News Archive
The Better Place News
Here you will find a log of archived news. – For the most current news, please see our Main TBP News Page.
National Day of Prayer
1 May 2008
May 1, 2008 is the National Day of Prayer. People will gather in villages, towns and cities all over the nation this day to seek God in accordance with 2 Chronicles 7:14. – In Chautauqua County in New York State, there will be a gathering to pray at the courthouse in Mayville over the noon hour and a second gathering on Tracy Plaza in Jamestown at 6:00 p.m. – For more information on this special observance, go to www.nationaldayofprayer.org.
Global Day of Prayer
11 May 2008
May 11, 2008 is the Global Day of Prayer. This has become the world’s largest prayer meeting. The Global Day of Prayer is always observed on Pentecost Sunday. For more information or to order resources to help the believers in your community participate in the greatest of prayer meetings, go to www.gdopusa.org.
REPORTS:
(Many thanks to all who prayed for these events and ministries!)
11-13 February 2008, Pastors’ Prayer Summit
Greater Chautauqua Region of Western New York and Pennsylvania
Synopsis Report
Five pastors gathered with facilitator, Roy Miller, for three days at Camp Findley on the shores of Findley Lake in Western New York for the first Pastors’ Prayer Summit to target the Greater Chautauqua Region. No Pennsylvania pastors registered for this summit but the six who did attend represented a broad geographic range of the Chautauqua Region. Westfield, Clymer, Frewsburg, Randolph, Jamestown and Findley Lake were represented.
This time was spiritually and physically renewing for the participants. The pace was very relaxed. "Seasons" of corporate prayer mixed with worship were enjoyed on Monday afternoon and evening, Tuesday afternoon and evening and on Wednesday morning. Tuesday morning the pastors shared in a time of ministering to each other in prayer regarding personal needs. Each evening we shared communion together. Meal times were relaxed and there was ample occasion for personal one-on-one time with God and also to get out and "stretch our legs" by walking about the grounds.
A word picture that much of the prayer revolved around was Chautauqua Lake. This beautiful part of God’s creation has a battle going on within; a foreign invader, a type of seaweed called Eurasian Water Milfoil. A misuse of our material abundance in the form of road-salt run-off, phosphates from household cleaners and lawn fertilizer run-off has resulted in a lake environment where the invading weeds thrive and choke out the life of the lake. All of man’s attempts to fight back the weeds by cutting them out all summer long, dumping herbicide chemicals into the lake and introducing insects that feed on the weeds are not winning the battle. This situation became an obvious analogy of the Church in the region and of individual Christian’s lives. We prayed accordingly for the Church while also praying for a miracle cure for the actual lake; a cure that will glorify God to the region.
With the aid of a county map spread before us, we prayer-walked Chautauqua County. Our "walk" took us to the halls of government, the school systems, Chautauqua Institution, Lily Dale and the Job Corps. – We came against a stronghold of pride at Chautauqua Institution which led us to a recognition of pride in the Church and a need to humble ourselves. We need to lay our heads on Jesus’ breast just like John. – We must take time to let God minister to discouragement. – We usually fish with a line and hook but we must come together to cast a net to bring in the harvest. – "Our God is not the God of the ruts, He is the God of the new."
Reflective comments during a Wednesday morning sharing time included: "My body has been so tired and I can tell my body has been able to rest." "Being with others facilitates prayer." "It has been good to get away from the radio, computer and internet." "After the two on the road to Emmaus recognized they were with the Lord they had new strength to go back to Jerusalem to tell others; we have been with the Lord!"
Clearly it is needful for pastors to get away to a Summit such as this at least once a year. A summit for this same region has been calendared for 09-11 February 2009 at Camp Findley. The participants this year have been invited to serve in the role of conveners for the 2009 Summit.
02-03 November 2007, Agape Prayer Ministry School
This was an intimate School with five first-time students, four returning students and four leaders. – To become a leader (a “Lead”) at an Agape School a person must attend a minimum of three Schools and meet many qualifications. Along the way a person must be “released” as a “Second” (an assistant Lead); this can happen when a person has attended at least two Schools and been through the entire Agape ministry as a recipient. The four returning students at this School were all released as Seconds. Congratulations to Maureen Schafer, Jackie Courtney, Rev. C. D. Moore and Marla Edson!
First-time attendees had these things to say:
"It is of God. The team’s willingness to be used opened doors for the Spirit to really do a work!"
"I praise God for the opportunity to be a recipient as well as hope to be a blessing for others in the same way."
"This was my first School and I saw clearly God’s love through the Holy Spirit’s work throughout the two days. I was even able to be a prayer back-up and received a word."
