BRISTOL PRAYER WALL DECEMBER 2003 Bulletin Email city prayer requests to: info@bristolprayerwall.org.uk; Website: www.bristolprayerwall.org.uk; Tel: 0117 9246856
CONTENTS SUMMARY:
DEVOTIONAL
FEEDBACK FROM PRAYER WALL SOCIAL
CHRISTMAS IN EASTON and OTHER FAITHS
CHRISTMAS OUTREACH IN SCHOOLS; EVANGELISTIC EVENTS including CHURCH CAROL SERVICES
AND CATHEDRAL SERVICES
EU PETITION RE: CHRISTIAN HERITAGE
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON RACHEL HICKSON
HELP & PRAYER NEEDED FOR MOBILISING JOELS ARMY CONFERENCE
CITY COUNCIL ISSUES TO BE INVOLVED WITH AND PRAY FOR; CLIMATE; YOUTH; COLSTON
HALL
PRAYER MEETINGS FOR THE CITY AROUND BRISTOL
DEVOTIONAL
We must therefore, take deliberate action to arm ourselves with the mind of
Christ. It is not ours automatically. We must draw the line and settle forever
that we will not allow sin to have any place in our lives whatsoever. In order
to do this, we must be willing to put to death the lust of our flesh, including
our own selfish desires, ambitions and goals. We must strip ourselves - get
rid of our carnal desires, thoughts, intentions - and PUT ON THE MIND OF CHRIST
with His thoughts, desires, purposes, and intentions. Our wills must be totally
surrendered to God and our lives totally consumed in fulfilling His will. WE
HAVE GOT TO DIE!!!
DECLARATION:
I am dead to sin, the world, and the flesh. I am alive to the thoughts, desires,
purposes, and intentions of God.
PRAYER POINTS:
Ask the Lord for cleansing and purification in thought, word and deed
Plead the blood of Jesus upon yourself, your family, your church, your street
and your leaders.
Pray that there will be God’s release, favour and blessing in your spirit,
soul and body.
Pray for your church to experience phenomenal growth in terms of love for God,
depth of discipleship and numberically.
Pray for the boldness to preach the Word, even in the most adverse situation.
Thank the Lord for strengthening you so you do not yield your body to sin.
Pray for your non Christian friends and claim the life of every soul you set
your eye on in Bristol
Be a Lover of God before you are a worker
Paul says, "Now hope does not
disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5). As we position our souls
to make the first commandment first, we will be lovers before we are workers.
We will be worshipers before we are warriors. Through
Christ's loving embrace, He will show us that we are to be a bride before we
are an army.
CHRISTMAS EVANGELISTIC OUTREACHES AND CHURCH SERVICES – Christmas is a time of opportunity to reach those who don’t normally attend church meetings - pray for the non Christians who do attend the Carol services and other outreach events to spoken to clearly that there is a God who loves them and to get the message ‘EMMANUEL’ God with us. Pray the Gospel message will be louder than the Commercialism. Pray especially for the CELEBRATE CAROL service at the Cathedral on Sunday December 7th at 7.30pm which includes a professional classical orchestra. Be praying for your own contacts and for all Christians in the city to invite their unbelieving friends to the appropriate services and events.
CHRISTMAS IN EASTON and PRAYING FOR
PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS:
Christmas can send mixed messages to people of other faiths. To devout Muslims,
Sikhs and Hindus the Christian festival of Christmas can look very different
to what we intend. With Ramadan and Divali behind them they judge us by what
they see. And they see increased drunkenness, partying and frenetic buying.
Their children will come home from school with stories of expensive presents
that their friends will be getting and want the same. We might sympathise with
them and be equally scandalised by the worst excesses but how do we put the
record right. The 'politically correct' street illuminations give no clue to
the "real" Christmas story, where angels have been superseded by Wallace
and Gromit. In some parts of Bristol, Easton for example, a lot of people will
not be eating turkey on Christmas Day. The shops will most likely be open as
the Asian shopkeepers provide for their local communities who will carry on
as normal.
