Surf over to http://www.nppn.org/ppg/ and look for the Pastors’ Prayer Groups in your region - Are they registered? If not, please add them so that pastors who move into a new are can make a quick connection to the praying pastors of that locale.

___________________________________________________>>>

*SOME NPPN THOUGHTS ON REACHING A CITY...

For some,

It is their higher calling

To a bigger picture

With a longer pathway

So, ask the Lord,

Is this my calling; serving the Kingdom of God?

How does this work, biblically and practically?

How do I proceed if the goal is 25 years, not 25 months off?

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*SIMI VALLEY, CA: PPG GROWS FROM 4-5 TO 15-25

>From: “Paul Kuzma” <pk@newheart4sq.org>

A group of pastors began meeting at a local Baptist Church a few years ago every Wednesday at noon for one hour of prayer. The group included pastors from local churches such as Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, and others. For the first few years, it was anywhere between those 4 or 5 to about 9 or 10. Today, the group still meets every Wednesday at noon for one hour of prayer, but now meets at Solid Grounds Coffeehouse, a local Christian coffeehouse in town. Over the last year, the unity has increased and now there are an average of 15-25 pastors meeting weekly.

Spurred from this is a quarterly Concert of Prayer, annual citywide March for Jesus, annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on National Day of Prayer. It is awesome to see, and be a part of what God is doing here.

Not only are pastors praying together, and not do do we love one another, but we actually LIKE each other! The relationship level is an added benefit. On top of all that, we actually have pastors beginning to either swap pulpits, or inviting each other to speak in each others’ churches! This Foursquare pastor had one of the Baptist pastors in town bring one part of his Summer Ten Commandments series to the Foursquare Church. It’s only just begun!

Paul Kuzma

Just one of the Pastors of The Church of Simi Valley, CA

___________________________________________________>>>

*3 SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW CITY REACHERS

>From: EPFJ@aol.com

--->NPPNote: Keep the conversation going - Pastors. Intercessors.

Networkers. What are your 3 suggestions for a new city reacher?

Recently 7 veteran City Reachers were each asked to make 3 suggestions for new City Reachers. They were as follows:

John Isaacs, Pray the Bay San Jose, CA sbcc@best.com

1. Be strategic in building a citywide leadership team that’s pastoral based, gift mixed, racially diverse and influential.

2. Develop a measurable vision and an effective instrument for measuring results.

3. Formulate your vision without financial limitations. God will provide for a vision that has been born in the Spirit.

Norm ********, Somebody Cares Southland Rancho Cucamonga, CA

nb7@integrity.com

1. Know that being a City Reacher is a call from God. Have your church leadership endorse this call. Be commissioned to this call.

2. Get as many intercessors on board with you as possible. Keep the intercessors in the loop and let them share what the Lord is saying.

3. Dream about what God wants to result from your city reaching efforts 5 to

10 years from now.

Dennis Blevins, Mission Portland Portland, OR Dennis4PDX@aol.com

1. Know deeply God’s call and assignment for you to be a City Reacher. This

takes extensive prayer.

2. Realize that being a City Reacher could be a 10-20 year, or even a lifetime, assignment.

3. Connect aggressively to other City Reachers.

George Saunders, Citywide Church Network Muncie, IN Gsaunders@home.com

1. Be relationship oriented rather that event oriented.

2. Put prayer first. You pray and then mobilize your city to pray.

3. Network with other City Reachers.

Bob Griffin, Rockford Renewal Ministries Rockford, IL

renewal@earthlink.net

1. Build a strong foundation of passionate prayer/intercession with a cohesive core of leaders. Get a team of intercessors to pray for you daily.

2. Build with relationships that are cohesive. This sustains the movement, not just events.

3. Maintain personal and family balance by keeping a reasonable work schedule. City Reaching is the work of the Holy Spirit. Do not burn out.

Daily keep attentive to spiritual warfare. You shall be under attack and/or

oppression. “Having done all, stand.” Give it time. The most exciting things are happening through those who have been at City Reaching the longest.

Daniel Bernard, Somebody Cares Tampa Bay Clearwater, FL

United4Him@SCTB.org

1. Have a financial base so you don’t need churches to fund you in the beginning.

2. Identify with what God has already put together and complement it.

3. Start small and see God add to it.

Barney Field, El Paso for Jesus El Paso, TX epfj@aol.com

1. Mobilize citywide prayer. Victory is won primarily through prayer.

2. Unite pastors to reach your city. Schedule an annual Pastors Prayer Summit. Also, have a free monthly luncheon for pastors that combines unity, prayer and actions.

