Prayer
Redeeming Our Communities is a Christian-led organisation. As such, we believe that prayer is a powerful first step in seeing our communities changed; it is prayer and action together that makes a difference. Prayer is one of our distinctives as Christians; when we pray, we are asking God to intervene in our communities. As we pray, very often we find ourselves wanting to engage with the community and become the answer to our own prayers.
Through our experience, we have found there to be several key elements of what we believe make up the distinctive outward thrust that God is seeking to establish in the prayers of His people.
1. Vision.
Experience shows that where there is vision, a great deal can be achieved. We have discovered that the kind of vision that mobilises people to effective prayer and action is realistic, sustainable and easy for people across the board to grasp, understand and buy into.
Vision may be the single most important principle in mobilising Christians to pray for their town or city. Ask “how will our city or town look in five years from now?” and then pray along those lines to accomplish the vision. Find out what’s breaking God’s heart, let it break yours also, then share it with others and watch the fire spread.
2. Unity.
Christian unity is not an optional extra but a core component of the Kingdom. God is calling Christians to pray and act TOGETHER in a way that highlights the central truth of the Gospel and allows His Spirit to flow out in power and love to a hurting world.
But it’s not easy is it? Anyone who’s been involved in any of the many attempts to get Christians together from across the denominational divides will know how excruciatingly difficult it can be and how unfruitful sometimes as well!
However, where the vision is clear and sound, unity is not only possible but also very sweet. As an example, at Redeeming Our Communities events, we have had up to 7000 Christians from all denominations uniting together to pray for the Police and communities, and have seen radical transformations as a result. We’ve discovered that the key to uniting Christians in prayer is not to blur the theological differences but to celebrate them! Over the years we’ve honoured different styles of prayer in the gatherings and been enriched by the experience,
Unity however is so much easier when the purpose is clear. Unity is not really the aim, transformation is the goal but united prayer and action are the means to achieve that goal.
3. Positive focus.
Every city, town and village on the face of the planet is made up of precious, creative, caring, hard-working people all made in the image of God.
Rather than focusing only on the many challenging social issues, we began to celebrate the good things and speak well of the city in the same way that you’d encourage a child to develop. Celebrate the positive aspects of your town or city. Talk it up. Give thanks to God for all that’s praiseworthy; the schools, the hospitals, the police force, the sectors of the economy that are doing well.
Positive prayers lead to positive outcomes and God is glorified far more through the fruitful relationships that emerge. When we follow up our prayers with compassionate action in partnership with other agencies who share similar concerns, He’ll come and redeem our communities through the active and prayerful participation of the Body of Christ, united in purpose and flowing together in the power of His Spirit.
For more information - City-Changing Prayer, published by Kingsway, by Frank and Debra Green, available in our online shop
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