Please will you pray for those and especially those of other faiths who are
confused by our secular festivities. Can you pray that amongst all the glitter
they will get the opportunity to discover God's gift to His world. They may
not consider coming inside for our Carol services or comprehend what happened
"in the bleak mid-winter", but they will appreciate a friendly gesture.
In Easton church members will be making visits; and in Barton Hill there's an
ambitious scheme to deliver a Christmas card to every house from Churches Together.
Some churches, in particular the Salvation Army, will be serving Christmas meals.
Pray especially for those actively trying to offer the true spirit of Christmas
to those of other faiths.
We have been asked to uphold the people of Easton in our prayers. Guns are becoming
commonplace on the streets. The risk to residents remains low whilst the shooting
is between rival gangs. However it's hard to ignore and places an oppressive
cloud over people trying to live ordinary lives.
CHRISTMAS OUTREACH TO SCHOOLS
And please pray that our schools will accurately tell the children what it's
all about. The schools often welcome help at this time of year. Please pray
for those asked to help with assemblies or presenting puppet shows. Pray in
particular for OPEN AIR CAMPAIGNERS who are doing puppet shows in many schools.
STAPLE HILL OUTREACH - Christmas on the Hill Sat Dec 13th – Celebration in afternoon – Traders open doors for Christmas – Haven House Prayer House to give out mulled wine and mince pies - Local community, Christians. Pray for non Christians to visit Haven House and also for musicians to join in.
COMPASSION AT CHRISTMAS
Pray for those for whom Christmas may be lonely, difficult and not a positive
prospect. In particular pray for the widowed and elderly, who may have little
family left. Pray for all the groups going into take services or put on events
in the OAP homes, or who may be visiting the elderly, sick and need in their
homes. Pray for Christians to invite the International students who are far
away from their families and countries to their homes over Christmas. Pray for
the ministries to the Homeless and to abused/deprived children eg. Night Shelter,
Caring at Christmas, Crisis Centre Ministries, the various Childrens societies,
the Gate Café etc.
FEEDBACK from PRAYER WALL SOCIAL
This happened back in October and was well attended. There was a very strong
sense of God’s Presence. We ate together and people had a chance to put
a face to the voice on the end of the telephone or to meet completely new people.
People remarked that the Prayer Wall has provided a lot of useful networking
across the city. Everyone had a chance to speak about how they were getting
on and what they felt about Bristol etc. It was very encouraging to hear many
testimonies of answered prayer. For example the lady who was freed from antagonising
youth in Hartcliffe, the fact that we now have an evangelical Anglican bishop
(which is what we prayed for ), also that the black and white Christians are
coming together a lot more now (the Prayer Wall Monday meetings focussed on
this issue for quite some time); we are seeing more unity via Celebrate meetings
than previously the case……Another positivde word is that many of the
Bricks living in South Bristol (especially Hartcliffe) said they were feeling
‘we are on the brink of a move of God’. Martin Scott said revival
will come first in South Bristol Other suggestions were try and adopt a block
of flats to pray for and get to know the residents etc. Points for
continuing and prevailing prayer were (some of which we prayed for – people
did not want to stop praying:
Unity of pastors
pray against anti xtian laws in UK and stop new ones coming in
heart 4 st pauls
Pray for Emersons green pray 4 unity and for the provision of a building which
can be used by churches for services and for the new school, Pray for more people
to use the new staple hill Havenhouse prayer house
Pray against the threat of Islam in our nation ( Wake Up Call – the Moslems
are represented in local government and nationally and are opening 2 new mosques
every week in London, whilst 2 churches close – Easton now has 3 mosques
– one at the end of the M32)
Pray into personal and corporate strongholds
For God to Wake up the Body of Christ in Bristol to united prayer and concern
4 god to make a difference in Bristol
Pray for the disaffected youth, for the police, for Halloween
Pray for the breaking of curses over Bristol and for God to redeem the land,
set up spiritual mapping/Community Research linked with social problems
Pray for Nurses Christian Fellowship and for the Health Service
For the Shirehampton to have a shop building to be used 4 youth outreach
Pray about the EU advancement and constitution – In the words of an African
‘Beware you are losing your country, no England, the Daniel world system
is approaching
Church in Bristol take off the grave clothes and rise up like Lazarusfrom the
grave, If all we have time is to make a living then who will change uk. Our
calling is to be like Jesus and to do His works.
