An Update from Set Free, Inc
How might “Beyond Sunday” relate to prayer across WNY? Most of us are familiar with traditional church prayer meetings, and we thank God for the centuries of prayer that have risen to heaven from these collective voices. However, we are seeing God expand our understanding and application of what prayer can look like.
In 2014, the popular song “House of Prayer” included the chorus: “May The Fire On My Altar Never Burn Out, Make Me A House of Prayer.” What a thought! I am a mobile house of prayer. If you are a Christian, you are a house of prayer on the move. Everywhere we go, we are fire starters and igniters of prayer. My prayers count not only on Sunday at church, but every day, everywhere, with everyone. Our prayers make a difference!
In our role at Set Free, we are witnessing an awakening to and expansion of prayer. People are gathering to pray like never before—scheduled and/or spontaneous, individually and/or corporately, in the marketplace and/or at church, in restaurants and/or in homes. Could we be fulfilling Revelation 5:8 (NIV), “…they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”?
Society’s problems are a divine set-up for godly solutions.
As government leaders are increasingly at a loss as to what to do, we are being invited to pray with them and seek God’s solutions.
As business leaders are facing the challenges of a lifetime, we are being invited to pray with them and seek God’s answers.
As educators are stymied by the challenges of teaching in a culture that has too often lost its moral compass, we are being invited to pray with them for wisdom from on high.
Not just Set Free, but thousands of ministries, pastors, chaplains, and workplace believers are being invited to pray. Secular people are increasingly realizing God is our only hope. Desperation drives prayer.
As we pray, the soil of evangelism is growing sweeter. As we pray, our Father is demonstrating His power to heal. As we pray, our faith is growing stronger and bolder. The unity of the Church of WNY, in obedience to God’s command, brings the Lord’s blessing on His people, transforming our region for His glory!
Outside-the-box prayer is happening in our region at:
a hotel in Buffalo (Erie Co. National Day of Prayer)
a park in Niagara Falls (Niagara Co. National Day of Prayer)
a church in Niagara Falls changing into a House of Prayer for All Nations (stewarded by a group of pastors and prayer leaders together)
churches all over WNY one Saturday/month as Pastor Ted Howard takes intercessors and prayer warriors from church to church, city to city
8 Days of Hope, praying, repairing homes, and sharing the Good News with people whose homes have been devastated by natural disasters from coast to coast
more locations throughout WNY than any of us know
You may have watched Israel protected by the Iron Dome from enemy artillery rocket attacks. Could the Church come together across racial and denominational lines to collectively build the “Golden Dome of Prayer” over our WNY region?
God is listening to our words, catching our tears, heeding our pleas, celebrating our songs, drawing close to our worship… the key is GOD, THE FATHER is Listening and Answering!
Where and with whom may God be activating you as His House of Prayer? Are you ready to become a House of Prayer wherever you go?