mayor and the new police chief and the old problems
with corruption and crime. We talked about the laissez faire attitude
toward morality and inherent in that the difficulty of ministering the gospel of
Christ. I wondered how he had stayed so longalmost 15 yearswhen so many pastors
had come and gone in that time.
My friend said, "When I talk with students who move here to attend seminary,
guys will often say, 'My wife hates it here. It's just not home.'"
"What do you tell them?" I asked.
"Give it a year."
It took longer than that for me, I thought. I lived in this town ten
years as a seminarian and pastor, and only in the last three or four years did
it really feel like home.
I became a student of the city and its culture. Our church sponsored a
sightseeing tour for new residents a couple of times a year, and I became the
tour guide. I could point out all the famous spots and tell the great stories.
And, of course, I found all the great eating spots in this town known for its
food, and I shared my favorites list with the newcomers.
But it was more than a year before this place that was so different from "back
home" felt remotely like home. The accents were different, the attitudes were
askew, and the message, so readily received in my more overtly "Christian"
homeland fell on deaf ears. Here I had to earn a hearing for the gospel. And
even then, the message often seemed drowned out by jazz bands, strip-bar
barkers, and shouts of "Throw me something, mister!" from inebriated parade
goers willing to offer fleshly enticements. The greater threat, the prevailing
attitude among church members: "That's just the way it is here. You'll get used
to it."
I didn't want to get used to it. Any more than Jonah wanted to get used to the
sins of Ninevah. At times I thought, If God overturns this place, they'll
deserve it, and prayed for enough notice to get out of town.
"Give it a year?" I asked, reaching for the cream, as I had forgotten how strong
the coffee is.
"During that year, I tell them, ask for a love for the place," he said. "Ask
God to show you something about the place that he loves and to give you that
love."
I did come to appreciate its history and its food, I thought. But
he's not talking about gumbo.
"I'm not saying you have to love the attitudes or the sin, but you have to love
the people enough to confront their sin and to preach against it. That's a
different kind of love. That's the call to be a Jeremiah, to preach truth about
the coming judgment and to weep while you do."
I had the wrong prophet. I was thinking of the pouting prophet and he was
talking about the crying prophet.
"During that year, you have to ask God to help you redefine love," he
concluded.
So many students I met wanted to love this city as they loved home, but the
love of home is often about familiarity and warmth. At home we derive our sense
of belonging from knowing all the names and faces, from having well defined
relationships and shared history. It's others who define usas friend, child,
sibling, parent; we love who we are in that place, and therefore it's easy to
love the place.
My wife calls this "knowing where the restrooms are." In an unfamiliar place,
it's embarrassing to ask strangers for directions to the facilities. It's easier
to stay in a familiar place, even if you aren't completely happy there, even if
you have the sense God is leading you elsewhere, because you know where the
restrooms are. The same is true of relationships and ministries. But we mustn't
confuse familiarity with love, or comfort with calling.
In unfamiliar places (or those we know, but still don't like), our sense of
belonging comes not from how others define us, but from the definition of our
callingwe are preacher, prophet, missionary, Christ-follower. And unfamiliar
places, our motivation is not that we are loved, but that we are sent to love.
Loving a place means working for its transformation, not merely embracing it in
its sinful state. This kind of love means advocating for it when other
Christians and ministers and missions organizations have given up. When we find
Christ growing within us this kind of love, we will not run from the place but
to itand its people.
For a moment I thought of my former congregation, the people I had grown to
love as family, and the meaningful ministry we had done there. Then the
conversation turned to my friend's new position. At a time when he could retire
to the country, he has agreed to stay in the city as a denominational leader. He
will plant churches and help pastors develop their love for this strange place.
"Give it a year," he will tell them, "and learn to love the place because God
sent you here. Learn to love the people and advocate for their transformation."
He told me his plans, and I drank my strong coffee, and loved it.
