Praying for the Prodigal ContinentScot Bower - 3 Jan 2011
In the first week of the new year we've asked several of our regular bloggers to bring us some thoughts on the year just gone.
2010 was a year of focused prayer on Europe. 2011 will take us deeper in prayer and see that prayer inspire mission. This October will also see the biggest 24-7 Prayer Eurogathering yet!
Europe is the first Post-Christian continent. It was the first to receive the gospel and nearly 2000 years later is the first to have seemingly rejected it outright. That’s a lot of history, a whole heap of heritage. The founding of our judicial and education systems not to mention hospitals and care homes, the anti-slavery movements and the spawning of mission that impacted every corner of the world. A whole heap of heritage. And yet today Jesus and His church has been sidelined and is learning to find her voice once again as a subversive minority. It’s exciting! The opportunities to bring Christ in all the fullness of the gospel to those who have never heard of Him are endless.
24-7 Prayer have had a call to Europe as part of there make up ever since Pete Greig stood at the cliffs in Portugal and turning to face the land had a vision where he saw young men and women rising up from every country of Europe (read all about it in Red Moon Rising). Since then we’ve championed prayer for and the re-evengelisation of this continent.
In 2009 some 200 24-7ers from Europe gathered in Amsterdam to listen to one another and cry out to God for our land. There was an urgency and intensity in our prayers that needed to be acted upon.
In 2010 24-7 called Europe to prayer. In March a season of non-stop prayer was launched. Appropriately it kicked off in Macedonia and ended 6 months later as we gathered for our international gathering in Edinburgh. Every European country was bathed in prayer as hundreds, perhaps thousands prayed.
Prayer is where it all begins, and it’s prayer that sustains us. As we move into 2011 and feel pulled towards works of mission and justice, as well as working with local churches to see communities of hope planted all over Europe, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to prayer.
In October this year we are again calling Europeans, (and those outside of Europe who have a passion or calling to this prodigal continent) to come together, to stand up! To pray for and listen to one another. This years Eurogathering will be held in Frankfurt from 6th to 9th October, we’ve secured a brilliant venue where the majority will be able to stay, eat and meet together. You are invited, bring your stories and bring your friends! Stand Up!