3. Seek God’s purpose, His vision, for yourself and your city. Then focus on fulfilling it.

___________________________________________________>>>

*PPG NETWORKER: 250 IN 20 STATES

>From: “genejoanstucky” <genejoanstucky@iol7.com>

Dear Brother, I want to be part of your network. I am a Networker and am called to be a Watchman on Wall (Ezek 3:17). My wife and & have been with Campus Crusade as staff for over 30 years. Just returned from Reclaim America conference in Ft. Lauderdale. I work with pastors and pastor’s prayer groups. e-mail to over 250 in 20 states. I am involved with 3 prayer groups, in Redlands, and Highland, CA. Have been in 5 Pastor’s Prayer Summits, etc. God bless, let’s do what we can to encourage Christians in the November vote! Gene Stucky (909) 862-8700 and 862-8705 fax.

--->NPPNote: Welcome Gene! It is significant when the NPPN connects with

those who network pastors into the fellowship of prayer. Please register

these Pastors’ Prayer Groups at our web site, so that others may find you:

http://www.nppn.org/ppg/

___________________________________________________>>>

*ILLINOIS: FREE NDP OFFER FOR PASTORS

(PLUS, AN IDEA FOR STARTING A PPG...)

>From: CGDunne@aol.com

I just returned from the National Day of Prayer, Prayer Retreat in Estes Park, Colorado. What a glorious time. Pastor Gordon Houston, from the “Transformations” video was our speaker. God used him to confirm in my heart that all God wants is for us (his church) to be a united force working for the good of our Land. (These tapes can be ordered from 1-888-228-2737 for just $20. They are worth every penny.)

About 4 months ago I happened to be at my farm and did something I hardly ever do, I turned on the TV. There was a police show on, I came into the middle of a scene. A police Captain and an FBI agent were having a conversation. Apparently the police had moved in on a drug kingpin not knowing the FBI had infiltrated the camp and were working for the bigger fish. The operation they worked for three years fell apart with one police raid. The Captain said to the the FBI agent, “You wanna know why the bad guys are winning? They are all working together and you are in my town, working for three years and I know nothing about it. They are united and we are fighting each other.” I turned off the TV and knew that was a message direct from God to my heart. I was so stung by those words for the next two weeks God played them over and over in my head. The bad guys are working together and we are polarized. It is time for the body of Christ to let down it’s walls, tear down it’s protective barriers, acknowledge that Christ is the Lord of the Church, the Pastor of the Church, the unifying force of the church and we need to learn to live together and work together. How will we begin? With You!

The theme for this year’s National Day of Prayer is “One Nation Under God”. Oh Lord that we would once again be a Nation Under Your Control. One Nation Under God, that is a rallying cry. We need to be as ONE...We need to walk in the truth that in Christ we ARE one. Christ said “It is finished!” and it is. It starts with one pastor beginning a relationship with one more pastor. If you think you are too busy to add another relationship to your schedule...well, let me know I will pray for you...if I am not careful my Peter”ine” gift of exhortation may surface here and tactful it may not be. The good news is I don’t own a sword!

As State Coordinator for National Day of Prayer I would like to offer a strategy for the church for the National Day of Prayer, in Illinois. I took time alone at the retreat and came away with this idea. It is a three-fold plan. First, each pastor would open his church early on May 3 and invite (that is strongly suggest that) his congregation come in before work or school to pray for our nation; at our own church we would gather as a “family.” Second at noon there would numerous “public” events...city hall, around the flag pole at school, county building or public park, where pastors and lay leaders come together with the community to pray for our elected officials and leaders in the local, state and national government. Third, an evening event that would bring the body of Christ in your community together. Showing a unity in the heavenly realm. Those who call upon the name of Jesus as Savior, meeting together in a show of unity to pray for our nation. What I envision is one pastor, inviting another pastor and his congregation who are across town, or a different denomination, to join in and pray together for the common good of our nation. It is the intention of my heart, in sharing this idea, that we be intentional about unity. Which means each pastor should not invite the pastor he has a relationship with already but reach out to one with whom he has no relationship and invite him/her to come pray to the common good of our nation and its leaders. Remembering that the word community implies we have a COMMON UNITY. If you need help or an idea of format for an event, contact me and I will send some information.

--->NPPNote: The National Day of Prayer is a wonderful opportunity to begin (or restart) a Pastors’ Prayer Group in your area. Invite other pastors to pray with you at any of the three ideas shared above, then ask them to meet once again 2 or 3 weeks later, then suggest another meeting ... Our website (http://www.nppn.org/ppg/ will become a Bulletin Board for PPGs meeting on the NDP ... though, you do NOT need to wait until May 3, 2001 to begin a PPG!

Also a resource I would like to make pastors aware of is a complete curriculum from the National Day of Prayer Task Force office on how to teach your church to be a praying church. It is perfect for a Sunday School or Bible Study class. I will be happy to make this available to any Pastor who writes to me for the book ... my email address is CGDUNNE@aol.com. Please write ONLY if you intend to use it.

It is my fervent prayer that all those who have so diligently been praying for revival, would redirect their prayers for UNITY in the Body, that we might reach the unchurched, the unbelieving and we might see true sustained revival in our Land....that is...ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

God bless you Indeed, may He expand your boundaries, protect you and keep you from all manner of evil!

