National
Pastors' Prayer
Network
CONNECTIONS + CONVERSATIONS -
09/17/2002
Our Mission
...Networking Pastors and
Prayer Leaders
...Toward The Completion of The Great Commission
...Pastors' Prayer Groups Serving Every
Neighborhood & Community in America
...Citywide Pastors and Intercessors Partnerships
...Prayer Networks Focused On Community
Transformation
...Serving The LightHouse
Movement
...A
Global Network of National Pastors' Prayer Networks
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I N T H I S U P D A T E
... and for our prayers:
Praying the Bible: The Book of Prayers
Wesley & Stacey Campbell
A great book for prayer meeting facilitators!
$14.99 list - To receive the Special NPPN Discount, call:
1-800-4GOSPEL
Order Code = NPPN
"What a wonderful and timely book! For years I’ve longed to see a
compilation of practical, biblical prayers set forth in a simple way to teach
believers how to pray the Bible. No prayer is more powerful than that which
pleads God’s promises. This marvelous book is clearly a heaven-sent answer in
response to that deep desire."
Dr. Dick Eastman - International President, Every Home
For Christ
*
A NOTE FROM PASTOR PHIL
1. A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONNECTION
2. "SO WHAT?"
3. NEED A CONNECTION?
4. CHARLOTTE, NC: THE CHURCH NEEDS C.P.R
5. HOUSTON, TX: PURSUING RECONCILIATION
6. CHRISTIAN MEDIA ALLIANCE FORMS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL
7. CHICAGO: JESUS VIDEO IN THE MARKETPLACE
8. WHY CITY MOVEMENTS STALL: “WHAT DO YOU THINK?”
9. CITY REACHING:
QUOTE; UNQUOTE
10. PHOENIX: FAITH-BASED PRAYER RALLY
11. TALLADEGA: PPGs FROM 21 SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES
12. BOOKS RECEIVED...
13. SEE YOU AT THE POLE: WE NEED YOUR HELP
14. ATHENS, GA: COALITION FOR TRANSFORMATION
15. CHICAGO: ONE GREAT CITY FEEDBACK
* A NOTE FROM PASTOR PHIL
Several items --
> City Impact Roundtable is shaping up to be a gathering that will bring
together leaders from cities across the country for research, interaction,
prayer and strategic planning for community transformation. Early-bird
registration has been extended to September 30th: http://www.missionamerica.org
or call 760/ 200-2707.
> "Thank you!" to those who give us encouragement along the way ...
"Just wanted to say thank you again for your
ministry here yesterday. It's not easy to sub for a pastor on vacation, and we
made it extra difficult with our four-service schedule. But you did a wonderful
job of opening the scriptures and transmitting some of the Lord's passion for
prayer. We are very grateful."
> If you follow our personal ministry but are not on our snail mail or e-mail
list, then you missed this update from my wife, Carol ...
In 1980 my husband Phil and I
enrolled our youngest daughter in the four-year-old program at Children of the
Shepherd Preschool. Little did we know at the time the significance that action
would have on our family's life. That year and the following year I was asked to
be a part of the Preschool Board. A special time of working with women who had
the same vision as myself in regards to the importance of early childhood
education wrapped in spiritual love and modeling. The Preschool Board asked me
to be a part of the staff in 1982. Twenty years later I look back with a full
heart, warm memories, and a sense of "making a difference".
When I arrived on the scene the Preschool Board and Staff had already been
impacting children and their families for eleven years. A strong philosophy and
foundation had been built by Pastors, lay individuals and community volunteers
involved with the Preschool in those early years. Those interested in the
ministry of the Preschool are indebted to these people and the vision they had
for a ministry reaching into the community. Many families (LCGS and community)
have been touched, helped and influenced by the purposefulness of the people
involved from the time the Preschool came into existence. God's love has been
shared and poured out on the many families who have joined the Preschool. We are
also indebted to the many Volunteers and Staff who came to the Preschool after
the beginning years. They held true to the philosophy that was set at the birth
of the Preschool. It has been my privilege to be a part of the Staff for twenty
years fulfilling the vision set back in 1969.
Leaving the position of Director has been a difficult, yet easy decision.
