The International Pentecostal Holiness Church has joined the Church of God in the special 30-Day Prayer Emphasis. According to Terry Fowler, director of prayer ministries for the IPHC, Fowler sent a note to Doug Small, coordinator of prayer ministries for the Church of God saying, “We are joining you in your prayer journey.” A special 30-day prayer guide has been produced for use by the IPHC churches and is now posted on the Church of God Prayer Ministries link, located at www.churchofgod.org.
Across Church of God congregations, pastors and people alike are discovering the power of pressing into God in prayer during the “30 Days of Prayer – Days of Awakening, Days of Action.”
One pastor described an altar laden with the pictures of friends and family that need a touch from God. “At every gathering, we lift up their faces and names in prayer. We are keeping the harvest before us.” Another pastor reported, “As I concluded my message last Sunday, the Holy Spirit said ‘Don’t forget the tears!’ and suddenly my heart was flooded with a deep sense of God’s love – and in the next few moments, we experienced an overflow of the Holy Spirit’s presence.” Extended prayer times are occurring. Souls are being saved. A burden for the community is being recovered. Real efforts to reach out are taking shape.
There have been prayer breakfasts, prayer walks, benevolent action, intentional acts of care and kindness, public prayer for the city. Church of God congregations across the nation participated in, and in some cases led the ‘Cry Out America’ rallies on September 11, praying for awakening in the nation. Solemn Assemblies have been conducted. One pastor led a 50-hour virtual prayer gathering that reached across six states. It was non-stop prayer, by telephone, for more than two days, with people pouring their heart out to God in a unique ‘prayerathon.’
“The resources are overwhelming,” one administrative bishop noted. “Ppreaching and teaching, power points, prayer guides, training materials. It is more than we could ever use in 30 day period.” Small reported that in one state 40-50% of the churches are participating. In other states, the numbers are around 15-20%. His goal is to enroll 20% of our churches, first in the US, and then beyond, in the “Praying Church Movement.” To sign up or check out prayer resources, go to www.praycog.org.