Your sister in Christ, Claudia Dunne, Illinois State Coordinator, National

Day of Prayer

___________________________________________________>>>

*CHARLOTTE: PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

>From: Metrolina Prayer Network <prayerletter@ratedg.com>

PASTORS PRAYING TOGETHER

In the past, when sustained revival has come, it has happened in places where pastors met together to pray. The Metrolina Pastors Prayer Summit. We meet and we pray, building our relationships with one another as we spend time seeking Gods face in prayer. Second Thursdays of each month, 10 am - 3 pm. For information, call Bill Fogarty at 704.846.6770. (See the Prayer Calendar for this month’s location.)

CENTER CITY PRAYERWALK: Each Wednesday, 12:30 - 1:30 pm

The Center City Prayerwalk has been underway now for a month, and God has blessed as we have covered the uptown area with prayer each Wednesday at 12:30 pm. Prayerwalkers from four different churches have been involved thus far, praying onsite with insight in the center of Charlotte. If you work in the uptown area, please consider joining us for part or all of the weekly prayerwalk. We begin in front of First Baptist Church (at the corner of Davidson and Third), but as we make our way around the prayer route, anyone who wants to join us in prayer is welcome. You can walk for the full hour or for whatever amount of time you have available. We believe God is blessing this effort to bathe the city in believing prayer. If you have questions, please call 704.737.7770 or 704.598.5564.

METROLINA CHURCH LEADERS PRAYER RETREAT

Thursday - Saturday, January 18 - 20, 2001 at White Oak Conference Center For several years the pastors of our area have been gathering for the Metrolina Pastors Prayer Summit, an extended period of time when we can seek the Lord in prayer together. This coming January, the pastors involved in the summit ministry are hosting a Church Leaders Prayer Retreat, a time when leaders from the churches of our area can get away with their pastors to pray, building our relationships with one another as we spend time together in Gods presence. The group will depart on Thursday afternoon, January 18 to arrive for supper that evening at White Oak Conference Center in Winnsboro, South Carolina. The retreat will end on Saturday afternoon. The cost will be $99 per person. Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible. The registration fee is $15 per person. For a registration form or more information, please call 704.846.6770 or 704.737.7770, or email us at prayerletter@ratedg.com. Just consider the impact on your congregation if five to ten of your key leaders went away for a few days to meet with God. The result could be revival! Please pray about your participation in this important event, then act as God directs.

MOBILIZING PROFESSIONALS TO PRAY

Priority Associates business professionals ministry is mobilizing professionals to pray through special prayer initiatives in for the marketplace. One initiative is the Take 5 Prayer strategy that helps professionals pray effectively for co-workers at their places of work. Another initiative is a broader in that it helps people concentrate on praying for key buildings, companies and professional leaders in our city. For more info they can email Craig Seibert at cseibert@priorityassociates.org. For more information about Priority Associates business professionals ministry see www.priorityassociates.org.

PRAY NOW...ON MONDAYS

Churches are opening their doors on Mondays for any and all who wish to come and pray. If you live or work near one of these churches, please take a lunch hour on a Monday to join other believers in prayer for our families, our area, our nation, and our world. If your church could be open for prayer, please contact us to be added to the list of participating churches.

Pray at one of the Metrolina Churches participating in “PRAY NOW!” - Mondays

from 12 - 1 pm

THE KEY OF THE GREATER WORK, by Oswald Chambers

...I say to you, he who believes in Me...greater works than these will he do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12).

Prayer does not equip us for greater works - prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some common sense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for Gods work. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God. The way fruit remains firm is through prayer, but remember that it is prayer based on the agony of Christ in redemption, not on my own agony. We must go to God as His child, because only a child gets his prayers answered; a “wise” man does not (Matthew 11:25).

Prayer is the battle, and it makes no difference where you are. However God may engineer your circumstances, your duty is to pray. Never allow yourself this thought, “I am of no use where I am,” because you certainly cannot be used where you have not yet been placed. Wherever God has placed you, and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him. And He promises, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do...” (14:13). Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness. We must learn to work according to Gods direction, and He says to pray. “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send our laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

There is nothing thrilling about a laboring persons work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from Gods perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.

From My Utmost for His Highest: Updated Edition.

The Metrolina Prayer Network: Our Vision: To experience revival, spiritual awakening and community transformation in the Charlotte area through obedience to 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Bob and Mary Lance Sisk, Chairpersons

PO Box 26723, Charlotte, NC 28221/Phone: 704.737.7770/Fax: 704.598.5564 E-mail: prayerletter@ratedg.com Please photocopy and share with all who will pray.

___________________________________________________>>>

*PPGs: SURFING THE WAVE

>From: SURFINGOHIO@cs.com

>From: WDBBDW@aol.com

Phil Gowan came to our prayer group today. He is a church planter here in Temperance, Mich. The Lord moved powerfully in our prayer group.

