Prayer networks key to Norfolk revival
The sixth regional Prayer for Revival meeting on Monday 12th September honoured the work of prayer networks across the region. People from more than 50 churches across Norfolk gathered in a deep desire for cross-denominational unity and anticipation of revival across Norfolk and beyond.
by Phil Thorne, minister at City Church, Norwich
Prayer for Revival Norwich met at the Ramada Hotel in Norwich on Monday 12 September. God has blessing these gatherings because so many pastors and churches are standing together in Partnership Without Ownership with pastors having a genuine aspiration that declares, "Your success is my honour!" As well as praying for God to move in power and revival across the churches in the region, there was an honouring of prayer groups across the region, including Call to Prayer and REAP with Gill Gower and Brenda Huddleston.
During the meeting, Bob and Sue McKay, pastors of Fakenham Baptist were prayed over and commissioned to begin a Prayer for Revival centre in the Fakenham area and will have their first prayer event in November.
Mark Watson and the band, made up of City Church, Kings Community Church and Witard Road Baptist, served us all incredibly well, helping the enthusiastic response to the Lord to usher in an amazing sense of the awesome presence of God. The people gathered from a variety of denominations from more than 35 churches, including many senior pastors, praying together in small groups for God to move in every church in the city and region.
Simultaneously, at least 11 churches and a number of pastors in Gt Yarmouth also met at Park Baptist Crown Road Gt Yarmouth, building on the borough-wide anticipation of a fresh move of God. Dave Weeks, Site Leader of City Church Gt. Yarmouth, said, "Prayer for Revival, Gt. Yarmouth enjoyed a great sense of unity as we gathered with about 50 attending from about 11 churches, including 4 pastors!"
The Prayer for Revival gatherings have been energised with the presence of God in both worship and prayer with many people testifying to how awesome it was for so many churches to meet together and pray in unison across the region. The anticipation continues to grow concerning what God wants to do and the joy of gathering together in prayer. The amazing sense of unity and honouring one another in partnership has been growing in momentum and the call to continue meeting to pray together was astounding.
Concerning Prayer for Revival Norwich, Pastor Alan Goldstone of Liberty Church Bungay, said, "The worship moved up another level." Kingsley Armstrong said, "The prayer meeting was great. I came in late and was greeted by the wonderful sound of people praying, lots of churches represented and an atmosphere that was fun and relaxed. It was good to be there and feel the unity of Christians from across the city and region. I was blessed!"
Graham Blake, leader of Diss Christian Community Church, said, "We enjoyed our time and felt there was a real sense of God in the place."
Jill Gower of Call to Prayer, said, "It was very special last night for the intercessors to be publicly honoured and prayed for by the Pastors. Very often it is a hard and lonely calling. It was especially good to see Brenda Huddleston honoured, as she and others at Regional East Anglian Prayer Network (REAP) had served the Body of Christ for many years, often in a dry and desert-like place, bringing such hope and encouragement to likeminded people across our county. We know that because of their faithfulness we have now "reaped" where they had sown, and we really appreciate them."
Pastor Vic Ready of Taverham Evangelical Church, said "There was a real sense of expectation at the Prayer for Revival Meeting last night, which started as something we hoped for, has now become something we confidently expect".
Rev Stephen Mawditt of Fountain of Life CofE Ashill, said, "July's Prayer for Revival meeting at Ashill was good. We had about 70-80 people from 4 different churches, including Dereham Baptist."
Rev Mark Taylor of Carleton Rode Baptist, said, "Monday evening was heaven touching earth, for the first time I am beginning to see The Church in unity, not because we think it is a good idea so we will work at it, rather because it seems the only natural place to be right now. Even in the fields of rural Norfolk the Spirit of God is moving and awakening His Church to action. At the Prayer for Revival event at Carleton Rode we felt the Lord's presence in a wonderful way - one man came to me afterwards to say how he was so aware of God that he had spent most of the evening in tears. We had 3 church leaders present and people from Carleton Rode Baptist Church, The Pilgrim Benefice Churches, The Upper Tas Valley Benefice Churches, City Church Norwich, New Buckenham Church, and Hope Church Wymondham."
A number of church leaders have been enquiring about establishing a Prayer for Revival event in their area. I would be delighted to hear from other church leaders and ministries across the region that would like to partner with us in Prayer for Revival where they are, in our quest for the church across the region to rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Churches and ministries so far continuing to partner together include: City Church Norwich, City Church Wymondham, City Church Gt. Yarmouth, Eternity Norwich (AOG), Call to Prayer, Wroxham Road Methodist, Taverham Evangelical Church, Wellspring Family Church Poringland, Liberty Church Bungay, Park Baptist Gt Yarmouth, River of Life Norwich, Carleton Rode Baptist, Gt Snoring Chapel, Victory Villages Church Nth Elmham, Cornerstone Norwich, Ashill Fountain of Life CofE, Fakenham Baptist, Diss Christian Community Church, Unite and Transforming Norwich.
Source: Network Norwich
