24-7 prayer changes South Africa's violent 'townships' - 27 Jul 2005
|
"For more than 25 years Peter Sekhonyane has been an evangelist in the South African township Orange Farm (mostly a squatter camp), where he has also planted 8 churches over the past few years," Joel News reports. "There are 1.5 million people living in Orange Farm, situated between Soweto and Sebokeng. |
 South African children |
|
|
|
Since the 1980's and the beginning of the 1990's, he had a prayer network in
28 cities/towns in South Africa.
But Peter became more and more frustrated. All the evangelisation had
led to only few salvations, and only a few new believers settled down in a
local congregation.
28 cities/towns in South Africa.
But Peter became more and more frustrated. All the evangelisation had
led to only few salvations, and only a few new believers settled down in a
local congregation.
|
After a meeting with a prayer leader in May last year, Peter asked for a 300-seater tent. The plan was to plant a 24-hour prayer watch in each of the 20 extensions and outer villages of Orange Farm; to saturate the township with prayer and then again start evangelising - the 24-hour prayer watches would continue. |
"...Peter went to the police station to ask how it went crime-wise during that week. According to their statistics something strange happened: in 7 of the 20 extensions there was nearly no crime - exactly the 7 in which 24-7 prayer was going on...." |
|
|
|
Shortly after this they put up the tent in 'Extension 1'. For 3 weeks they intensively trained Christians of all churches on prayer and the principles of 24-hour prayer. After 3 weeks, they decided to move the tent to the next extension. So they slowly started to repeat the process.
In August 2004, Judea Harvest donated the first tent as an experiment.
Two months later, after 7 of these 24/7/365 prayer watches were already up and running (at an average of 15 hours per day), they decided to do a full week of 24 hour prayer in these watches.
By Saturday Peter went to the police station to ask how it went crime-wise during that week. According to their statistics something strange happened: in 7 of the 20 extensions there was nearly no crime - exactly the 7 in which 24-7 prayer was going on!
|
By December 2004 there were already three tents available to plant 24-7 prayer watches. By June 2005, the 16th prayer watch started running. Some of these watches now literally run 24-hours day-and-night. Meanwhile a tent was donated to be used in Cape Town. Another one in Soweto. With the 4 tents that have been used until now, 20 prayer watches were planted within 10 months. |
"The number of salvations seem to be going up compared to the previous evangelisation outreaches! The positive part is that significant numbers of new believers can now be discipled as they regularly come to pray at the prayer watch. " |
|
|
|
This means 1 prayer watch every 2 months!
Then something special started to happen. People from townships from across
the country started to ask for help. These groups come for a week or 2 to experience for themselves what is happening and receive training. Afterwards they return home to start similar 24/7/365 prayer watches in their own areas.
the country started to ask for help. These groups come for a week or 2 to experience for themselves what is happening and receive training. Afterwards they return home to start similar 24/7/365 prayer watches in their own areas.
The police asked Peter and his team to come and help in an 'outer village' where crime and violence were rampant. Peter started a prayer watch there. After 2 weeks, crime declined rapidly and got under control!
A second encouraging thing is that people started coming to the Lord. Prayer is taken to the people and some are being prayed for in their homes. The number of salvations seem to be going up compared to the previous evangelisation outreaches. The positive part is significant numbers of new believers can now be discipled as they regularly come to pray at the prayer watch. Their chance to backslide is much smaller. It is also surprising to see that most of the new converts are young people.
|
And the vision? Peter is now looking for another 50 tents by November 2005. This means 10 tents for every province. Each of these tents must plant a prayer watch at least once a quarter." |
 |
|
|
|
|
Thank God for this good news and pray for South Africa at this time. According to Operation World the increasing crime wave there has left the nation in shock. Violent crimes are commonplace and the murder rate is seven times that of the USA. Pray that Christians would be able to make an impact in this hurting society. |