2013

Wednesday, 01 May 2013 Dear Leaders & Prayer Leaders As I write this the sun is shining outside and at last life is bursting forth in the hedgerows and gardens. We recently walked through the Wigg Island Community Park in Runcorn, and everywhere trees were wreathed in the refreshing spring green of new growth and the silver birches were resplendent in their blossoms. Two pairs of swans have built their nests on the ponds of the park and their efforts are matched by all the other waterfowl and landbirds. To me it was a picture of what is going on in the church in our region. At the same time as celebrating the past (two churches and one prayer movement celebrating anniversaries about now) new life is happening. Churches in one area are coming together in a new way to plan a united mission to the area for next year, and are intending as well to be part of the region wide month of mission in October this year. They are already in the process of hiring coaches for the Saints in the Stadium event (See below; I think that qualifies as a broad hint to the rest of us). Thats just one of the many things that are developing. Prayer is moving up the agenda as well, stemming in part from the fantastic way we have prayed together and for each other in the Continuous Prayer of the last for years. The great support that our churches gave to the Wembley prayer day last year (the Mersey Region provided the largest contingent at that event of any other city-region except London), has resulted in the Global Day of Prayer team pledging support for the Mersey Region prayer event on 12 th October at the St Helens Rugby League stadium: called Saints in the Stadium and it will be supported by other towns and cities on that day. But going back to the Community Park: imagine our shock when we came to the middle of this nature reserve, only to find a great swathe of devastation carved through it from side to side. It is preparation for the second Mersey Crossing, the building of which starts next year. The development is necessary, but the disturbance is distinctly uncomfortable! It reminded me that in order to reach every man, woman and child in our region with the good news about Jesus we are going to have to make changes in how we do things, try new ventures & adventures and it may well be uncomfortable and even disturbing. We dont want the new

growth despoiled by ungodly activity, but we do want to be ready, as He leads us, to put aside those things that hinder our total mobilisation to the calling of God (Matt 28v19-20). Lets uphold one another in prayer to keep fully focussed on Gods will for us and our churches in this highly significant year.

THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE

Its good to praise God for answers to prayer from last months prayers.

Saints in the Stadium Regional Prayer Event

Thank you for praying for the launch evening for this massive prayer event planned for October. Over 210 church and prayer network leaders from across the North of England came to hear about this and pray for it. Jonathan Oleyedi and the team that organised the National Day of Prayer and Worship last September in Wembley Stadium committed themselves to joining forces with local groups (e.g. SHINE, Operation hope and TFH) to publicise and support the event. Up to 18,000 people are expected. A word of encouragement for the event was shared from The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. Praise God for the way He has given vision and drawn people together for this time. More to pray about below.

Farsi Conference/ELAM Day conference

Give thanks for the amazing day when 350 people came together to pray and commit together to reach out to Iranians in our local communities. The conference was a great encouragement & shared stories of what God is doing amongst Iranians in the UK.

Local Elections
Although many of us havent been voting today (May 2nd) in the local elections, give thanks that we have the freedom to vote for those who will represent us in local Government. Pray for Kingdom values to permeate our local councils.

Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme

Praise God that the government have published guidance on the new gift aid small donations scheme (which allows churches to claim up to 1250 annually). Please pray that churches in our region will be able to make use of this.

Other Things
Give thanks for Toolkit Training Day, Operation Hope in Parr St Helens, and the Wirral YFC IGNITE event at Life Church, Bebington and all the other events held last month.

TOXTETH WOMENS CENTRE UPDATE SPRING 2013

The managers & trustees ask us to give thanks for all the answered prayer in the last quarter. Particularly for the health of the leaders. The numbers at the classes remain steady and the women continue to enjoy coming. Specific prayer for individuals in need have been answered. Please pray for the Meetings for Better Understanding that recommenced in April, and continue on the last Tuesdays of May and June, and the final one of the term will be on July 16th. Thank God for these opportunities to share the Good News with the women. Please pray about the need for accommodation for the classes Help in the crche remains an urgent need.

EDEN NETWORK
Please pray for the ministry of the Eden Project in our region. Regional director Dave Nuttall says, One of the greatest gifts we can offer to young people and families in poverty is our friendship. The amazing thing is that it is free to give and we receive it back with interest! Theres also a very real benefit to these relationships as we can act as a living bridge preventing those in poverty from becoming socially isolated and from making bad life-choices in their desperation. We can act as a companion, but also as an advocate, a mentor and an opener of doors that might otherwise be closed. Pray that Eden would find new ways of recruiting people for this. Pray about the interviews for the Eden Netherton post, coming up. Pray for a strong relationship with the police.

SAINTS IN THE STADIUM REGIONAL PRAYER EVENT

Praise God that plans are now being made to hold a major prayer event at St Helens Rugby League Stadium on 12th October. Please pray that the message about this gets out to every church and Christian in our region and beyond. Pray now that God excites the Church to come together to pray for the region and the nation. Give thanks for the small steering group who are working together to make the event happen. Especially remember Dave Hanratty who is the prayer co-ordinator and is responsible for stimulating prayer about this event. He is organising monthly prayer meetings in the Stadium, the next one of which is on Tuesday 21st May at 7.30pm. Dave has asked that we Pray for: Continued unity across the churches and ministries For the vision to spread and be supported right across the North of England and beyond. Practicalities; production, planning etc Programme for 12th October Protection from the enemy for the team who are bringing this together Financial Provision (a fundraiser is needed) Wisdom for the steering group. Wise as serpents gentle as doves

For people to come forward to help in a practical way.