He showed us a picture that I thought you would relate to. It was the image

of a surfer paddling out on his surfboard toward a mammouth rising wave. All of our prayer groups are the preparation, the paddling out toward God, in preparation for the tidal wave of His Spirit to sweep over our whole region.

Oke commented, “Yes, right now in our prayer groups, God is drown-proofing us.”

Copi, the revival is coming and the key remains prayer! Hang in there,

because awesome things are on the horizon. Wes

___________________________________________________>>>

~~~”IF THE CHURCH HAD COME TOGETHER...”

>From: “Bob Fox” <bobfox@iol18.com>

The national elections have caused us all to wonder about the future of America. I wonder what you think God thinks about America right now. Are we headed for judgment or is God about to bless us more as a nation? My heart is heavy for this once great land-founded on biblical principles and a fear of God. I could be wrong, but I see America already under the judgment of God. Romans 1:26-27 speaks clearly of God’s judgment by handing wicked people over to their sins - especially the sins of homosexuality. America ... is this way primarily because the Church has failed to be salt and light, to love our neighbor and speak up for the weak in the last 40 years. All this will prepare us for revival and a united, praying Church, but the price will be high to get there - higher than it should have been if the Church had come together as Family, prayed and worked together to serve our cities instead of allowing internal and external differences to divide and distract us from reaching our cities with the Gospel. God help us.

___________________________________________________>>>

*NEW YORK: NEW COALITION SEEKS TO IMPACT CITIES

>By: “Jeff Beacham” <firepowerministries@attglobal.net>

Unity can come easy in the good times, but it is tested in the shaky times.

In prosperity, our friends know us, but in adversity we know our friends.

They’re the ones who come to us when we’re ‘in the woods’. In recent times God has been moving on the heart of Dr. Joseph Mattera, senior pastor of Resurrection Church in Brooklyn, NY to initiate a new network of ministers of like spirit and vision called “CITY COVENANT COALITION” (CCC). He has invited several prominent ministries in the city to be involved including Bishop Roderick Caesar of Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, Jamaica, NY. To - ...Come together in covenant relationship to impact the cities of the nations with the Gospel of the Kingdom Of God ...Relationally strengthen and confirm each member ...Strengthen and establish the local church ...Plant new churches and ministries; help establish the city church ...Be a model for reconciliation and effective urban ministry ...Go forward with this vision and passion to reach cities and regions with the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

City Covenant Coalition will be open to senior pastors and ordained

ministers who head up their own ministry. Bless you, Jeff Beacham

http://www.firepowerint.com

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*YOUR REPORTS TO THE NPPN BLESS OTHERS

>From: KMPray@aol.com

Phil, I can’t tell you how the NPPN reports bless my soul. Our nation is indeed turning back to God and that is a huge answer to prayer. I remember when I started with National Day of Prayer in 1991, prayer was thought to be done only by little old ladies of the church and totally unimportant. I truly think the confusion with the election results, the recounts, the lawsuits, etc., are the result of the enemy refusing to let go of the soul of this nation. He has had control for so long; but God’s children are rising up and He will once again be the God and Father of this nation. There is a huge spiritual battle being waged for our souls and it is heartwarming to read of all the NPPNs and citizens of this country banning together for prayer in complete unity. We must continue to pray through this battle and especially when the new president is finally named. Our battle will not be over.

Thank you for the work of compiling all these reports which greatly

encourage and bless the reader, Kay Parker

___________________________________________________>>>

*PRAY TEXAS: AROUND THE STATE UPDATES

>From: PRAYTX@aol.com

The Texas Prayer Wall—

To take your place on The Texas Prayer Wall by committing to mobilize 24-hour prayer for one day a month, contact Pam Faraone at pfaraone@juno.com or 915-591-4999. Click here to see who is already signed up and for what days.

Brownwood—

A few months ago several pastors who are part of the Ministerial Alliance

in Brownwood shared that, as they were meeting, they realized that they all

had the same heart for the city. They decided to begin to pray together

each

week, and Pray Heart Of Texas (Pray HOT) was born. On September 28, eleven

pastors gathered for worship and prayer at The River Coffee House in

Brownwood. Pastor Jimmy Pruitt reports, “There was much discussion of

recent

events in the Heart of Texas area that we believe are a direct result of

prayer. God is indeed healing our land! We are continuing to receive

reports from varied sources of the effects of pastors gathering to pray. We

were so thankful that the Brownwood Bulletin ran a series of articles that

reflected the heart and vision of Pray HOT. The ripple effects are

beginning

to be felt all over our area with open doors to City Hall, BISD, and new

churches beginning to come alongside us.” The pastors are working on a

Covenant Statement to demonstrate their unity. “We do not seek to

‘program’

what God is doing here. We are simply moving at God’s pace and listening

for