The food was terrific thanks to many volunteers from the host church, Park Church in Sinclairville. The mercy, grace and love of God were very evident throughout this School. – The Leads who provided instruction were Rev. Jim Pegan, Susi Pegan, Valerie Miller and Rev. Roy Miller. Worship music was led by Dominic Rufrano and a worship word was imparted by Rev. C. D. Moore on Friday morning and by Maureen Schafer on Saturday morning. Their photos can be seen here. – Leads from the Chautauqua region will be meeting on the 17th of November to seek God regarding future Schools. The reader should be able to find information about future Schools as well as detailed information about the Agape Prayer Ministry on the Equipping the Church page of this web site.
27 - 28 October 2007, BUILDING A HOUSE OF PRAYER WORKSHOP
The Building a House of Prayer Workshop was held at the Healing Word Church in Jamestown, NY. Pastor Leecroft Clarke had requested that Dr. Miller present the topics, "Jesus our Model", "House of Prayer", "The Call to Prayer – Intercession" and "Bold, Persevering, Persistence." The first three topics were presented during a three hour time period on Saturday evening to a very inter-active gathering. The last topic was presented on Sunday morning. – The Event concluded with a fellowship dinner on Sunday afternoon. During the dinner many members of the congregation could be heard talking to each other regarding things they had learned during the workshop on Saturday and Sunday. – This is one congregation that is going to live out what they learned.
18 August 2007: Chautauqua County Transformation Event
A downloadable version of the 2007 Chautauqua County Transformation Event mp3 (15.6 mb) is available.
This Event was attended by 40 people and the Holy Spirit. Most participants came from the south part of the county but there were also some from the central county, one from the north county and four persons came from Erie County, NY. – God make His presence, His love and his pleasure felt quickly and wonderfully right from the start as members of the First Covenant Church (Jamestown) led in worship with music and song
The Worship Band from First Covenant Church in Jamestown provided morning worship leadership.. – The day was a tapestry of worship, prayer
Some Event participants lift up a map of Chautauqua County to God as they intercede for the county., teaching, and fellowship all woven together by the Spirit of God. Ministry displays by the Healing Rooms, The Better Place, Chautauqua Lake Men of Integrity, Helping Hands/the Gateway Center and Samaritan House were set up so participants could learn
A couple of the Event participants check out one of several displays of the regional ministries that God is using to transform the county. more about these vital ministries in Chautauqua County.
After viewing the Sentinel Group video The Destiny of Nations, featuring John N. Mulinde, near the conclusion of the day, the Spirit fell on some of the participants with travailing prayer. God wants His Kingdom to come and His will to be done in Chautauqua County; God wants to see His Church revived the people of the county awakened and the entire county transformed. God’s people just need to make God’s desire and priority their own desire and priority. To this end, the participants of the Event will be constant in prayer. Because prayer is the key, The Better Place will be following up by taking the initiative to “fed” intercessors with prayer need from pastors prayer groups and also by giving leadership to prayer initiatives such as region-wide prayer and worship gatherings and coordinating a non-stop 24/7 prayer stream among the congregations of the Church in the county.
14 August 2007: Hotdogs and Healing
The Chautauqua Healing Rooms In the Southern Tier, which operates under the corporate umbrella of The Better Place, sponsored a hotdog roast at their 31 Water Street location in Jamestown on Tuesday afternoon. The purpose of this was simply to draw attention to the presence of the Healing Rooms and to make people aware of what the ministry is all about. A high percentage of people who come to the Healing Rooms in Jamestown are healed when they are prayed for; others experience their healing within hours or a few days after being prayed for. – On this Tuesday, 35 people were attracted by the hotdogs and six people requested and received prayer for healing. – For more information on Healing Rooms check out www.healingrooms.com.
30 June – 01 July 2007: House of Prayer Workshop an Encouragement
For four hours on Saturday and another three hours on Sunday, The Better Place Director led a “Building a House of Prayer Workshop” for the people of the Mount Zion Assembly Church in Jamestown. A few guests from other Church fellowships in the community were also present on Saturday evening. – The topics covered included, Building on a Proper Foundation, Jesus our Model, Corporate Prayer and Persistence. – The participants demonstrated spiritual maturity and great attentiveness through their interaction. – Pastor Tim Heyer declared at the conclusion of the two-day workshop that he hopes to bring Dr. Miller back for a follow-up workshop in the near future.
03 May 2007: A Double Wallop on the National Day of Prayer
For many years there has been only one prayer gathering on the Nation Day of Prayer in Chautauqua County. That was always held at noon on Tracy Plaza outside of the Jamestown City Hall. This year we had a noon-time gathering in front of the court house steps in Mayville; the county seat. And we also had the Tracy Plaza gathering but this year it was at 6:00 p.m. – This was clearly the plan of God and God’s response to the prayers of the people for revival and awakening in the land. These two locations are strategic in Chautauqua County. And because of the two options, many more people were able to participate. – The battering ram of prayer struck some mighty blows to the strongholds of the enemy and the Kingdom of God gained territory through the united and concerted prayers of the saints on this day.