Woman Finds Christ as Churches Pray in Belfast, NI - 16 May 2008
Monday, 9am – Belfast begins another week of hustle and bustle; same old, same old. Or is it? In the vibrant heart of the city something stands out, the landscape of Royal Avenue has been altered. Passers by filled with curiosity stop to gaze in through the window, glancing at the sign above the door they see, ’24-7 prayer here now!’. In the words of worship leaders Bluetree, ‘Greater things have yet to come in this city’ and the next three weeks in this prayer space will only be the beginning! As each day goes by there are lives changed, people impacted, and hearts restored.Each twenty-four hour period is being hosted by different groups from around the city, amongst them are Movilla Methodist, The Church of Ireland Youth Department, Scripture Union, YWAM, Christian Fellowship Church, City Church and others.
"The Methodist Church in Ireland has been involved with the 24-7 prayer
movement for a few years now," Comments Gillian Best. "I love the life
and challenge it's brought to us. We believe this week of prayer
together with other churches in Belfast is part of God's plan not ours!
16 different churches/communities/organisations from a broad spectrum
of church life, from both Protestant and Roman Catholic streams have signed up. How exciting this is for the churches to have
a united praying presence in the heart of this city!"
On Monday evening, many gathered together in the prayer room to worship and pray, amongst those there were a number of young girls whose curiosity had brought them into the space. At one point as people prayed aloud the girls joined in to give thanks for their friends an families. It was amazing to see them ask questions about the room and write their prayers on the walls. Others met with a man who was extremely hurt and expressed his hate of Christians and how he had campaigned to stop Christians going to Africa. The comments visitors and hosts have left in the log books speak for themselves:
‘Martin our homeless visitor, shared his life stories and pain, he then gave us a bag of money, all he had like the widow, may he know the transforming power of God in his life and may he come out of his illness with alcohol.’
‘Man this place is amazing, I don’t know what it is, but its like once they step over the door their hearts seem to open and spill out, God has made some amazing divine appointments.’
‘How amazing to be such a presence in the city centre, as I sit here there are four teenage girls here, painting and chatting, making God real to them, may God continue to bless this place and encourage those within it.’
‘Restoration is coming to our city, its here and now Jesus is moving right in the heat of this place, in your name Jesus….’
(All Comments from the 24-7 Prayer space in Belfast)
One lady was overheard saying ‘I feel like I have a crown upon my head’, later we discovered that she had become a Christian whilst chatting to some of the hosts in the room!
As each group hosts this space over the next three weeks, pray that God strengthens and provides wisdom for them. We continue to pray believing in the promise of 2nd Chronicles 7v14 that God will heal our land. As faithful whispered prayers are poured out to our Father, the reverberations of change echo through this city. This is indeed only the beginning.
Article written by Ruth Laverty of 24-7 Ireland