His direction. Thank you for your prayers and support as we humbly pray and

seek His face.” Pray Heart of Texas meets every Thursday at 9:00 a.m. at The River Coffee House located at 2719 Austin Ave., side entrance on Willis Street.

For more information, contact Jimmy Pruitt, jnapruitt@juno.com, or (915) 646-6154.

Dallas/Ft.Worth Metroplex—

One of the most powerful things happening in the Metroplex continues to

be The Youth Outreach Network. The mission of the Youth Outreach Network

“is

to unite the body of Christ to reach out and minister to all youth in the

DFW/North Texas area.” They do that through regions of networked youth

workers. Their strategy is “to facilitate the networking of youth workers

for prayer, fellowship, mutual encouragement and the sharing of resources as

a basis for cooperative outreach to the youth of their community.” They are

intentionally starting student-led Bible Clubs in public schools as well as training and commissioning kids as missionaries to their campuses.

The following report by Hispanic Network leader Marco Luna of Dallas

Christian Center appeared in the Youth Net News, Fall 2000: “This summer,

we came together for a Back 2 School/Back 2 Christ Event at Armstrong Park

Duncanville. We met under the pavilion for hot dogs, chips, and drinks, and

despite the tremendous heat, we had a marvelous time. To keep cool, several

youth leaders got a water balloon fight going, and it was fun to see them

being chased by the young people who wanted revenge. Later we met under the

beautiful sunset for an awesome time of praise and worship with Fernando

Alvarez and his band, Rhema Music. We enjoyed Latin praise and worship, and

people from the park stopped by, attracted to the Latin beat, and began clapping and dancing along. The young people were then challenged by a local youth leader to take their schools back for Christ this year. When the altar call was made, many young people came forward to be commissioned as Campus Missionaries. Senior pastors anointed these young people with oil and commissioned them as missionaries to the local campuses. After a beautiful time with the Lord, we all headed to the Armstrong Pool to end the day with a refreshing dip in the cool water, but God wasn’t finished working yet. Several young people asked if they could be baptized right then and there.

With the lifeguards looking on, we baptized 5 young people that night! This

is the first time the Hispanic churches have pulled together and organized an event such as this, so keep us in your prayers.”

The Youth Outreach Network wants to see kids reached across the state,

nation, and world. If you would like help in your area, contact founder and

Executive Director Mark Whittaker or Ministry Coordinator Chad Foster at Youth Outreach Network, PO Box 31094, Arlington, Texas 76014, phone (972) 690-7300 or (817) 261-9028 or email them at youthnet@gte.net.

El Paso—

Laurie Huffman, founder of Border Prayer Network, reports exciting things

happening in El Paso. “We are so excited about the praise reports we are

receiving. God is doing great things! Recently 3700 women were ministered

to at a Women’s Conference at Vino Nuevo, Cd. Juárez. Guest speaker Lila

Terhune from Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola said that the U. S.

needs to embrace the Mexican church for a full-blown revival. She said what

many feel, that revival in Mexico and America are connected.

That was a blessing in light of the Wall of Prayer project. So far 58 churches have signed up on both sides of the border. Vista Hills Church held an all night prayer meeting, and several of the members took a day off to pray and fast for their day.

Christ Church, 16 months young, is reporting a 30% growth after 40 days

of prayer and fasting with new salvations, rededications, and families

returning to the Lord. Hillcrest Baptist Church had 49 souls come to Christ

last Sunday, including Border Prayer Network’s secretary’s husband!”

Contact the Border Prayer Network at bpraynet@elpasonet.net, or at Border Prayer Network, PO Box 971848, El Paso, Texas 79997-1848, office (915) 779-3551, fax (915) 779-3882.

Galveston—

During Outreach 2000, several congregations cooperated on Heaven’s Gates

and Hell’s Flames. This was the first time congregations in Galveston have

gotten together to do anything. There was such wonderful unity, that

several

leaders decided they should continue praying together. Now pastors and

leaders from 6 or 7 congregations meet weekly on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. at

Carnes Brothers Funeral Home to pray for God to move on the Island. They’re

praying for the Mayor and all who are in authority as well as for all the

pastors and any needs on the Island. Mary Bostrum, Administrator for Church

of the Living God, reports that prayers have been wonderful. “It’s not

charismatic,” she said. “That was hard at first for some of us who are used

to praying in different ways, but it’s been wonderful. We’ve learned to really listen!” For more information, contact Pastor Robert Dowdy, Church of the Living God, (409) 744-7195 or TXCOLG@aol.com.

Lamesa—

Pastors of the Lamesa Ministerial Fellowship believe God has put in our hearts to send forth His call to the believers in Lamesa to collectively SEEK HIS FACE on behalf of His Church, this city, and this nation. A two-phased response has been envisioned to fulfill this holy call to all believers: I.

24-Hour Prayer Vigil - 6:30 a.m. Saturday, October 14 through 6:30 a.m.

Sunday, October 15 at First United Methodist Church. II. 15-day Season of

