United Nations Soaked in Prayer!Carla Harding - 9 Nov 2009
24-7 leaders joined intercessors from around the world at the United Nations in the USA last month. Eva Sarsa from 24-7 Finland reports on the prayers prayed and friendships forged…
“In 2001 a team of International prayer leaders traveled to New York after the events of 9/11 and decided to establish a new tool that would connect prayer networks and ministries worldwide to focus prayer on common global concerns. They formed the International Prayer Connect or IPC and reached out to like-minded brothers and sisters across the globe.
In 2009 they returned to New York and invited prayer leaders from around the world to join them. On September 8th 400 people gathered from all continents and over 70 nations. The intervening years of building friendship and sharing a passion for prayer had born fruit. I had the privilege of being one of the 400 and the gathering was incredible…
The first day we prepared ourselves to be able to pray at the UN headquarters and it was amazing to see the unity and order into which all the delegates joined. I am used to see many more women in prayer meetings, so to see men standing in humility and authority, praying and confessing and declaring gave me much hope for the men in my own country of Finland!
Equipped with information, a right attitude and clean hearts we all gathered at the UN headquarters to pray for global issues like poverty, human trafficking, peace and the use of global resources. The day spent together at such a crucial place was an empowering experience for me. I felt that it gave God pleasure to hear our prayers… He didn’t expect that we should carry the world’s burden and find solutions to global problems alone… God intended to do it with us. The Father wants to answer our prayers and give us wisdom to do something at an international, national and local level.
On September 11th we prayer walked around the city of New York; Ground Zero and Wall Street were soaked in our prayers. We spoke to God for the US and the city itself, then took a boat cruise on the River Hudson where several global intercessors joined us. We prayed for global cities and it was really cool to hear prayer for my city of Helsinki from people from all over the world.
One of the best parts of these kinds of gatherings are the people – this trip was no different. We got to know each other before the Lord, with no titles, no banners and no positions. Jesus facilitated some amazing connections there. I’m really thankful that our little team of 5 Finns (one child, one young adult and two ladies) had the opportunity and the privilege to make our way to New York for such a profound time of prayer.”
Carla leads on the work and growth of 24-7 Prayer across Great Britain and she is part of the Lectio 365 team, helping people pray the Bible every day. Her life was hijacked by God in 1999 during a two hour stint in the first ever 24-7 Prayer Room. Carla loves prayer and worship, friends and food, a well told story and a challenge to get her teeth into. In her spare time, Carla is an active member of Revelation Family Church, a 24-7 Prayer Community. She lives in Chichester, UK with her husband Steve and their children Jackson and Eloise.
Meet Carla