Eric Reed is managing editor of Leadership journal and presently
interim pastor of a church in suburban Chicago.
Copyright 2004 by the author or Christianity Today
International/Leadership Journal.
___________________________________________________>>>
2. BOOK LOOK
Recent Arrivals . . .
Building Unity in the Church of the New Millennium
Dwight Perry, General Editor * Moody Publishers
21 Chapters on Unity Between Races, Classes, Genders in the Church
http://www.moodypublishers.org/catalog.php?action=view_product&id=960
Praying Up A Storm
Daniel Bernard * Treasure House
Citywide Prayer and Revival
http://www.destinyimage.com/product_info.shtml?0768429625
___________________________________________________>>>
3. CALIFORNIA CONSULTATION ON
TRANSFORMATION
Dear Ministry Colleagues,
While disappointed at the cancellation of the Citywide Prayer Leaders
Consultation, it is greatly encouraging to announce a new meeting/focus in its
place!
If you had planned on attending the CPLC, then please do not hesitate to
join us for a Consultation on Transformation. Same dates and place. Same folks
who share a citywide vision for prayer, augmented by Christian leaders from
other ministry sectors ... A Citywide Prayer Leaders Consultation meets City
Impact Roundtable!
Hope to see you in Ventura,
Phil Miglioratti
City Impact Roundtable, Co-Convener
Church Prayer Leaders Network
CALIFORNIA CONSULTATION ON TRANSFORMATION
July 19-20, Ventura, CA
Facilitated by leaders from the following organizations: National Pastors
Prayer Network, CA National Day of Prayer, Pray California, CCNews,
International School of Reconciliation, Prayer Command Post, City Reaching
Women, Turning Point Counseling and others.
A roundtable gathering of Christian leaders looking at "church outside the
walls". We will be asking the question "How can we learn and apply more
effective ways of building bridges that serve the purposes of God in the various
expressions of leadership within a community, city or region." Our two days will
feature sessions of dialogue with leaders from different spheres of authority
(church, government, marketplace & other areas) along with roundtable
discussions and prayer. We will also dialogue on the need for emergency
preparedness for the church and opportunities for collaboration. This
consultation is in place of the gathering that was originally called: Citywide
Prayer Leaders Consultation (with a slight change of dates, focus and location).
Who will benefit?
Leaders who serve Christian congregations and organizations (pastors and
ministers), compassion organizations, denominations, ministry associations,
regional prayer leaders and those who work in the civic and commerce sectors.
Special emphasis will be placed upon the state of California, but Christian
leaders from other states are welcome to attend.
Gathering will be hosted at:
Horizon Foursquare Church
889 E. Santa Clara Street
Ventura, CA
805-648-7955
Facilitators: Phil Miglioratti (National Pastors Prayer Network
www.nppn.org/ <http://www.nppn.org/>
), Joe Walsh (CCNews www.ccnews.org/ <http://www.ccnews.org/>
PrayCalifornia/ CA National Day of Prayer), Fawn Parish (http://www.gracebridge.org/),
Lynn Heatley (Prayer Command Post www.prayercommandpost.org/ <http://www.prayercommandpost.org/>
), Sharon Barnes (http://www.cityreachingwomen.com/)
and others.
Schedule:
Monday - July 19
9-12 session 1
12-2 boxed lunch
2-5 session 2
5-7 dinner (on your own)
7-9:30 praise, prayer and application
Tuesday - July 20
9-12 session 3
12-2 boxed lunch
2-5 session 4
5-7 dinner (on your own)
7-9:30 praise, prayer and application
SUGGESTED HOTELS IN VENTURA (make your own reservations):
1. Country Inn Suites Ventura $$
298 Chestnut St
Ventura, CA 93001 US
805-653-1434
2. Holiday Inn $$$
450 E. Harbor Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001
805-648-7731
3. Pierpont Inn $$$$
550 Sanjon Rd.
Ventura, CA 93001
805-643-6144
Enjoy the coastal town of Ventura! To get a discounted hotel rate, try the
link below:
http://www.hotel-guides.us/california/ventura-ca-hotels.html
Cost of Event: Registration fee is $10 per day (you can mail in or pay at
gathering) and includes a boxed lunch. We will also be receiving an offering. If
you plan on attending, please email the following information back to Lynn
Heatley at prayercntn@aol.com or mail to
address below. If you have any questions, please call Lynn at (909) 591-1945
(this information is also posted on our website at:
http://www.prayercommandpost.org/.
