17th May - SIM-ers all over the world are going to try and find time to pray for the next 10 days about worldwide mission, the different aspects of SIM and its projects, their inspiration for their own ministries.
Our first day starts with : IF MY PEOPLE, WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND HEAL THEIR LAND - 2 Chronicles 7:14
We've just finished the campaign 'Pray for France' and have got through one Presidential election. We have just had our National Pastors' Conference where we discussed the Cape Town Commitment from the Lausanne 3 conference and whether our churches really consider their part in social action or social justice issues. In each situation we are confronted by the injustices of this world, the imbalances and power plays. We are reminded how much our country is in need of healing - perhaps not physically, because France has abundant resources, but in our relationships, in the balance of power and how decisions are made. We have to admit that not all people who live in this country are treated with respect. So this verse is very relevant to France as well.
These are the prayer points for Day One :
For believers to join together in united and persevering prayer to seek God's will
For forgiveness where we have disobeyed or quenched God's Spirit through unbelief as individuals, as an organization, as the Church
For a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit for all believers in our generation
For God's sovereign hand of grace will remain on SIM and that all we do will glorify His name Please pray for these same subjects.
I will apply the different points to our Femmes 2000 conference day on June 2nd:
for unity in our organising team and for this action to bless many women;
for our 2 local churches to be renewed by the Spirit and to seek God's leading for a more direct vision for future actions;
that all we do will be for his glory in our Union of Free Churches as we pastor our churches to feed our generation and to communicate our faith to our contemporaries.