Difficult, because my heart is attached to this place where children grow and
learn along with their moms and dads. Easy, because I know God has called me to
a new chapter in my life and has provided a very able replacement to continue
doing His work at Children of the Shepherd. It saddens me to think of my
life without all the children and their special families being a part of my
life. No day goes by without my gratefulness to God for the most wonderful job
anyone could have for 20 years. But ... God has spoken to my heart and is
leading me to work alongside Phil building the ministry of Prayer, Inc. The goal
of the ministry is to bring Pastors, Churches, families and individuals together
to learn about prayer, pray together and pray for their community. In the
beginning my role will be as an administrative assistant but who knows what God
has planned down the road. The Preschool will be in the very able and
loving hands of Kathy Zeivel. She shares the vision of the founding individuals
and feels God tapping her on the shoulder to continue building the Preschool
ministry. It is easy to hand over the baton to Kathy. She loves God and hears
His voice leading her to the position of Director.
I am reminded of something I read a number of years ago:
God's voice is the best sound I can hear.
He speaks to me as a helper to encourage,
as a friend to support,
as a shepherd to guide and
as a teacher to instruct!
I am so glad that a personal relationship with God through Jesus means I
have a Shepherd!
One of my favorite books is by Philip Keller. He looks at the 23rd Psalm (The
Lord is My Shepherd) through the eyes of a shepherd and talks about the
relationship between sheep and their shepherd. That tender relationship has been
an excellent example to me of how God feels about me (each one of us!). It has
also been helpful as an example of how to love the children who arrive at
Preschool and are in our care. If you are a Church member or a Preschool alum I
would ask that you consider how you can help Kathy, as Director, to love the
children that God brings to Children of the Shepherd Preschool. How can you help
bring these children to the knowledge that the Good Shepherd loves them?
It seems fitting to leave you with a prayer that Paul prayed for the Church of
Ephesus:
“When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I
fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and
on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you
mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be
more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down
deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to
understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how
deep His love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so
great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the
fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to
accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May He be
given glory in the church, (and in the Preschool!) and in Christ Jesus forever
and ever through endless ages. Amen.
In His care and love,
Carol Miglioratti
I would also welcome prayer for any of these upcoming meetings:
Grateful for your interest and concern!
Phil
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Fred Berry" <godstones@hotmail.com>
Southern CA SPN has begun to see much success with our Native American
brothers and sisters. Very soon we will merge our groups together. Please
connect your part to the whole of Southern California. Thanks for praying for
Fred and Wilma and the San Diego team lead by Judy and Keat Wade. Awesome job
everyone. Just a reminder, Chuck Pierce will meet with the SPN team at Jubliee
church at the end of Sept. Call Charles Dollittle for details or leave me a
message. Please read the word of the Lord for today!
Regards, Fred Berry, Southern CA SPN
http://www.joshuam.org
323-780-9983
___________________________________________________>>>
Send us a 3 -5 sentence emessage to encourage the other 700 PPG's across the
nation. Click on phil@nppn.org
Or, take a moment to review / revise your contact information...
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: Pastor's Weekly Briefing <pwb@fotf.org>
>By H.B. London, Jr.
When I was pastoring, the Labor Day weekend always signaled
the end of summer. The following Sunday was our "back-to-school"
event, which was a kind of kickoff to the new fall programming. Well, things
have changed a great deal in the past decade, but I'd imagine for most of you,
when September rolls around, you are thrilled to see your people back in their
pews.
We have been pretty busy the last few weeks here in Pastoral
Ministries. In addition to the excitement generated by the 25th Anniversary
Celebration, our Pastoral Care Line team have handled 1,310 calls during June
and July. Eldon, Ralph, Roger, Alex and George continue to provide a valuable
service to pastors around the world.
What do our colleagues call about? In June, pastoral family
issues was the leading category of calls at 17.5%; personal issues followed at
15.3%; church issues were next at 13.6%; followed by sexual issues at 12.1%. In
July, for the first time we can remember, sexual issues dropped below 10% of the
calls. Family issues led again at 22.3%; followed by church issues at 16.4%;
personal issues at 15.6%; and sexual issues 8.1%. In June, 32% of the calls were
from pastors' spouses, 68% from the pastor. In July, 61% were from pastors.
We're here for you. If you need to talk, call us toll-free at
877-233-4455. We will listen. Have a great holiday weekend!
THE PASTOR'S WEEKLY BRIEFING is published each Thursday
evening for pastors and other Christian leaders by the Pastoral Ministries
department of Focus on the Family, a ministry sustained by the prayers and
contributions of supporters.