Please send an email or mail to Lynn the following completed registration form:
--------------------
Registration for Consultation for City / Regional Transformation - July 19-20,
2004 Ventura, CA
NAME:
ORGANIZATION NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY: STATE: ZIP:
PHONE:
EMAIL:
DAYS YOU WILL BE ATTENDING: MONDAY (JULY 19) ___ TUESDAY (JULY 20) ___
Email this completed registration form to: Lynn at:
prayercntn@aol.com or mail to: Prayer Command Post - PO Box 1853 -
Chino, CA 91708
___________________________________________________>>>
4. YOUR CITY REPORT...
Would
encourage others!
What is God doing through your Pastors' Prayer Group or citywide ministry?
Send your story or comments to: phil@nppn.org
___________________________________________________>>>
5. CITY IMPACT ROUNDTABLE - REGIONALS
Come to participate or investigate!
Austin, TX August 3-4
Chicago, IL June 1 [ Notes & PowerPoint www.cityreaching.com]
El Paso, TX July 9, 2004
Indianapolis, IN October 7-8
Ventura, CA July 19-20 [ See item above ]
___________________________________________________>>>
* CLICK TO CONNECT
CIty Reaching & National Events
http://www.cityreaching.com/
http://www.nppn.org/calendar.htm
Pastors & Pastors'' Prayer Groups
http://www.prayingpastor.com
http://www.nppn.org/ppg/
Church Prayer Leaders Network
http://www.prayerleader.com
Subscribe To The NPPN:
http://www.nppn.org/subscribe.htm
(To Unsubscribe - See Bottom of This Message)
Contribute to the NPPN's Ministry to Cities
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/pay/T2CW7KGWMPZ9UY/058-7005927-3646454
NPPN Discount Resource Center:
http://www.nppn.org/Offers.htm
___________________________________________________>>>
6. NEW ENGLAND
REPORT
>From: "New England Concerts of Prayer" <necp@necp.org>
David Butts, president of the National Prayer Committee, reminded us recently of
the spontaneous repentance that broke loose in the meeting before the National
Day of Prayer. It led to repentance on the part of the leadership of the nation
as modeled by John Ashcroft during the National Day of Prayer. Could this be the
release of a larger corporate repentance for the sins of our nation that may
develop over this year?
We in New England are deeply aware of the breaking down of moral walls and the
shame we have borne locally as gay marriage has steamrollered through our
region. Perhaps we should remember our past in New England when the leaders of
the churches, when they saw they were under judgment, called for all the
churches to repent on the fast days. God can work all things for good. This
year, if the church comes to that place of corporate repentance that was
practiced by the Puritan fathers, and the spirit of repentance breaks upon His
people, we may truly experience 2 Chronicles 7:14. In both Uganda and Argentina,
these kinds of meetings released revival on the land.
In New England there were also times of renewing the covenant, where leaders
promised to cleave only to the Lord as our God and to Him only and to the Lord
Jesus Christ. This is the true covenant which the Church has with the Lord. It
is similar to a marriage vow. As we repent, we also need to pray for this true
covenant to be renewed and the counterfeit covenant of gay marriage renounced.
