Dear Church,
I want you to pray towards a move of God in your church, and in other churches.
My friend Brian Johnson is the Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Michigan. He oversees 130+ churches in our state. Quite a responsibility! Recently, Brian contacted me, along with some other leaders, and shared a vision God had given him.
God told Brian to launch a prayer movement and begin by mobilizing our churches to pray for a move of God, in every one of our ABC churches. When I heard this, I knew two things. First, this was a from-God vision. I cannot imagine not desiring God to move in my church family, and beyond. Second, because of its scope and challenges, we must be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Divine wisdom and power that far surpasses human abilities will be needed.
Pray for a move of God in our churches. This is the kind of thing the apostle Paul longed for. We see it in 1 Thessalonians 1:11.
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.
Paul prays for a move of God in Colossians 1:9.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives...
Paul was always praying for the churches that were under his watchful care. Let's agree that praying for God to mightily move, in other churches, is a God-thing, a good thing. It is a big thing. So big, that when I heard from Brian, I found myself thinking, “This is not going to happen.” But, if it did happen, it would be another Awakening. It would be different. It would be grass roots, subversive as regards the kingdom of darkness, and have revolutionary impact.
I witnessed such things in the Jesus Revolution of the late sixties and early seventies. A great Move of God would be powerful, and influential., compelling and attractive.
I’ve been in pastoral ministry since 1971. I have seen God do things that were beyond my faith, beyond my meager abilities. To be part of a group of 130+ churches, all committed to interceding for each other, gets my attention. So, little old me, who believes in great big God, has signed up. I am recruiting you to be part of this prayer movement.
I want you to join me, and Brian, our visionary leader, and get behind this. If you are in a different denomination, or are independent, will you join us, in praying towards this vision?
Let the praying movement begin.
Now.
Love, PJ
(That’s what I’m called in my church family – “Pastor John.”)
johnpiippo@msn.com
EXERCISE
Pray for another Jesus Revolution.
Pray for another Great Awakening.
From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.