For additional information, encouragement and support,
visit our Web site at http://www.parsonage.org.
For a listening ear, referrals or prayer in a time of
crisis, pastoral families are encouraged to call our toll-free Pastoral Care
Line at (877) 233-4455.
Copyright (c) 2002, Focus on the Family. All rights reserved.
International copyright secured.
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Metrolina PrayerLetter" <prayer@metrolinaprayer.net>
C.P.R. = Churches Praying for Revival
We want to see our city and region touched by a great movement of God. We want
to see churches transformed by revival. We want to see many who need to know
Jesus born again into the Kingdom of God. But no single congregation can be
responsible for this God-sized vision. It will take the Church of the city,
gathering and praying in Jesus’ name that the Lord God will move among us in a
reviving way. It’s true: the Church of the Charlotte area needs C.P.R. -
Churches Praying for Revival. We must unite in prayer, and find God’s ways to
connect with churches that have the same longing and hope, doing Kingdom-focused
ministry together.
Consider what Pastor Francis Frangipane has written:
It will take a citywide church to win the citywide war. Our separate, isolated
efforts will not stop the flood of increasing evil in our cities if we, as
Christ’s church, remain isolated from each other. You may challenge that
thought, but it was none other than Jesus Himself who said, "Any city or
house divided against itself shall not stand" (Matthew 12:25).
In a very real sense, every Christian is part of the Lord’s eternal house.
However, the house of the Lord is functional only as we are "built
together," where the church becomes a dwelling of God in the Spirit
(Ephesians 2:19-22). So, we can define the house of the Lord as that living,
united, praying church in a city or region. The Lord’s house consists of
evangelicals and Pentecostals, traditional churches and charismatics; it will be
free of racial, denominational and class prejudices. They will simply be
Christians in the city who know Jesus as Lord, believe in the truth of the
Scriptures and are committed to one another as God’s family. Although they
continue to maintain their affiliations and identities as congregations, they
will be uniquely anointed to bring healing to their communities.
Yes, revival is coming. But we should be forewarned: this moving of God will not
impact every city. Areas where the church is yet divided will be bypassed;
darkness will continue to increase in such areas. Indeed, in most cases, the
obstacle hindering revival will not only be the devil; it will be the stronghold
of religious pride and self-contentment in the church. Let us remember with
sobriety the warning of John the Baptist: "Every mountain and hill shall be
brought low" (Luke 3:5)...
Pride must go and humility before God and with one another must come. God will
give grace to the humble, and together, they will bring a new purity to
Christianity. They will speak with lasting credibility of Christ’s
forgiveness; they will be examples of His love toward one another.
(From: The House of the Lord by Francis Frangipane. Used by permission.)
Will you join other Christians in prayer for revival? Will your church be one of
the Churches Praying for Revival?
We will meet with a different church on the fourth Saturday of each month at 6
pm, worshiping and praying together in churches of various denominations. If you
have questions, please call 704.377.9953.
Bob Lowman, Executive Director, Metrolina Prayer Network
http://www.metrolinaprayer.net
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: RArcher821@aol.com
Houston is the fourth largest city in the US with a population approaching 5
million. It is also a very diverse city with large Hispanic, African American
and Asian communities.
The Galveston-Houston Port is one of the largest in America and an important
port of entry and gateway to Texas and the country. Much of the petroleum
processing for the country occurs here (we've loved the gas prices in Texas).
There are a number of significant universities here as well as a large medical
community both of which are on the cutting edge of research and development in
their respective areas.
Among the founders of Houston are the Allen Brothers from New York who came
here, purchased swampy land on the bayous and then marketed it as prime real
estate. The Enron collapse is just another in a series of predatory business
practices which have defrauded employees and investors resulting in devastation,
hopelessness and even death. You may recall the energy crisis of the 80s when,
again, thousands lost their jobs and life savings as property values dropped
through the floor and people ended up just walking away from their homes and
defaulting on the loans - also in Houston. I believe God is wanting to turn that
all around, use it to get people's eyes of money, wealth and success onto Jesus
Christ and the gospel. Could it be that big business - which Satan has used so
effectively to give a black eye to Houston (and many other North American
cities) - might just be the catalytic institution, alongside the Church, to
bring righteousness, justice and healing to the people here.