Mass. Marriage Update
We encourage you to call the primary budget decision-makers in the House to
oppose the budget amendment and support the out-of-state marriage law. They are
Speaker Thomas Finneran (D-Mattapan) (6170722-2500; Reps. Vinny DeMacedo,
(R-Plymouth) (617) 722-2100; John Rogers, (D-Norwood) ( 617) 722-2990; and Peter
Larkin (D-Pittsfield) (617) 722-2380 all of who have been with us 100% in
supporting traditional marriage. PLEASE CALL!!
Rep. Phil Travis (D-Rehoboth), one of the Legislature's most vocal supporters of
traditional marriage, Rep. Mark Carron, and Rep. James Miceli, have filed a bill
of address to remove Margaret Marshall, the chief justice of the Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court. The bill of address provision provides the Legislature
with a way to remove a judge without going through the trial of impeachment. It
simply requires both houses of the Legislature to vote in favor of removal by a
simple majority, followed then by the consent of the Governor and the Governor's
Council. It is not known when Rep. Travis' bill will be heard on the House
floor, but with the Legislative Session ending July 31, it must be soon.
Legislators should be contacted in support of this bill. In all
communication with legislators, be sure to specify that this is a bill of
address to remove only Chief Justice Margaret Marshall and is being sponsored by
Rep. Travis, and not the bill filed by Rep. Emile Goguen and supported by the
Article 8 Alliance that would remove all four justices.
Pray for Rev. Ron Crews running for Congress www.crewsforcongress.com
<http://www.crewsforcongress.com/>
Pray for Dave Funnell taking out political papers also.
Please continue to pray for passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment.
Please pray re the Partial Birth Abortion Ban; repent for the judges decision.
Please pray for the Democratic National Convention, July 26-29, at the Fleet
Center in Boston. If you would like to be a part of the near-site prayer effort
headquartered in Somerville, contact the Northeast Prayer Center,
www.northeastprayercenter.com
<http://www.northeastprayercenter.com/>
Please pray for Christians in Iraq!
Inside observers say that regardless of who is named, "all hell could break
loose" on midnight June 30, and that the remnant of the Assyrian Christian
community and other believers in Iraq could quickly be massacred. Why? Article 7
(A) of the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional
Period declares that "Islam is the official religion of the State" For more
info, check www.assyrianchristians.com
<http://www.assyrianchristians.com/>
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem for more information, check
http://www.prayforthepeaceofjerusalem.com/
<http://www.prayforthepeaceofjerusalem.com/>
MFI presents David Barton on Separation of Church and State
Friday, June 25, 2004 - 7:30-9:00 p.m. (Ice Cream Social at 6:30 p.m.)
Emerson Umbrella for the Arts - 40 Stow Street, Concord, MA
For more information and to buy tickets, please visit
http://www.mafamily.org/bartonevent.htm
<http://www.mafamily.org/bartonevent.htm> .
Chuck Pierce & Dutch Sheets Coming to Massachusetts for the 50 State Tour
Dates: Wednesday, July 14th 7:00 PM & Thursday, July 15th, 9:00 AM
Place: New Covenant Christian Church (NCCC) 1500 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA
02126
617-296-5683 (www.nccci.org
<http://www.nccci.org/> for directions)
Cost: Free an opportunity to give will be extended
There will be no Prayer Wall meeting this month.
Check our website: www.necp.org
<http://www.necp.org>
E-mail: necp@necp.org
Check also the Prayer Wall website: www.prayerwall.net
<http://www.prayerwall.net>
Tax-deductible contributions to NECP may be mailed to
7 Willow St., Beverly, MA 01915
___________________________________________________>>>
7. CHURCHES PER PERSON; 50 LARGEST CITIES IN US
>From: "Tony Danhelka" <tony@lightfirst.com>
>From: Glenn Bleakney [mailto:glenn_bleakney@yahoo.com]
Hi Tony,
Here is what I think you were looking for. Dr. Owen Weston, Director of City
Quest Adjunct Professor at ORU, Regent & UNISA, Coordinator of Doctoral Studies
at Southwestern Christian Universtiy is the source for these stats, Glenn
Bleakney
--->NPPNote: How should this
inform our strategy as we hope and pray to live in prayed for cities?