GOD AND THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION PETITION – A CALL TO ACTION FROM CARE
Please pray that the leaders of Europe will recognise the faith to which the
vast majority of European citizens' claim adherence and include a reference
to Europe's Christian heritage in the preamble to the constitution.
CARE is responding to an urgent call from a cross-party group of members of
the European Parliament. They are seeking 1 million signatures from across the
European Union in support of their call to include a reference to Europe's Christian
Heritage in the proposed EU Constitutional Treaty. Without this reference this
the key element of the historical cultural, social and political aspects of
European culture will go unrecognised in this document. Not only will it be
the poorer for its absence, but it will also allow secularists to argue that
references to religion in general in all other European treaties and documents
reflect only a passing early phase of post-war co-operation. Indeed, the lack
of this reference may well influence the future interpretation of key religious
freedoms by National and European Courts.
We urge CARE supporters to sign the petition on-line today and to forward the
link to as many of their friends and colleagues as they can with a request that
they also sign this vital petition. Please also consider telephoning CARE on
020 7233 0455 and asking Fiona to fax or send you a paper copy of the petition
so that you can collect signatures at your church or at work.We believe that
the constitution, which will be finalised at the inter-governmental conference
next month in Rome, will set the parameters for political debate in Europe for
the foreseeable future and that such a reference would considerably improve
the constitution. Although the deadline for the return of paper copies has passed,
it is still not too late and we would be grateful if you could return and further
signatures.
Please consider asking your MP to sign the parliamentarian petition - please
use the following link to get more information: http://www.caremailing.org.uk/attach/Briefing3.pdf
If you would like to sign the petition and have not done so already, please
use the following link www.care.org.uk/petition/constit You may also like
to forward this to other who may have an interest.
For detailed information about the EU and the threat to Christian Democracy
email Chris Squire on: chris@cfsquire.freeserve.co.uk or tel: 0117 9688157
RACHEL HICKSON PRAYER CONFERENCE AND MOBILISING JOELS ARMY
- Please pray for vision impartation and God’s Presence at the Pastors Prayer meeting for the event on Monday 8th December, 2pm at Pipn’Jay
PRAYER TOPICS and HELP NEEDED FOR MOBILISING JOELS ARMY EVENT:
Pray that Prayer Leaders and Churches
from each stream and North, South, East and West of the city would be represented
at the event and support it
INVITATION LEAFLETS – design them, print them, pay for them, people to
distribute them – post them out – release of FINANCES FOR this
Stick up posters in all churches
We need help in distributing PUBLICITY for the event – if you can help
let us knowGet list of all churches with tel, address and email
Pray for Spirit-filled and Annointed worship at the event and the right WORSHIP
TEAM to lead it
GET WORSHIPPERS INVOLVED - Set up database of worship people in Bristol –
need someone to lead this
Pray for the message delivered to be helpful and relevant to the audience and
that the outcome of the event will be the strengthening of the Prayer Army in
Bristol – be it Prayer Wall or others eg. Prayer Patrol, Pastors Prayer
groups, Youth prayer movement, Lydia, Spiritual Strongholds group etc.
Volunteers needed to steward and run Registration
For Unity and harmonious protected relationships on the team organising the
event
BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO RACHEL AND GORDON HICKSON AND WHO THEY ARE:
For detailed information see their
websites: www.heartcry.co.uk and www.m25prayernet.com
Rachel Hickson formed HEARTCRY in the autumn of 1993. Since then, Rachel and
her team have travelled widely throughout the UK, speaking at church seminars
or services, Bible schools, Evangelistic events, school and university Christian
Unions as well as at national conferences. She travels internationally visiting
Europe, North America, Africa and India. Invitations come from various denominational
backgrounds, and frequently from regional fraternals, where a passion for unity
has brought the churches together to pray for a move of God in their area.
