The Better Place News

The 2009 School of Prayer, sponsored and facilitated by The Better Place, Inc., will be presented in three full-day sessions. Each session will stand alone, so participants may come to one or two or all three.

The school will be held from 9:00am – 4:00pm on Saturday June 6th, August 29th and October 31st. It will be hosted by the Revolutionary Life Church on the 3rd floor of the Willow Bay Commerce Building, 21 E. 3rd Street, Jamestown, NY. The cost is forty dollars for the first session anyone attends and only thirty dollars for subsequent sessions attended. Lunch and a 3-ring binder with note taking material are included in this cost.

See the 2009 School of Prayer page for complete details.

Susi Pegan Prays for Maureen Schafer prior to Teaching

We had a full School for the two intensive days of the Spring 2009 version of the Agape Prayer Ministry School that was held on the 8th and 9th of May in Sinclairville, NY. This School was administered and facilitated by our Director, Roy Miller. Teachers were Jim and Susi Pegan, Maureen Schafer, C. D. Moore, Dave Piatt and Jim Bailey. – You may recognize some of those names (Jim Pegan, Maureen Schafer and C. D. Moore) as members of The Better Place Board.

Agape Prayer School Students Await Lessons

Here are some comments from the students: “Notable strengths would be unity commitment and love…. The time goes by very fast.” “It’s well run!” “I think this School rocks (can you tell I have teenagers?!) This was my 3rd opportunity to receive ministry and each team has been exactly right. Both the ministry and the teaching have been awesome and incredibly revelatory. I am excited for myself personally and for what God is establishing within His body in this region!” “This is a wonderful ministry. Thank you.” All the students submitted written evaluative responses. Everyone was thoroughly positive. – God highly favored this School (again).

Agape Prayer School Students Gather for Teaching Time

The Agape Prayer Ministry is a year-round ministry of The Better Place. Ministry sites throughout Chautauqua County, NY and Warren County, PA are utilized. A training School is held twice each year; in the spring and in the fall. The next School is scheduled for the 16th and 17th of October, 2009 and it will be held at the Warren Wesleyan Church in Warren, PA.

Dave Maureen and Susi help to Lead Worship in Song

Prayer in Song at Tracy Plaza - photo by Winn Propheter

On Wednesday the 6^th of May, the forecast for Thursday the 7^th was cloudy with rain and thunder showers. But God’s people were praying for sunny skies for the National Day of Prayer gathering outside on Tracy Plaza in front of city hall in downtown Jamestown. – Thursday morning the skies were dark and cloudy. The local forecast, as heard on the radio, was still for a day filled with rain and thundershowers. But God’s people were praying. – At 10:00am the skies over Jamestown cleared and stayed clear for the rest of the day. God came to the gathering on the Plaza, there was a wonderful spirit of unity, the singing and praying were powerful and God was glorified.

Pastors and Dignitaries at Tracy Plaza - Photo by Winn Propheter

This gathering for the annual NDP observance in Jamestown was organized and facilitated by our Better Place Director. He was also the keynote speaker.

Dr. Roy Miller Addresses the Crowd at the National Day of Prayer Gathering in Jamestown - Photo by Winn Propheter

There were also three evening NDP gatherings in Chautauqua County. One in Jamestown, one in Westfield and one in Fredonia; each of these was promoted by The Better Place.

A brief history of the Global Day of Prayer: At the turn of the millennium, many believers in Cape Town, South Africa, sensed God calling them to seek God in repentance and prayer and to call people across their country to assemble in united prayer for their cities and nation. People filled halls and stadiums of every size. – Soon gatherings like it (all meeting on the same day) multiplied across Africa. Year by year, millions more sought God together from almost every stream or tradition of Christian faith in every country of the continent. – Then African Christians issued the same call for repentance and prayer to believers around the world. The result was the first Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday in 2005, drawing an estimated 200 million people. In 2006, 2007, and again in 2008, on Pentecost Sunday, even greater numbers of Christians gathered in almost every country on earth. Believers from 214 nations participated in public observances of the Global Day of Prayer in 2008.

The Global Day of Prayer is always observed on Pentecost Sunday. This year – 2009 – that will be the 31st of May.

In Jamestown, NY there will be a gathering on this day at Potter’s Terrace, 15 East 3rd Street (next to Potter’s Alley). See the Google Map for specific location. The Better Place will be facilitating this gathering from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. During this time, believers are invited to come together to worship God, to pray, to hear encouraging testimonies and inspiration from the word of God and to prayer-walk the immediate downtown area of Jamestown.

Prior to the gathering on the 31st of May, ten days are dedicated to prayer by individuals and small groups utilizing the official Prayer Guide. Copies of this guide will be available in Jamestown at the National Day of Prayer gathering (May 7th) at noon at Tracy Plaza and at 7:00 p.m. at St. Susan’s in the Gateway Center, 31 Water Street. – For more information on the Jamestown event, or to get copies of the Prayer Guide or a promotional and informational DVD, call Roy at 716/488-9918. For general information on the Global Day of Prayer go to www.gdopusa.com .

National Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer is observed each year on the first Thursday of May. This year, on the 7th of May there will be three observances in Chautauqua County.

The Better Place is facilitating the noon-time observance that will be held on Tracy Plaza, East 3rd Street, in downtown Jamestown. – Mayor Sam Teresi will be present to issue a declaration and County Executive, Greg Edwards, will be present to bring words of greeting. Other government leaders are invited; particularly members of the County Legislature and members of the Jamestown City Council. Several area pastors will lead in prayer.

This is a short service so participants can return to work following their noon break. – This outdoor observance goes forward rain or shine. But, then again, it has never rained during the noon hour at Tracy Plaza while the Nation Day of Prayer observance is under way.

There will be two observances in the evening: At 6:30 p.m. there will be a service at the Village Park Gazebo on Church Street in Fredonia. And, starting at 7:00 p.m. there will be a service in St. Susan’s at the Gateway Center, 31 Water Street in Jamestown.

For further information you may go to www.ndptf.org.