40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for National Repentance

INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA
ON WATCH IN WASHINGTON

For Immediate Release | 16 June 2004

“Return, America, to the Lord your God
– Hosea 14:1

40 Days of Corporate Prayer & Fasting for National Repentance
September 24 - November 2, 2004

In accordance with II Chronicles 7:14:

“If my people which are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land.”

A growing coalition of Church and community prayer leaders is calling pastors, prayer coordinators, congregations, and networks throughout each state and region to set aside a 40-day period between September 24th and November 2nd, 2004, for corporate fasting, prayer, repentance and seeking the face of God. Our desire is to “stand in the gap” for our communities, regions, states, and nation as it passes through a time of war and another critical national election.  Various churches and prayer groups will begin with all-night prayer on September 24, which is also the eve of Yom Kippur.  

Some individuals are feeling called to 40-day or other protracted fasting.  Some churches and networks are planning 24/7 “tag-team” prayer watching and fasting, individual by individual or household by household.  Smaller congregations are joining with other churches in their area in order to maintain the 40-day observance in their region.  Expressions unique to individual denominations or ministries are also being orchestrated.

Sunday, October 10th  
National Solemn Assembly

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast,
 call a solemn assembly.”
–Joel 2:15

Within each state, county, city and neighborhoods, pastors and congregations are encouraged to yield up their individual Sunday services in order to join with other local churches at designated sites for a Solemn Assembly. This type of initiative has taken place in Prince William County, Virginia, near the headquarters of IFA, since 1996. (The collection of tithes and offerings can easily be orchestrated so as to permit each giver to specify their local church)  Leaders in some locations might need or want to link to one another via satellite or other means.  

The proposed Solemn Assembly would include worship, led by various worship ministries from different churches or participating sites, a time of personal and community repentance, a time of interdenominational and interracial reconciliation, and state and national level repentance. After the time of repentance the assemblies will engage in corporate worship and communion, followed by a time of prayer for our communities, states, nation, and governments, and to call upon God for world-wide revival.

It is hoped that 12:00 noon EDT, or another agreed-upon hour that might be announced, be observed in each continental U.S. time zone.  Thus, multitudes of believers will be “in one accord” in actual real time from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast.  

October 30 - November 2 | Closing Concentrated Prayer & Fasting

Churches and networks are orchestrating unbroken 24/7 prayer chains, and some individuals and members of churches will be maintaining a more severe closing fast, like an Esther fast. (Esther 4:16)  Churches and groups might also engage in corporate Ezra fasts. (Ezra 8:21-23)  The final three days will be marked by repentance and a “crying out to God” for the election of God-fearing men and women, deliverance and safe passage into future days.

“…for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn
His face from you if you return to Him.

   – Hezekiah, II Chronicles 30:9-10


INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA     PO BOX 915    PURCELLVILLE, VA  20134
Tel 540-751-0980    Fax 540-751-0984   
E-mail ifa@ifapray.org   Web www.ifapray.org



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