Over-view
Rachel Hickson lives in Watford, England with her husband Gordon and their two
children. She grew up in India with her missionary parents where she went to
school before coming back to England to complete her education. Having finished
at university, where she read Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rachel worked as a
Research Assistant at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. She married Gordon
in 1981, and later went back to the mission-field together. It was during this
time that God began to use her to teach on Prayer and Intercession. They returned
to England in 1990 to pastor a group of churches in Watford, and three years
later Rachel founded her own ministry - Heartcry, with the following vision:
To train, equip and teach people
how to release their 'HEARTCRY' to God in Prayer and Intercession, and be part
of raising a prayer army that will cry out to God for their lands.
To be one of the prophetic voices that expresses God's 'HEARTCRY' for Britain,
Europe and the World, and to sound the call of urgency during this time of preparation
for harvest and revival
To provide weekend retreats or seminars where people can identify the hidden
'HEARTCRY' within their hearts and through teaching, prayer and encouragement,
find faith and healing for the restoration of their souls..
Can you hear the sound?
There is a cry from the heart of God calling His church to listen to His breath
blowing across our land.
Can you hear what he hears? See what He sees? Can you see light in the dark
places? Can you see roses in the wilderness? Can you hear the army marching
where there were just bones?
God is sounding His trumpet, announcing a new season but can we understand these
shaking times. God wants us to come away with Him and dream the dreams of God
for our nation and then from this place we need to cry in desperation and call
forth the dreams of God. It is the time to come together - to dream together
and then sound the trumpet over the land.
Our foundational vision has been to mobilize a prayer army of networks of Church
Leaders and Intercessors in unity in 12 sectors around the M25 (the main motorway
around London), who will in turn mobilize an army of ordinary people who are
totally committed and submitted to a Local Church. Once these networks of Churches
stand shoulder to shoulder as an army around London hitting the same targets
each week... that has punching power! Our basic concept has not been to raise
an intercessory movement of thousands of independent intercessors: that would
not have the same explosive impact as an army of people under the authority
of local leadership, praying in agreement around London.
Since we are committed to a relational network, it has taken over a year to
network with Churches and intercessors around the M25, and cause them to own
the vision for themselves and be prepared to run with it. This cannot be just
"our vision" run as a programme from a central office. It will only
gather momentum as each group of leaders owns the vision and runs with it.
Each sector will be challenging people to commit themselves to one specific
hour of prayer each week, so that with 168 (24x7) people they can cover the
week. Then they can start on further prayer shields as more people register.
Each person will commit to pray first for their neighbours, then for their local
area, and only third for London. They can then download material from this website
to help set up their home as a Neighbourhood Prayer Watch/Lighthouse of Prayer.
At the same time we are working with Building Together for London and Grace
Komolafe to facilitate identical Prayer Walls in the inner Boroughs. This is
called the "Greater London Prayer Wall." As a member of the Core team
of Building Together for London, this keeps the two visions strongly joined.
We have now set up a Prayer Centre which will regularly be in touch with intercessors,
ministries and churches who clearly have a grace to be the "eyes and ears"
of London. We will also be receiving information from all the main areas of
London life such as Government, Monarchy, Law and Order, Education, Business
and Finance, Arts and Media, Ethnic Problems and Race Relations, Family, Youth
and Children, Medical and Health, etc. On a weekly basis, this material will
be prayed over and simple "bullet points" will be sent out by Email
to all the Prayer Shields and Prayer Walls. Those who wish detailed information
on a subject can request it, but we do not feel we should overload people with
information. The power of the Prayer Shields will be in the weekly agreement
in prayer of thousands of people hitting simple targets. The emphasis of the
weekly email will be to pray into the destiny of London, pray for revival in
London, and pray for the protection and unity of church leaders in London. We
propose to give people a balance of things to pray against and also clear faith
targets to pray for. It is important to note that we are seeking to network
with every other prayer network, although we all have a different emphasis.