Fasting beginning Saturday, October 14 and ending Sunday, October 29. ‘Staying the Course’ Praise Service led by Paul Baskin, Saturday, October 21, 7 p.m. Northridge UMC, ‘Give-God-the-Glory’ Celebration Service, Sunday, October 29, 6 p.m. First Assembly of God. For more information contact:

Billy Everett, Northridge UMC; Don Stribling, First Presbyterian; David Black, First United Methodist; Leland Lewis, First Assembly of God; Gerald Parsons, Sunset Baptist; Don Collum, Faith Temple Church; Mike Barkowsky, Harvest Community Church. You can reach Billy Everett at (806) 872-5959.

Midland—

Pray Midland pastors are meeting for prayer each Thursday at 7:30 a.m.

Contact Dick Spencer at (915) 684-8789 or K. C. Blackketter at (915)

682-2468, or by email at Shepherdfood@aol.com.

San Angelo—

Jackie White from Pray Lubbock spoke with 50 intercessors on August 28 and with 20 pastors on August 29. Many denominations were represented in both gatherings. There’s a stirring in the air for the formulation of a city vision. Many things have happened there in the past including a number of congregations participating in March For Jesus and plans for future involvement in the Jesus Video Project.

In September John and Alice Patterson ministered at Primera Bautista for

a Prayer Seminar in conjunction with their Missions emphasis. Several churches were represented at that meeting. Ruben Duarte, Pray Texas Board Member, spent a weekend with the church in September sharing about worship.

Pastor Robert Cuellar has a city vision for San Angelo.

On October 7 there was a “Come Together in Jesus’ Name” gathering in the

city. Contact Sue Evans at sevans@juno.com or (915) 224-8918.

San Antonio—

John Ofoegbu, founder of Unity for Africa, hosted The International Conference on Reconciliation, October 19-21, at Alamo City Christian Fellowship. Speakers included Dr. John Dawson, John Ofoegbu, Pastor David Walker, Pastor Gilbert Perez, Ruth Bell, Pastor Carl Johnson, Bishop Thomas Flanagan, and Pastor Bud Gardner.

Tomball—

The Tomball Prayer Network, believers of diverse faiths coming together to cover the community with fervent, united prayer, was founded a year ago after their first Tomball Area Day of Prayer and Praise Celebration. The Network now meets the second Tuesday of every month at a different church.

The November 14 meeting will be at Tomball Bible Church, 400 N. Walnut, and the December 12 meeting will be at New Start Church, 17201 Hufsmith-Kohrville Road.

The Second Annual Tomball Area Day of Prayer and Praise Celebration was

recently held at the Tomball High School Football Stadium. David Phelps,

graduate of Tomball High and now with the Gaither Vocal Band, was a featured

soloist.

Tomball is taking their place on The Texas Prayer Wall the second Tuesday of each month. For further information, contact Tomball Prayer Network, PO Box 902, Tomball, TX 77377-0902, (281) 351-7379, tomballprayernet@eaglei.net.

___________________________________________________>>>

*HOUSTON, TX: 182 PASTORS, 6500 BELIEVERS

>From: Jim Herrington <jhmh@swbell.net>

Approximately 6,500 believers gathered in four locations on a rainy Friday night (November 17, 2000) in Houston to pray and worship in unity. At the invitation of 182 Senior Pastors and ministry leaders, the church gathered in nearly double the numbers of a year ago when we met at the Astro-arena. Overall the gatherings represented significant diversity - denominationally and ethnically - found in the Body of Christ. An offering was taken for the poor of our city (we won’t know how much was collected until early next week) to be and will be distributed through Somebody Cares Houston. I worshiped at Lakewood where we were led by African-American, Anglo, Chinese, Hispanic and Vietnamese pastors. The great diversity present was only overshadowed by the clear, heart-felt unity that was experienced. I came away with two strong impressions.

Thanks to the 182 Senior Pastors and ministry leaders who issued the call. Your plate is full to over flowing with many important things to do. Thank you for calling the church - by your word and your deed - to the priority of prayer in the transformation of the city.

Also, I’m aware of how much work we yet have to do. George Otis, Jr. says that perseverance is the single most important key to community transformation. In the places where stories of transformation are told, leaders have worked for 15-25 years before the fruit of transformation emerges. Perhaps it won’t take that long in Houston since we have their stories to learn from, but last night’s attendance is both a source of celebration and a clear indication of how far we have yet to go. Less than 5% of the churches in the city participated. I don’t know what that tells us, but I believe there are lessons to be learned. These gatherings are a part of an ongoing process God is using to unify his body in this city. The word is out across our land that He is up to something in Houston. I believe it. I believe Friday night was evidence of it. And I eagerly look forward to the blessings and the responsibilities that will come as we continue to listen to and obey His calling in this city.

May the Lord bless you richly.

Jim Herrington, Mission Houston

308 Bomar, Houston, TX 77006

713-807-9200 / http://www.missionhouston.org

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*NATIONAL PRAYER NEWS SERVICE

>From: “Prayer News Service” <PrayerNewsService@juno.com>

Dear City-Wide Prayer Leaders,

