2009 Concerts of Prayer
During the 2008 Chautauqua Region Community Impact Week preparations, we gathered on four occasions – as the Church of the Region – for Concerts of Prayer. Many people who attended these Concerts expressed a desire for such gatherings to continue. God always showed up and the unity of the Spirit that was experienced was a blessing to all. And – no doubt – these gatherings were a blessing to God. – Also, many people have been saying they miss the monthly “Unity Prayer Meetings” that were held in the Jamestown area over five and six years ago.
Just this past January, several area pastors met for a morning long retreat to seek God regarding some of the next steps they and the congregations of the Church in our area should be taking together. As they counseled together in the Spirit, one thing that was addressed was the prayer gatherings. It was recognized that it is time to schedule such gatherings on a regular basis again. It was also determined that monthly is too often and would be counter-productive. The pastors were led to agree that quarterly Concerts of Prayer for the whole Church in the Region should be scheduled. As the pastors talked about the very full schedules that many faithful believers keep it was also agreed that Wednesday evening would be the best time for the Concerts of Prayer. This is because many people are already committed to church functions on Wednesday. The idea is that on the Wednesdays the Concerts of Prayer are scheduled – for the sake and primacy of unity in the Body of Christ – everyone will forgo their normal Wednesday evening activity in order to come together for prayer.
The first 2009 Concert of Prayer for the Greater Jamestown Area and the Chautauqua Region was held on the 1st of April in Sinclairville. The relatively small gathering (about 40 people) recognized that they were like the edge of a wedge where great power is concentrated for maximum effect.
Two more such Concerts are scheduled during 2009. They will take place on the 24th of June at 7:00 p.m. at the Healing Word Ministries Church on West Third Street in Jamestown and on the 30th of September at the Fluvanna Community Church on Fluvanna Avenue Extension in Jamestown.
These are the only Concerts of Prayer that have been scheduled for 2009 that will be organized and facilitated by The Better Place. However, The Better Place is facilitating several other prayer events in this region during 2009 that will augment the Concerts. You can read elsewhere in this news section about the National Day of Prayer, The Global Day of Prayer and the Prayer Schools that are planed.
Tags: Networking for Revival, Prayer