We are strongly linked to Roger and Sue Mitchell in Building Together for London,
Grace and Amos Komalafe and the Greater London Prayer Wall, and Julie and Rod
Anderson at the Strategic Prayer School. Our hearts are also strongly knit to
the Festival of Life (Agu Irukwu) and their regular all-night prayer for 10,000.
We are relating to the many other prayer ministries in London as well, such
as Lydia etc. We are also committed to mobilize prayer for the City and Westminster,
to support the initiative of Sally Rickard.
We have divided the M25 into sectors, each sector raising its own Prayer Shield
linked together by the M25 Prayemet. Each person joining the Prayer Shield makes
a commitment to pray for one hour at the same time each week. They commit to
pray first for their neighbours/ street, secondly for their local area, and
thirdly for spiritual breakthrough and salvation in London. There are 168 hours
in a week, so it takes only 168 people to raise the first continuous 24 hour
Prayer Shield in each sector. As more people join the M25 Prayernet, further
Prayer Shields will be raised in each sector, and in the surrounding towns,
until we have thousands of people committed to pray for our Capital on a continuous
24 hour basis.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?A vision
as vast as this needs time, patience and commitment to see it reached. We need
to recognise that we are in a spiritual battle for the souls of men, and the
"soul" of our capital city.
Our enemy and the battlefield are described in Eph 6:12
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Our weapons are seen in 2 Cor 10:3-4
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary,
they have divine power to demolish strongholds"
Our strategy is described in 1 Timothy 2:1-8
"I Urge then first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving
be made for everyone, for Kings and all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases
God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of
the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men - the testimony given
in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle
- I am telling the truth, I am not lying - and a teacher of the true faith to
the Gentiles. I want all men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without
anger or disputing."
We have divided the M25 into sectors, each sector raising its own Prayer Shield
linked together by the M25 Prayemet. Each person joining the Prayer Shield makes
a commitment to pray for one hour at the same time each week. They commit to
pray first for their neighbours/ street, secondly for their local area, and
thirdly for spiritual breakthrough and salvation in London. There are 168 hours
in a week, so it takes only 168 people to raise the first continuous 24 hour
Prayer Shield in each sector. As more people join the M25 Prayernet, further
Prayer Shields will be raised in each sector, and in the surrounding towns,
until we have thousands of people committed to pray for our Capital on a continuous
24 hour basis.
BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS
– CLIMATE; YOUTH; COLSTON HALL REDEVELOPMENT
RING THE COUNCIL – tel: 0117 9222000 or see their website - www.bristol-city.gov.uk
This gives the public an opportunity to input into important city decision making
on climate protection and sustainable energy, on young people and also on the
redevelopment of the Colton Hall - see the City Council Website for further
details.
Climate Protection and Sustainable Energy Strategy
Consultation Overview
Open
The aim of the Climate Protection and Sustainable Energy Strategy is to reduce
Bristol's greenhouse gas emissions. The Draft Strategy outlines the actions
the Council and the Community are currently undertaking to reduce their emissions
as well as future actions they could implement.
Who is consulting?
And why?
Environment, Transport & Leisure
The consultation aims to: Raise awareness of how climate change will effect
Bristol and relevant sources of advice and funding; Ensure all relevant information
is included in the strategy;
When is the consultation taking place?
Start Date: 25 Apr 2003
End Date: 31 Dec 2003
Consultation Overview
Open
Double Click is for people under age 19 who live in Bristol. It's a chance to
see what other young people in the city are saying and to send your comments
straight to the council.
Who is consulting?
And why?
Cabinet Office
We want to give young people the chance to tell the council what they think
and to be involved with the way Bristol is run.
Who do they want to consult?
Younger People
When is the consultation taking place?
Start Date: 1 Jul 2003
End Date: 24 Dec 2003
Colston Hall Redevelopment
1 Oct 2003 to 1 Jan 2004
Open
The multi-million dollar refurbishment of Colton Hall is now underway and we
wish to consult all Bristol residents about the redevelopment project.