http://www.nppn.org/Articles/Article020.htm
Churches Per Population
50 Largest U.S. Cities, 2002
Church to Population
Ratio City
1:2999 San Diego
1:2512 Chicago
1:2272 New York
1:2221 San Jose
1:2126 Albuquerque
1:1957 Long Beach, CA
1:1860 Austin
1:1847 Los Angeles
1:1711 El Paso
1:1681 Virginia Beach
1:1625 Omaha
1:1592 Boston
1:1491 Philadelphia
1:1452 Milwaukee
1:1438 San Francisco
1:1397 Baltimore
1:1392 Columbus
1:1166 Tulsa
1:1116 Houston
1:1068 Oakland
1:1625 Omaha
1:1592 Boston
1:1491 Philadelphia
1:1452 Milwaukee
1:1438 San Francisco
1:1397 Baltimore
1:1392 Columbus
1:1166 Tulsa
1:1116 Houston
1:1068 Oakland
1:757 Detroit
1:751 Washington
1:681 New Orleans
1:680 Nashville
1:657 Oklahoma City
1:656 Indianapolis
1:602 Dallas
1:595 Denver
1:574 Wichita
1:401 Kansas City, MO
1:392 Cleveland
1:387 St Louis
1:371 Miami
1:325 Memphis
1:277 Atlanta
Seeking God... to impart His life-giving Spirit
We survey Your church, wondering how it can ever change. Some churches have shut
their doors. Others roll on in traditions once rich but now lifelessly
performed. Many vacillate between fervid moments and months of glumly rehearsed
rituals. No plan or program can raise such relics to life. The only way we can
live again is by Your word and Your Spirit. We can speak as You command, but
only You can breathe upon all of Your people: those who love You along with
those who have never met You. Surprise us all with a direct infusion of Your
life-giving Spirit. We declare our prayer to the people of God: "Come to life!"
Breathe upon us and we shall rise with life.
Seek God for the City 2004
Day 6 p. 20 (Ezekiel 37:3,5,10,14)
http://www.Waymakers.org
___________________________________________________>>>
8. SPRINGFIELD, IL: PRAYER AT THE
STATE CAPITOL
>From: CGDunne@aol.com
Dear Ones, we have been talking about getting together to see the National Day
of Prayer grow in IL. We have been throwing dates around for a Coordinators
Conference and something unique has crept up that I think we can piggy back on.
I was at a City Impact Roundtable meeting with Pastors and ministry leaders last
week. A dear friend of mine, he was pastor of a large church in the south
suburbs for 20 years, has quit the pastorate and has been given a charge by the
Lord to initiate prayer for our nation. He has begun Prayer Across America...a
move to bring prayer to EVERY state capitol in our nation in just one year. He
begins this year long pilgrimage in Springfield at our State Capitol on
Saturday, 9/11 2004 at 1 PM. I thought we could have everyone come to
Springfield on Friday, do our coordinators conference on Friday afternoon and
evening. Finish it up Saturday morning, then go as a group to the Capitol to
pray with Phil to send him off to the nation and we would all be free to go back
home by 2PM. Though I am calling you to a conference and to come pray with
us...this is a call to the Body of Christ as well. You can help publicize this
call in your area, as we want the masses to show up to pray with us. We want
pastors to bring their congregations. We want ministries leaders to rally their
troops and show up. It is just a unique opportunity for us, who coordinate
prayer for our nation to join a national effort and we are blessed that it
begins in IL. I have put a link to their website...want you to read it all
before you go there:
<http://www.prayeracrossamerica.org./>
I will set up the place for the conference, I may see if we can actually do it
in the Capitol...though maybe a local church would allow us to use their
facility as well. I see this a great networking opportunity to grow the NDP in
IL. Please begin to pray now how God might want to use you in this effort and
please mark you calendar and plan to come to Springfield Friday a.m. so we can
begin our conference on Friday after lunch. I will work on hotels and a good
rate for over night. I pray you will make every effort to attend. We need your
input and ideas for NDP in IL.
