MAY 2000

Rev. 5:8 ‘The prayers of the saints are like golden bowls full of incense’ ;Isaiah 62:6-7 ‘On your wall O Jerusalem (Bristol) I have posted watchmen: All day and all night they will never keep silent…… until he establishs and makes her the praise of the earth……till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.’Nehemiah 2 ‘let us rebuild the walls..’ BE A BRICK! Jeremiah 29:7 ‘Pray to the Lord (for the city) if it prospers you too will prosper’

PRAYER GUIDELINES

It is helpful to break the hour’s prayer down into slots of 6 x 10 minute slots. Possibly use the first 10 minutes to get settled into God’s Presence and to be focussed on Him and his Word; use the next 10 minutes for repentance and getting right with God & for praying about relationships; use the last 4 x 10 minute slots for praying about Bristol for one or two topics from each of the suggested sections as you are guided by the Holy Spirit. Expand each topic and pray indepth as led by God.

1^st 10 minutes

Praise & adoration. Worshipping God for who he is, Sing, Read a Psalm or other piece of devotional writing to focus the heart on Jesus ie.Psalm 100, Isaiah 53, Revelation 1

2^nd 10 minutes

Ensure our relationships are right with God and others, confess all sins, forgive all who may have offended you, give thanks in your circumstances and trust God for them. Depend on and ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray. - Humility: Phil 2:6:11; 1Peter 5:5-7; Matt 18

Possible Prayer Topics for Bristol:

THE CHURCH IN BRISTOL – UNITY - Psalm 133, John 17:1:20; Eph. 4:1-3

• For churches and church leaders to be in unity, to share vision and resources and to be strengthened and that effective discipleship programmes would be set up so that all Christians may grow in their faith and knowledge and practice of the Word of God.

• For Spirit of Prayer – 2 Chron. 7:14; Mark 11: 15-17; Luke 17:5-6

• For Spirit of Faith – Heb 11:6; Matt 21: 18-22

• For churches to grow and be encouraged in South Bristol and to be live, vibrant witnesses in the local communities and housing estates of Bedminster, Southville, Knowle, Hartcliffe, Withywood, Brislington etc. and that the stronger churches in the North of the city might be willing to facilitate this.

• June 4^th - Pentecost Sunday on College Green Interchurch Celebration, for witness & power.

GOOD NEWS

• For the On the Move Evangelistic Barbecues preparations – with worship bands from 14^th to 17^th June in various venues - Overall coordinator – Stephen Abbott tel: 9779270;- Broadmead Coordinator – Myers Cooper tel: 9243913; Bedminster - David Moss tel. 9776132; Kingswood

• Pray for the film ‘Miracle Maker’ (about Jesus) to bear fruit and to lead many people to an experience of God and salvation. It is made by Christians and is a very powerful and anointed film on the life of Jesus, Do pray for many to go and watch this it.

• Pray for the OAC (Open Air Campaigners) workers who take the gospel into Bristols schools and reach 1000s of children every day. Pray for them to be encouraged and to be provided for spiritually, emotionally, physically and financially.

• Pray for Christians to be effective witnesses in their places of work whether in business, in the NHS, in education, in Social Services, in the Police force or elsewhere.

• Pray for your own locality and issues (your local free paper might help), for your MP and councillor and possibly get a copy of the electoral role in your street from the Council House.

SOCIAL ACTION

Pray for ministries amongst the Youth, elderly, poor & marginalised to be effective in ministering mercy, love, salvation, practical help and to be resourced sufficiently with staff, volunteers, finances, buildings, skills etc. examples are Crisis Centre Ministries in St Pauls, Salvation Army rehabilitation centre in St. Phillips, Soup Runs to Homeless, Prison visiting, Alcholics Anonymous, Bristol Drugs Project, Network Counselling, SPACE, Youth work on Council estates & inner city

MORALITY

Pray for Christian Marriages, Single people & Families to shine for God. -That the proposed Gay Village to be set up in Old Market will not go ahead & that a loving witness will be raised up to reach the Bristol Gay population.

BRISTOL GENERALLY

Pray for new Employment opportunities and for entrepreneurs setting up new businesses and also for the prosperity of Christian Businesses. Bristol has many Engineering companies which along with those nationally are struggling to maintain their business presence. GKN Westland recently closed with a loss of 300 jobs. Strachan & Henshaw has laid off 60 people with more planned. Pray for those laid off to find new work and to be comforted.

BUILDING OF THE PRAYER WALL

• Pray that the gaps either side of your own will be filled in by other Christians called to the Wall. Aim to recruit at least one person yourself and talk about the Prayer Wall to your church.

• Praise God there are now 49+ people praying on the wall. Every week new people join.

• For another person to help with the administration.

MONTHLY MEETING FOR THOSE ON THE BRISTOL PRAYER WALL

The purpose of this meeting is to pray for the city and also to have a short time of sharing and feeding back of any words or visions people have received whilst praying on the wall and to feed in future topics for prayer. All Watchmen can send in prayer requests to the Prayer Wall at anytime.

THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 8pm to 10pm AT THE ELMGROVE CENTRE, SMALL HALL REDLAND RD, REDLAND ; MAY 1^st, THEN JUNE 5^t,h, 3^rd ULY

Dear Watchmen on the Bristol Wall,

Please find attached the May Prayer Guide together with an updated Telephone list. Phil Bennett who launched the Bristol Prayer Wall stressed that the telephone calls and prayers for other watchmen are the cement and encouragement which holds the wall together. Please ensure you phone the next person on the list and pray for them even if there are gaps between you. Pray these gaps will be filled in. Let us know how its going and if you don’t hear from the preceding Watchmen or let us know or similarly if you need to change the time of your hourly slot. Hoping the Wall is helping you to improve your walk with the Lord.Keep persevering just as Nehemiah did.