Last August, we had the privilege of meeting together as City- Wide Prayer Leaders from across the country. One of the things that we had mentioned in our discussion times was the need for a good vehicle of communication. In the intervening months, David Andrade has put together “The National Prayer News Service.” With the combination of HTML, video and audio, this news service is light years ahead of any other communications tool. As you all would agree, today as never before, we need to be able to know what is happening on a national level, and be able to coordinate when necessary our prayer efforts...as with the election issues now before us. John Quam and I want to encourage you to pay close attention to the instructions here that will allow you to post your news and events on “The National Prayer News Service.” If we all join together, we can see this be a tool to unite prayer across the country as never before. I invite you to be a part by posting your news and events, and teachings. Make sure that what you post is of good taste and of benefit to all who will see it, as well as uplifting of the Name of Jesus Christ. I look forward to what God will do with this state of the art tool, for advancing prayer in our country and around the world.

Your servant in Christ, Steve Loopstra

Executive Director, Prayer Transformation Ministries

= = =

Dear Friends,

The components have come together to implement a National Prayer Service for Prayer Leaders. This service is part of your text page that follows. The flash page beneath will take you to any desired information that can be downloaded to print to encourage others. Simply place the cursor on any title and left click your mouse twice.

Though only a few have submitted articles this time around, I believe many of you will soon follow. The system is extremely user friendly and an awesome tool for prayer mobilization. Within the next 2 weeks you should receive a program update that should allow you to add your own information to the cover and calendar page. This is an opportunity to keep in touch and further encourage the prayer movement throughout the nation.

Please import prayer, Special Events, Editorials, Features, Pictures, Prayer

Concerns, Calendar, The How To, Prayer Strategy, that will be helpful to

other prayer leaders to PrayerNewsService@juno.com

<mailto:PrayerNewsService@juno.com>

Pictures should be submitted as attachments as a J-peg or Tif file.

Text as an attachment in a word or works file. Please feel free to distribute the Internet prayer letter among your Internet lists. In this manner the prayer letter will have national significance.

David Andrade and The Prayer News Service Team

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*PHILADELPHIA, PA: PASTORS PRAYING IN SENATE CHAMBERS

>From: John K Cairns <capitalag@juno.com>

One year ago on a Friday in December a group of Pastors attending a small conference sponsored by Rev Rob Lech with Bart Pierce as the pulpit guest, had permission to enter the vacant Senate Chambers to pray. God did go before us and manifested His presence in those chambers. Here we are now returning to those same Senate Chambers to present to them a beautiful print of “The First Prayer in Congress, Sept 7^th 1774, Carpenter’s Hall Philadelphia” with a promise from us that we will continue to lift them up in prayer and give them encouragement to seek God in prayer for His wisdom to govern our great State.

Last January a group of local Pastors started conducting a monthly Prayer /devotional time for the State Legislators and their staff. We have been able to personally meet, teach and pray with 14 of our State Legislators and numerous State workers.

love, jack cairns

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*DEFINING AN “IRM PRAYER SUMMIT”

>From: Dennis Fuqua <DennisF@MULTNOMAH.EDU>

Over the last dozen, plus, years it has been a great delight for International Renewal Ministries to be used of God to give birth to hundreds of “Pastors’ Prayer Summits.” When the first IRM Prayer Summit was conducted in Salem, Oregon, no one anticipated that the movement would spread so quickly around the world. Prayer Summits have now been conducted in every region of the nation and on four continents. Countless testimonies have confirmed the impact of these times.

When Xerox first produced the electronic copy machine, the process of making photocopies became identified with the manufacturer. People began to say, “Make a Xerox of this”. Like Xerox, the term “Prayer Summit” has now become so familiar in many parts of the Church of Jesus Christ that it doesn’t always have it’s original meaning.

Unlike Xerox, when the idea of the Prayer Summit gained wide acceptance, neither IRM nor Multnomah Bible College and Seminary chose to put their name upon the process. The sense was and is, that this is a movement of God and our call is to act as servants to the process. Most pastors who attend a Prayer Summit never hear about Multnomah and sometimes the name International Renewal Ministries is never mentioned.

Many people in many different settings who now use the term do so without awareness of the fact that the term is actually trademarked, but not by us. IRM uses it with the permission of the ministry that used it before us. They are also not aware that it represents a specific type of event, distinctive in style and mission, unique in vision and process. It is not important to us that the name “Prayer Summits” is more widely known than the organization behind the Prayer Summits. What is important to us is that we preserve the integrity of the movement by clarifying what a Prayer Summit is. This is important to us because the misuse of this name has inoculated some cities from having a genuine, script-free, prayer and worship experience which often becomes the fountainhead for a pervasive prayer movement and the matrix out of which city-servant leader teams are often formed.