May God bless you for all your efforts to promote prayer for our state and
nation...I can't wait to meet you all face to face.
Love you all, in the Lord....
Claudia Dunne
National Day of Prayer Illinois Coordinator
___________________________________________________>>>
9. TOLEDO, OH: MARKETPLACE & AIDS INITIATIVES
>From: Toledo PrayerNet <surfingohio@cs.com>
Our next two initiatives:
1) The Marketplace Prayer Summit in September
I am going to try to pull together the ecumenical networks that are currently at
work in the city in an effort to attract people to the Prayer Summit. In
addition to asking pastors to help recruit the leaders they feel would benefit
from the experience.
2) The Hope Initiative.
I am not sure how to move forward on this one yet. I need to spend some more
time in prayer. The vision casting trip to Africa will be from Nov. 1 - 11. I
need to have a team of leaders of leaders that are willing to go and see first
hand what World Vision is doing there. Please pray for me....
Please check out our web site www.dawnprojects.org and also check out our joint
website with worldvision www.toledohope.com
Please keep me in prayer...
Love in Jesus, Copi
___________________________________________________>>>
10. CITYWIDE BIBLE STUDY STRATEGY
>From: "Greg Norwine" <GNorwine@ahefc.org>
We are still working on pulling together the final numbers for the Chicagos
Largest Bible Study. The best figures we have are based on sales of the
10 Keys materials. Heres out best estimate to date.
More than 70 Churches of many different denominations
Over 800 groups*
Approximately 5,000 participants**
Number of groups based on sales of video kit sets*
Participants number based on participant guide sales.**
Although the vast majority of groups were in the Chicagoland area, churches
outside the area
did participate and are reflected in the numbers.
Flyer for Your Church
We are producing a flyer that will present those Chicago statistics and
include a few testimonials from people and churches who participated. It will be
full color and quite attractive. If youd like copies of the brochure for your
church, let me know. We are printing them next week for a presentation at our
church on the 30th. If you let us know by Monday, May 23 how many you would
like, well mail some out to you. You can have up to 50 free but we may have to
charge for larger quantities.
Unlocking the Bible Across America
The Total Living Network and Moody Publishers are leading the charge to take
this 10 Keys model that was piloted here in Chicago to the rest of the country.
It will be called Unlocking the Bible Across America and will launch next
January, 2005. Its our hope that even more churches form Chicago will join the
campaign next year. More information will be coming down the line.
Thats it for now. Thanks for your involvement in Chicagos Largest Bible Study.
God has been doing some wonderful things through it.
Greg Norwine, Chicagos Largest Bible Study
___________________________________________________>>>
National Pastors'
Prayer Network
1130 Randville Drive ID, Palatine, IL 60074
847-991-0153 * 847-358-9337(fax)
http://www.nppn.org * email:
phil@nppn.org
Register your PPG:
http://www.nppn.org/ppg/
Phil Miglioratti - Coordinator: phil@nppn.org
Carol Miglioratti - Office Manager:
office@nppn.org
Sheila Straka - Intercession:
sheila@nppn.org
Chuck Straka - Web Master:
straka1@nppn.org
Adam Shields - Tech Support:
updates@nppn.org
Carol Karr - Administrative Services
___Unless clearly identified as "Personal To _____" or "Confidential" all
information and comments sent to phil@nppn.org
will be considered for use in a future NPPN Update.
___Copyright 2004. However, permission is granted to freely redistribute to
those who will partner in praying for and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
with everyone in our nation and beyond.
___Opinions reflect the views of each author or respondent, not the NPPN or any
other person or organization