24 - 7 Prayer in
St Austell

by Miguel Fernandez

I’m sure your always getting it from your Youth leaders that prayer is vital if we are going to see a massive move of God in this nation, but realistically do we really believe that prayer works? When was the last time you got face to face with the Almighty to plead with shouts and tears for the lost youth of our generation?

24-7prayer is a massive movement started in September ‘99 by a bunch of youth who decided to pray for a month, but God had other plans! They were inspired by a small community of Moravians who, in the 18th century began a 24-7 prayer meeting that lasted for over a hundred years, and mobilised more missionaries than the Reformation.

I did have time to pray, all the excuses that I was busy was just a cop-out

24-7 has become a worldwide, non-stop prayer movement. Participating groups pledge to pray 24 hours a day for a week or more in a dedicated prayer-room. They then 'carry the baton of prayer' for that period. The prayer passes from location to location in a never ending flow linked up by the Worldwide Web. We are a virtual community praying in real locations. Right now someone, somewhere is praying 24-7! 

In September of last year the Church I belong to embarked on taking on a week of 24/7hours prayer, we designated one room which was the focus point for everyone to meet. We filled out a rota and made sure there were always at least 2 people in that room praying.

Within the room were different aids to help you pray, walls to write your prayers and requests, maps to help focus on local, national and international needs, music and paper and drawing material to inspire your prayers.

The first thing I discovered was the fact that I did have time to pray, all the excuses that I was busy was just a cop-out, because I was not a very good prayer! It is very true that you learn to Pray by praying!!

It was amazing, you could feel the Holy Spirit fill the room as the prayers went up over the week

It was amazing, you could feel the Holy Spirit fill the room as the prayers went up over the week, At first with the initial enthusiasm it was easy but, as the days passed, we started to find it difficult to pray, and we could feel the intense spiritual warfare going on around us, as we attacked the enemy’s strongholds. But as we pressed in to God we began to break through, and reports of answered prayers began to flood in. By the end of the week, although many were exhausted from the long overnight sessions, I believe that my prayer life improved considerably and the town which I live has since been more open to the Gospel. Numbers attending Bassline (youth event) increased with many people responding to get saved or recommitting their lives to God, so I recommend that you check out the website and see how you can get hooked into this massive move of God, and see your area changed by the power of prayer!!

You can find out more about 24-7 at www.24-7prayer.com

 

Miguel runs the Tsidkenu Karate club. You can read how he became a Christian in the Kernow Youth Archives.