The other side of the coin is that Houston is a busy, beautiful, active city
(though the traffic's a nightmare). The Church of Jesus Christ is very vibrant
and visionary. There are three church in the city with congregations numbering
between 15,000-25,000 people and hundreds smaller ones, of course. A significant
city-reaching effort under the leadership of Doug Springer (Somebody Cares), Jim
Herrington & Ruben Autry (Mission Houston), Khanh Huynh (Vietnamese Baptist
Churches), Albert Salazar (one of the leading Hispanic pastors of the city) and
many, many more.
Along with Chris & Dee Beam, our original "couple of peace" in the
city and pastors of two Worldwide Church of God congregations (Houston &
Lufkin), we were able to meet with these leaders last week. We learned a great
deal about the city - Pastor's Prayer Summits, the city-reaching initiative
that's been underway for over 5 years, many mapping and reconciliation efforts
that have already taken place. We also had the opportunity to share our vision
for establishing a Reconciliation Roundtable in the city.
I'm pleased to report that they extended a very warm invitation to the IRC to
come to Houston, begin recruiting and training reconcilers with the view to
having a citywide reconciliation consultation in the near future. We've asked
Christ and Dee to carry the ball in continuing to build relationships and
develop a core group of people passionate and gifted for reconciliation.
Last night (February, 2002) we had the privilege of attending a citywide prayer
gathering at First Baptist Church. There were probably between 2,000-3,000
people present. The worship was spiritual and inspiring, Beth Moore brought a
powerful prophetic message from the Word, and there was an unhurried season of
prayer for Houston and the nation. God is alive and well in Houston and His
Church is being prepared for a powerful move of God's Spirit for Houston, Texas
and our nation.
I leave you by asking you to be in prayer for the City of Houston, for the
Church of Houston, for all the wonderful, humble men and women of God whom we've
been privileged to meet and interact with and especially for Chris & Dee
Beam as they prayerfully pursue seeing the ministry of healing and
reconciliation take on the form Jesus desires for this city.
Your Brother in Christ Jesus, Ron Archer
International Reconciliation Coalition - a 501c3, nonprofit,
interdenominational, donor supported, prayer mobilization and networking
ministry. Our vision is to bring the whole Christian Church together in the
Spirit of Christ to accomplish what God wants to do in our city, church and
state. We are waiting on God to see a spiritual revival that will transform
whole communities. Our goal is to mobilize united prayer efforts through a
variety of prayer leadership activity that is persistent, united and strategic.
We will seek to teach, train and mobilize local churches into prayer
activity for their church and community that will lead to transformation of our
city and region.
___________________________________________________>>>
LOS ANGELES, CA (August 22, 2002) The Christian Film & Television
Commission, as a partner in The Mission America Coalition, has launched a new
Media Alliance of Christians working in the entertainment industry. The Mission
America Coalition represents some 80-plus denominations and over 350 para-church
organizations across the nation while the Christian Film & Television
Commission represents a broad range of Christian churches and organizations in
Hollywood.
The mission of the Media Alliance is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ
through movies and television, as well as music and other mass media.
More than 40 top media leaders in movies, television and music gathered in
Los Angeles for a two-day conference August 19-20, to discuss the impact
Christians are making on the media and to strategize for the future. Dr. Ted
Baehr, Chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission ministry (CFTVC)
and Dr. Cornell (Corkie) Haan, National Facilitator of Ministry Networks for The
Mission America Coalition, will lead a strategic planning group from the Media
Alliance to build membership in the Alliance and increase the influence of
Christians in the entertainment industry.
The committee will also help Alliance members keep in contact with one another
and reach out to the members of Mission America, including the friends and
supporters of Dr. Baehr and CFTVC. "As Dr. Baehr pointed out with his
detailed economic analysis of the entertainment industry, in the last five
years, significant impact has been made to influence the media," Dr. Haan
said. "There's a long way to go, however. The Church still needs to be the
anchor, and prayer needs to be a significant part of everything we do."
At the conference, Dr. Baehr noted that people in the United States donate more
than $80 billion to churches each year and more than $200 billion to charities
overall, but Hollywood only earns $8 billion at the box office and $21 billion
at the video store. Yet, the average child, by the time they are 17, will spend
more than 40,000 hours with the mass media, but only 800 hours at church if they
attend regularly and only 2,000 hours with their parents.