CONTINUOUS PRAYER: CHURCHES PRAYING IN MAY

Apr 28 to May 5 to 12 May 12 to 19 May 19 to 26 May 26 to Garden of Hope Kingsway Christian Billinge Family Church Hope Corner Community St James in the City

Please Pray that the remaining weeks of the year are filled as we continue to pray for breakthrough in mission and prayer. Although every week has been filled so far, for the next few months there are quite a few gaps.

OTHER EVENTS IN MAY TO PRAY FOR

May 3rd & 4th HEALING ON THE STREETS with MARK MARKS planned for 3rd and 4th May has been cancelled & will be rearranged. May 6th Please Pray for the Wigan Fire Conference at the DW Stadium in Wigan, with speaker Ken Gott May 9th National Day of Prayer for the police. Please pray for police officers & staff; safety whilst on duty (stabbing of two policemen in Manchester this week reminds us again of the danger for frontline police officers); Success in bringing offenders to justice; changes to policing. May 9th Please pray for the prayer breakfast at St Georges Everton organised by the Police Chaplaincy for praying for The Merseyside Police. May 10th & 11th Please pray for the EDEN NETWORK'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROXIMITY May 11th Please pray for: The Wirral Pentecost Event. A Pentecost Launch Party at Hoylake Chapel Release The Spirit in partnership with Pray for Wirral, Wirral YFC, Churches Together in Wirral, and Together for the Harvest. The purpose of this event and the one on 18th May is to raise awareness of Pentecost both inside and outside the Church. The vision is to see Pentecost become a major, if not THE major, Christian celebration in Wirral over the next three years! May 17th Please pray for Part of the Fire: RiverArts Walton Pentecost Festival. Singer/songwriter Andy Flannagan performs at St Lukes Church, Goodison Road in Walton, RiverArts is a network for Christian artists and creative people who live, work and enjoy Liverpools rich creative arts scene. May 18th Please pray for The BREAKOUT Women's Conference at the Foundry Widnes with guest speaker Jelena Allsworth former leader of the Abundant Life Church in Belfast May 18th Wirral Pentecost Event The BiggestBirthdayPartyEver! event will be on 18th May on the Kingsmead School playing fields in Hoylake. This is an event for the

whole family being run by Churches Together in Hoylake and Meols. Pray for Bishop Keith Sinclair as he gives an evengelistic talk at this event. May 19th Please pray for: Ykids Believe Awards at Aintree Racecourse. A competition is taking place across Bootle where local people can nominate children who have made a difference and they will be rewarded at this special event on May 16th at Aintree Racecourse. In addition to a drinks reception, 3 course meal and entertainment, people will have the opportunity to hear these special young people's stories and celebrate them. Pray for people to nominate children for the awards. May 19th Please pray: For Pentecost Sunday events taking place across the region, including CT in Runcorn united Pentecost service at Hope Corner. May 21st Please pray for the Reasons For Hope meeting at New Brighton Baptist with Carl Kirby . Carls passion is to proclaim the authority and accuracy of the Bible and to engage the minds and hearts of believers and unbelievers in todays culture so that they may experience the realities of the Word of God. May 23rd Please pray: for the TFH Leaders Lunch when the speaker will be Bishop James Jones. This will be the last opportunity to hear him speak at a TFH event before his retirement. Please pray that it will be a really blessed time and that Bishop James will impart vision and wisdom to those who will be present. At Grace Family Church in Aigburth. May 26th Pray for: Tent mission in Haydock with Steve Pilkington.

PRAYER MEETINGS IN MAY

Please pray for people to catch the vision for prayer, and particularly for the following region-wide prayer events: Merseypray on May 9th. Theme: Liverpool Free Churches Interdependence Wells of Revival May 13th. St Helens Christian Life Centre Prison Fellowship Prayer Meeting May 16th. At Northfield Church, Bootle Saints in the Stadium Prayer Meeting May 21st In St Helens rugby Leage Stadium preparatory prayer for October event The Big Push May 25th. The Hope Centre Aintree

NORTH WEST CHRISTIAN BUSINESS FORUM

Pray for those Christians within the Mersey Region seeking to develop business on Kingdom principles. Pray for the North West Christian Business Forum as they embark on a series of teaching gatherings in Liverpool The second of these meetings will take place on Wednesday 29th May.

Please pray for Pam & Dave Coates as they travel to Armenia on 13th May to do "Transformed Working Life" with business people. It's the first time they've done this programme in Aramaic.

OTHER THINGS GOING ON ADVANCED NOTICE

On the 7th June 2013 Wirral YFC will again recognise 30 inspirational young people from across the Wirral. Our host for the evening is Blue Peter presenter Barney Harwood and we have representatives booked from the Police, Fire Brigade, RNLI and the armed forces as well as local business leaders, MPs, civic and faith leaders.

The next quarterly Prayer Gathering of the North West Christian Business Forum will take place on Wednesday 5th June at the Foundry at 7pm

WIDER PRAYER ISSUES

Open air church services to remember the persecuted
Christians are being encouraged to hold open air services to stand in solidarity with persecuted believers. Release International, which services persecuted Christians worldwide, has set 19 and 26 May as the dates for this year's Great Outdoors Church Service. The aim is to remember those persecuted believers whose churches have been destroyed or who have been banned from meeting in their own buildings.

Breaking the cycle of Hopelessness

Across our Region and Nation generations of families have been unemployed with the result many of the current generation have little incentive or hope. Our God is the God of all hope. Pray for good role models to give our young belief that this cycle can be broken.