24-7 Prayer USA: When America PraysDana Hernandez - 1 May 2011
Dana Hernandez, who serves as the National Prayer Leader for 24-7 Prayer USA, shares about what’s been happening around the U.S. as people unite in prayer. Stay tuned for a series of blogs from the 24-7 Prayer USA team throughout the rest of the week.
America remains in dire need of a praying church that is not detached from society. Our vision as a team for 24-7 Prayer USA is to catalyze, connect and resource movements and communities of Christ-centered, mission-minded prayer.
We want to catalyze prayer by inspiring those who are “catching on” to prayer to call their friends and community together to worship, establish prayer rooms and set rhythms of prayer. We also connect praying people by networking those near each other regionally or ones that are simply like-hearted so they can join arms, learn from one another and bring spread Kingdom together. We love fostering partnerships. Finally, we seek to resource prayer by giving freely what we have received. It’s as simple as sending PDF resource packs to those just starting out or visiting and teaching on prayer where there is need. Most of all, we pray for and encourage the people around us in the 24-7 Prayer family.
Ultimately, we want to see the American church return to its first love—Jesus. We want to see the Kingdom of God come forth through sons and daughters who are able to walk confidently out of the intimate place of prayer with their Father, as Jesus taught us.
A favorite scripture that our small national team has prayed out of lately is Luke 11:1-4. In the first verse of the passage, the disciples ask Jesus, “Lord teach us how to pray.” There is always more to learn about prayer, and the Lord is always delighted to teach us, just like He taught His disciples.
Here are a few snapshots of what we’ve seen God doing around the nation as people respond to the call to prayer.
• In Dallas, Texas, which is one of the nation’s largest cities, at least 15 churches prayed 24-7 during Holy Week.
• The Stockbridge Boiler Room in Grand Rapids, Michigan completed 40 days of nonstop prayer during the Lenten season.
• In Little Rock, Arkansas, people from Asbury United Methodist Church recently prayed 40 days in a trailer converted into a prayer room. Here’s a photo of this rather unusual sacred space.
• In the state of Arizona, God continues to unite the churches across the entire state in prayer, where a torch of 24-7 prayer has been passed around for three years.
We look forward to more stories of people praying, God responding and lives being changed. Keep up with our latest stories on our website, along with our Twitter and Facebook feeds!
God bless,
Dana