"Although there have been many meetings of people of faith and values who
are players in the entertainment industry," Dr. Baehr said after the
conference, "it has been rare for a group to come together which is so
enthusiastic about the cause concept of supporting the Great Commission and
about working together. "The conference went extraordinarily well," he
added. "There was a great deal of cooperation and enthusiasm. From a
Mission America perspective, it will help thousands of Christian leaders to
understand the mass media of entertainment and understand how to work with the
mass media of entertainment. From a Christian Film & Television Commission
perspective, it helped us fulfill our goals of redeeming the values of the media
by encouraging and equipping key players and by connecting them to the vast
resources of Mission America."
The conference attendees discussed some of the projects they are planning or
producing and discussed ways to promote, market and distribute them. Making
first-rate, entertaining products focusing on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the
Church, the Bible and positive Christian values, was their prime concern.
"We want to help people of faith and values lift up the Truth that will set
men and women free in the midst of the real world where real people with real
problems live,” Dr. Baehr said, adding “That Truth is rooted in Jesus
Christ, Who redeems all those who call on Him. Regrettably, many people don't
know anything about Jesus anymore. Many have turned to men to solve their
problems rather than to God." "This is one of the greatest times
in history for Christians to impact the secular world," said Penelope
Foster, a producer from Eagle Rock Entertainment. "Let's be very bold and
move forward."
Another producer commented, "Another splendid and meaningful conference! I
was especially delighted and awed that [our group] agreed to take action ASAP on
forming a 'Children's Media Alliance,' something we have talked about for
literally years." "You are representing the Kingdom of God," Rev.
Glenn Plummer, chairman of the National Religious Broadcasters, told the
conference attendees during one of the major prayer sessions. "Jesus has
one Kingdom. He's called us to go out and change the world, change families, and
change people's lives." Haan and Baehr encouraged all Christians everywhere
to pray for the unity and success of the new Media Alliance, The Mission America
Coalition and The Christian Film & Television Commission ministry and to
urge their families and leaders to get behind it.
Media Note: For more information on the Media Alliance, call Dr. Ted Baehr,
Chairman of the Steering Committee at (805) 383-2000.
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Robert M. Cosby" <jvpoa@juno.com>
The JESUS Video Project of Alabama wants to distribute JESUS to a few select
businessmen in the Chicago area 10.12.02 - 10.16.02 AD. If you would like
to participate in hosting this outreach with your home or as a driver, please
write to Dr. Bob Cosby at JVPOA@juno.com
.
Bob Cosby, M. D. ><>
The JESUS Video Project of Alabama, Inc.
3508 Cheshire Drive, Birmingham, AL 35242-3100
Tel / fax: (205) 991-6054
Email: jvpoa@juno.com
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: Bob Fox <bobfox@metro-design-group.com>
Date: 27 Jun 2002 21:35:21 -0000
May I share why city-wide movements are stalled? I could be wrong but I sense
that God has withdrawn the grace we once had to pull it off voluntarily, i.e--out
of obedience to scripture. Now, I believe God may be in the process of giving
the Church throughout the world more painful reasons to come together in unity
and prayer. It seems that we have entered into a new season of pain worldwide (
911 is one example) that will shake the sleeping, apathetic Church awake so that
more can be saved when God visits our lands. Kind of like Acts where persecution
apparently had to shove the believers out of town to fulfill Acts1:8. There is
no mention of their obedience ( except Philip) to the Great Commission or 1:8
prior to the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom. What do you think?
Bob
--->NPPNote:
Thanks Bob, for your response to a previous
posting and for your question. I’ll ask NPPN readers to reply to
<Updates@nppn.org> (please also copy Bob at <bobfox@metro-design-group.com>)
-- Let’s see what Pastors and Intercessors and City Reachers have to say...
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Tony Danhelka" <Tony@lightfirst.com>
The Fundamental Mandate is:
"To promote a fervent pursuit of God that attracts his favor and results in
loving unity and a revival of the Body of Christ across denominational, ethnic,
and cultural lines, such that out of the unity and frequent worshipful prayer
will emerge God-breathed strategies that minister his grace and mercy to the
city."
(Dave Byrant quotes Tom White in Tom's book...City Wide Prayer Movements (One
Church, Many Congregations) 2001)
___________________________________________________>>>
10. PHOENIX:
FAITH-BASED PRAYER RALLY
>From: "STEVE PHINNEY" <sphinney5@msn.com>
Stand Up America, Phoenix Theological Seminary, Help4Kidz and AACFA - thanks
each of you that attended the Prayer Rally!