We at IRM rejoice whenever and however we see God’s work advanced. Specifically, we rejoice that pastors are going away to pray together. Yet it seems it might be helpful to clarify some terms. We believe giving some definition will help all those who are involved in something called a Prayer Summit. Our desire here is not to be exclusive. But we do feel an obligation to give a greater sense of clarity.

We see two ways to assist this clarification. On our part, we will refer to our summits as “IRM Prayer Summits”. On the part of others, we would encourage them (and we understand that all we can do is encourage) to use another term whenever possible to describe events such as prayer planning events, prayer retreats, personality-driven prayer gatherings, intercessory prayer gatherings, teaching times on prayer, etc. These can have great value, but they are different than what, historically, has been called a Prayer Summit.

By doing this, we hope people will be able to know that when they attend an “IRM Prayer Summit” it will have five distinct traits.

1) It will be part of the stream that began in 1989 with the vision of Dr.

Joe Aldrich and share the values and vision of IRM. Following the definition we have used for years, it will be “a prolonged (typically four-day) life-changing worship experience attended by a diversity of Christian leaders from specific, geographical communities whose sole purpose is to seek God, His kingdom, and His righteousness with the expectation that He will create and guide them through a humbling, healing, uniting process that will lead them to a unity of heart, mind and mission and will qualify them for the blessing of God.”

2) It will be initiated by a group from within the community. They will have heard about it from some source and contacted IRM to assist them in the process. IRM does not “target” areas and make decisions about who should have a prayer summit and when that summit should take place. Once contacted, we do have contact with that community so that the vision is clear and the proper preparations are made.

3) It will be facilitated by “IRM equipped facilitators.” There are now over 100 men and women who have been designated as “IRM Facilitators.” IRM has the experience of facilitating nearly 700 summits over the last 11 years. We have become very intentional about passing on what we have learned from this experience to our facilitators. We are equipping them so they will be able to give each summit participant every opportunity to have the best possible summit experience.

4) It will be a time that does not have a pre-written script. IRM facilitators will seek to be sensitive to the Spirit of God in the process of the summit regarding what activities will take place and when they will take place. We certainly do have expectations, but we do not go into a summit with a pre-determined plan. We will come, worship, listen and seek to respond.

5) Finally, and very significantly, the summit will not be viewed as an end in itself. It will be set in the larger context of seeking to see a move of God initiated and sustained in a geographic area. Therefore, we will encourage the Servant Leaders of the community to keep seeking God for His plan and timing for impacting their city.

Something very special happens as Christian leaders gather for prayer summits. We rejoice that God has given us the privilege of stewarding part of this international movement of prayer. Our desire has always been to serve, not to control. Yet, it is our concern that, as often happens in our American culture, we tend to see a good idea and then import and adapt, and in many cases dilute it.

There are so many wonderful ministries and many wonderful things God is doing in His body today. We rejoice whenever we see His Kingdom expand. Our only desire is to seek to bring clarity to the definition of Prayer Summits where IRM is involved.

If anyone wants information about a pastor-led, prayer-driven, city-renewal initiative rising out of the Prayer Summit process, we at International Renewal Ministries would be happy to respond to their inquiries and serve their cities. www.multnomah.edu or DennisF@multnomah.edu.

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*CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA: PPG

>From: Ray Miles <rhm@christianaid.org>

Greetings in our Lord Jesus! I appreciate your work with PPGs. There is a PPG here in the Charlottesville, Virginia area called CPCL (Charlottesville Pastors & Christian Leaders) which meets monthly for prayer and quarterly for discussion/prayer. Representatives from Christian Aid participate at CPCL. I have encouraged our key representative at CPCL to let them know about NPPN so they can register their PPG if they haven’t already. As our Church Relations Director for Christian Aid, I join in prayer at PPGs when I am on church relations trips around the country.

Blessings in our Lord Jesus! :-)

Ray Miles

Rhm@christianaid.org <mailto:Rhm@christianaid.org>

Director for Eastern Europe, Church Relations Director

Web site: www.christianaid.org <http://www.christianaid.org> To subscribe to our free weekly Missions Insider Report send an email:

insider@christianaid.org <mailto:insider@christianaid.org> with the subject line “subscribe.” In the body of the email give your email address.

___________________________________________________>>>

*SEND US YOUR STORY. ---> phil@nppn.org

· How is God moving in your PPG?

· How can others connect with you?.

· Respond to something you’ve seen posted

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· Share a model or resource for prayer evangelism

Phil Miglioratti ~ National Pastors’ Prayer Network / US

1130 Randville Drive 1D, Palatine, IL 60074

847-991-0153 // 708-848-9139 (fax)

http://www.nppn.org email: phil@nppn.org

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