For Finaghy Methodist Church 24-7 prayer has become a vital part of their church year. Jenny McBride tells us how their 5^th week of prayer went and how 24-7 prayer has impacted their church

On September 12th we launched our 5^th week of 24-7 prayer with a special night of worship.  We usually have a theme for the prayer room, for example we had an Easter prayer room and a prayer room which focused on the Lords Prayer.  The theme in September was “water” – like our creator God, water nurtures and protects us before birth and remains essential throughout life.  There were six sections in our prayer room:-

1. Praise – Focus on God as creator and provider.  Praise wall to write worship prayers
2. Forgiveness – Focus on water as cleansing.  This area contained a cross, basin of water and stones.  Request to hold stone, think of your sin, say sorry and throw this into the water – we are wiped clean and forgiven.
3. World – Focus on injustice as almost half’s the world’s population lacks access to safe water.  Praying for those in poverty.
4. Wailing – Focus on crying out to God for our own needs.  Post box provided to post our written prayers
5. Walking on Water - If we want to walk on water we have to get out of the boat!  How is God challenging us as individuals and as a church?  Prayers can be pinned to the wall.
6. New Heaven and New Earth – Focus on revelation verses “come all who are thirsty” and “he will wipe every tear from their eyes”.  Relaxing area with water feature and a river.

 

We have been running 24-7 prayer weeks over the last 2 years in Finaghy and we have been delighted and overwhelmed by the response!  The prayer room has attracted a wide range of people – many of whom would not necessarily come to a more traditional prayer meeting.  It has been wonderful to see all ages get involved, with families, couples, friends and children all enjoying spending an hour with God. Drawing people in from the fringes of the church and from outside our church is one of the many unexpected benefits we have enjoyed.  As a church family we are learning more about prayer, meditation and expressing ourselves to God in a variety of ways.  As people do business with God, this is changing lives!