The event was a complete success! As Matt Salmons stated, this speech was "one
of the most important speeches I will deliver." His challenge to
the Faith-Based Community was timely, personal and full of hope. Matt's speech
was followed by leaders praying for the leadership of our state:
Dr. Corkie Haan, Presidents Prayer Gram - Our President.
Matt Salmon, governor candidate - The Governors Office
Jan Brewer, candidate for Sec. of State - Office of
Secretary of State
Senator David Petersen, candidate Treasury - Office of
State Treasury
Bobby Torres, Teen Reach - Department of Justice
Youth representative from Teen Reach - Business
Community
Leo Godzich, Associate Pastor Phoenix 1st Assembly -
Church/Ministries
Matt Nystrom, Victorious Christian Living Int. - Youth
Kiki White, 11 yr old from Help4Kidz - Children
Pam Gilbert, TBN - Hispanic Community
Eve Nunez, Help4Kids - Open Prayer Session
The prayer time was followed by assigning prayer partners. Each
prayer partner agreed to pray for another leader for a minimum of one year. It
has been decided to conduct the AZ Prayer Rally on a quarterly basis.
Please continue to pray for unity and a collaborative work between
faith-based leaders through out the state of Arizona.
September 23-27 - AACFA/IOM AZ Faith-Based Federal Chaplains Workshop,
training for nonprofit leaders to be certified as a Federal Chaplin. You
do not need to be a pastor to be certified! For registration information to the
above events contact AACFA at: 602-292-2985
Stephen R. Phinney, President, Arizona Alliance for Community & Faith-Based
Action, 5045 N. 12th St.~Suite 100~ Phoenix, AZ 85014 - http: //www.aacfa.org
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: Doug Small [mailto:dougsmall@aliveministries.org]
The Talladega gathering was the "best yet!" Attended by prayer leaders
from 21 communities across the south, the city-reports were overwhelming. In
city after city, there is evidence that God is working in an extraordinary way
among pastoral groups as they pray.
Two of the most stirring challenges came from Dee Duke, a conservative Baptist
pastor whose prayer summit experience transformed his own prayer life. Dee had
experienced 13 years of struggle as a pastor and came to the first prayer summit
in Salem, OR as the last stop on his pastoral journey. God met him and
challenged him to become a man of prayer. He went back to his congregation a
broken man - and informed them of the "written goals" he had set for
himself in the area of prayer. Written goals which included such items as
specific time to be spent with God daily; weekly prayer times with his wife and
children; a specific prayer routine for the families of his congregation; shared
prayer times with his congregation. He settled into that "discipline of
prayer." Now, 13 years later, his congregation has grown to more than
1,000. He has more in service on Easter than live in his city. Ministry has
become easier. Staff loyalty is up dramatically. No splits. Coincidence? Hardly.
Dee says the key for him was an embrace of the discipline of daily prayer in his
own life. The result? It spread throughout his congregation. The church has
become a house of prayer.
Claude King ended the time in Talladega with a call to repentance and revival -
challenging us that the church in ignoring the final command of Christ, the
great commission, was in sin, and needed to repent. Using the analogy of the
leaning tower of Pisa, he reminded us that no attempts to "right" the
tower, no ropes or correction contraptions had worked over the years. The
problem with the tower is in the foundation. The foundation of our Christian
life is in the "love relationship" we are to have with God. That love
relationship demands that we live in an environment of unbroken fellowship with
God - continuous prayer! While Dee focused on the discipline - Claude challenged
us to cultivate a relationship that made the disciplines of faith the cry of our
heart. Not a dry eye in the place. Powerful.
One more note - Dee has surveyed 80 pastors in his area who have attended a
prayer summit, and over years has questioned many more. He has only found 5
pastors who left a prayer summit and wrote down personal prayer goals.
If we have wonderful prayer events, and continue to talk about and implement
"prayer programs" in our churches, but we as Christian leaders do not
prayer- there will be no Great Awakening. I am more and more convinced, that the
lack of daily prayer by pastors and Christian leaders is the greatest obstacle
to the renewal of our churches and the impact of Christ in our cities
___________________________________________________>>>
Building Unity in the Church of the New Millennium
Dwight Perry, General Editor
Moody Press, Chicago, 2002
Forward: John Perkins & Michael Emerson
Contributors include: Carolyn Christenson, Glen Kehrein, Ellen Black, Raleigh
Washington, Bill McCartney, Rod Cooper, Henry Lee Allen...
Twenty one scholars and practitioners address discrimination specifically within
the evangelical church. But they do not deal solely with racial discrimination,
but also gender, age, physical disability and class discrimination.
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: pray@syatp.com
We need your help! See You at the Pole 2002 is September 18! We are eager
to hear WHAT GOD DOES in your schools and around the world. We will be
publishing four one-page reports that will be posted on our web site in the four
weeks after See You at the Pole, beginning Friday, September 20. These will be
full-color TEXT and PHOTO REPORTS. They will be suitable for you to forward by
e-mail, or photocopy and hand out to those in your youth group, church family,
or local Network. They will be posted online at www.SYATP.com
and www.youthworkers.net.
HELP! "LOOKOUTS" Needed!
We have set up a simple mechanism so you can let us know what happened at the
schools in your community. At www.youthworkers.net,
click on "Tell Your SYATP Story." It will take you to a
simple-to-use report form that allows you enter reports for one or multiple
campuses EASILY and quickly. Please forward this to the student leaders
and youth workers in your area! These reports are the core stories of our
published SYATP Reports. We need PICTURES as well.
You can send printed PHOTOS to us at:
See You at the Pole , 12335 World Trade Drive, Suite 16, San Diego, CA
92128
If you have DIGITAL PHOTOS that are HIGH RESOLUTION and would like to share
them, please attach your best shots (zipped if possible) and e-mail to pray@syatp.com.
WHAT ABOUT 9/11 OBSERVANCES?
We know that some schools are doing See You at the Pole on Wednesday, September
11, to coincide with Patriot Day and the remembrance of the 9/11/2001 attacks.
The web site is ready to receive your reports now. Please tell us your stories
– we are treating these reports as a part of the See You at the Pole.
Finally, if anything comes up in your city where you need help (legal issues,
etc.), we want to serve you! Please contact us, or the legal organizations
listed at www.SYATP.com
if we can help.
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: Cross Over Athens <crossoverathens@integrity.com>
A Coalition of churches, ministries, and leaders seeking community
transformation in the Athens area through the love and power of Jesus Christ
Shepherds' Fellowship
...will be meeting Thursday, September 19, at Community
Alliance Church (395 Research Drive) from 9:15 AM to 11:30 AM with registration
and refreshments at 9:15 AM. Rev. Jack Wolfe, Senior Pastor of the Calvary
Christian Fellowship of Duluth, Georgia, will be speaking on the topic of
"Pastor to the Church, Shepherd to the City." For more information,
call 706-369-7090 or 706- 546-0060.
... is an interdenominational ministry which focuses on
pastors and church leaders ministering to pastors and their spouses and
families. The monthly meetings are designed to provide an atmosphere of
encouragement as well as provide insights to the challenges and opportunities of
being in the ministry. Shepherds' Fellowship provides speakers which are
sensitive to TODAY'S pastor, the pastor's family and ministry. The foundational
concept for Shepherds' Fellowship is: "So, then, let us pursue the things
which make for peace and the BUILDING UP OF ONE ANOTHER." (Romans 14:19).
For more information, call Pastor James Burkett at (706) 369-7090 or (706)
546-0060.
Wednesday prayer
We are pleased to announce a new, weekly, intercessory
prayer time for Shepherds' Fellowship. Come join us in prayer every
Wednesday from 12:10 to 12:50 at the new Cross Over Athens office.
For more information, please call 706-546-0060.
The new office!
For those of you who haven't heard... The new Cross Over
Athens office space is located above Dr. Satterfield's office at 2000 Prince
Ave. Please enter through Dr. Satterfield's front office door and proceed
past the receptionists desk and through the double doors. Turn to your
right and the door to the stairs will be directly in front of you.
The Cross Over Athens phone number is 706-546-0060. You can
also email us at crossoverathens@integrity.com
and visit us on the web at http://crossoverathens.org/crossoverathensmain.htm.
Concert of Prayer
Thanks to all who attended the 12th quarterly
Athens-Area Concert of Prayer on August 18th. at Beech Haven Baptist Church.
The event included prayer for political candidates and educators as well
as the unity and effectiveness of the Church in the Athens area. Photos of
the concert are available on the Cross Over website.
Mark your calendars for the next quarterly Athens-Area
Concert of Prayer! The Prayer Concert will take place on Sunday evening,
November the 3rd, 2002. The focus will be: Election Day. The
location will be announced soon!
Concerts of prayer -- multi-church, city-wide prayer
gatherings -- date from the First Great Awakening in the 1700s. Today, the
concert of prayer is in resurgence, following a 1999 "call to prayer"
issued by more than 75 denominations and hundreds of parachurch ministries.
Area-wide prayer concerts now take place quarterly in cities across the U.S.
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: adam@chicago2000.net
The following is from Dave Short, a Chicago area ministry leader who attended
our most recent ne Great CIty meeting -- This is his report --
Just wanted to give you a BIG update on everything that is happening.
Sharrie and I were invited to a special meeting of leaders in the Chicago Area
to talk about our ministry to the international students. Phil Miglioratti
was in charge of this meeting and leaders who head up various ministries, not
only city wide but regionally were represented.. The outcome of that
meeting was incredibly fruitful.
READ THIS...
Christy Minger, the regional rep for Cindy Jacobs prayer ministry said that she
wanted to mobilize prayer warriors onto the campuses we have Chi Alpha on and
prayer walks over the ones we don't.
Ivan Gonzales, the regional director of World Vision wanted to help us link
students going back to their home country with ministries overseas.
Regina Banks, Founder of Flaming Torch Ministries, wants to get the word out
about what we are doing nationwide.
Susanne Marder, a prayer leader in the city, wants to help us create a website
that would mobilize prayer for the campuses citywide.
Adams Shields, Executive Director of Chicago Baptist Community Development
Corporation said that he could generate a list of all the churches within
"any mile" radius around any campus in the city.
Nancy Magiera, Director of His United Body, who just conducted a conference here
in Chicago with Sergio Scataglini said that she was having a similar conf. in
November and wanted us to come and promote Chi Alpha at that meeting and get
quality visibility.
On and on I could go. Let's praise Him for doors of favor.
Blessings, Dave
Chicago Chi Alpha: http://www.chicagoxa.com
>From the beginning of the meeting there was a real sense of movement -
divine synergy. I was very encouraged by the mix of people that came.
You did a great job of explaining/clarifying the point of OGC. You've
said these things before, but for some reason, it seemed to click this
time. There just seems to be a confidence and rest in the fact that God is
moving and building something, so we don't have to put our hands on it in the
same ways.
3. The Prayer piece: Our group discussed:
a. what we're currently doing in the area of
prayer in our churches - some good networking going on
b. the question of "where are the corporate
prayer meetings" was raised.
c. we talked about the "concert of
prayer" model and the fact that God seems to be leading us differently in
this season - less structure, more listening to the way the Holy Spirit is
moving.
d. a concern was raised that the collective church
doesn't seem to be ready for corporate prayer meetings.
e. which led us into a discussion about unity and
division (as opposed to "da vision" which is what God would give us in
Chicago. sorry, couldn't resist that one), which we decided to camp out on in
prayer. John's picture of "the Borg" from Star Wars, which
gobbles up everything in it's path, insists that others lose their identity by
submitting to it, was a very powerful concept.
Prayer:
a. Unity - a depth of unity that works through the
hard things.
b. asking God what the roots of disunity in our
city are.
c. praying and confessing sin back through the
generations of our city:
1.
mixture of walking in the spirit with walking in religion
2.
sins involved in Native American roots and usurping of indigenous
people
by White settlers.
d. asking God to soften and heal our hardness in
the church - bedrock hardness, religious spirit hardness
e. there was so much more, and as Nancy mentioned,
next time it would be useful to bring a tape recorder. I'll try to
remember that.
The sense is that right now we're not ready to build anything in prayer.
It seems to be more a question of removing the boulders that have been
rolled down Jacob's well. When that is done, the fountain will rise, the rivers
will just flow.
Susanne Marder for the Prayer Networks
=============================================================
National Pastors' Prayer Network
1130 Randville Drive ID, Palatine, IL 60074
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http://www.nppn.org ~ email: phil@nppn.org
Register your PPG: http://www.nppn.org/ppg/
Phil Miglioratti ~ Coordinator
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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 2002. 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
=============================================================