“I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one—I in them and You in Me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” John 17:22-23 (NIV)
What an amazing promise found right here in Jesus’ prayer! He says that He has given us His glory, the same glory that the Father gave Him. And that the world will see it when we are one as the Father and He are one. In other words, there will be unity before the wedding feast of the Lamb and the world will see it and take note. This unity is for now. And that’s not all… somehow this unity will reveal the love God has for us, as we walk in love for one another!!! This unity is not simply about our praying and worshiping together, which is an awesome and growing expression in our city… Praise God! This unity is walked out in such a way that the world stops, notices and is moved by it. Please keep pressing into God in worship and prayer. And look for ways to display His love for one another. Join with others, cross racial & denominational lines. Pray for this unity to be so striking in Athens that the world takes note! Pray that this unity will reveal the glory of God in our city through the church! And please join in these prayer opportunities (listed below) wherever you can…
Campus Ministries Prayer Gathering
Mondays, April 3, 10, 17, 24 / 1:30 to 3pm
Campus View Church – 1360 S Lumpkin St, Athens, GA 30605
Each Monday (while classes are in session) Campus Ministries Directors meet up to connect, journey together and pray for each other, for their ministries and for UGA. Pray for these campus ministries directors and college pastors as they press into God together for college students and as they press into to finish this school year strong.
Worship Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, April 5 / 9 to 10:00am
Athens Church – 10 Huntington Road, Athens 30606
This monthly gathering on the first Wednesday is for worship pastors from around Athens to meet up to pray for and with each other and for their ministries in churches in Athens. Please pray that God would increase His anointing on those who lead worship in Athens and release a new song over our city! Pray for there to be more and more worship pastors joining this group.
Student Pastors Prayer
Thursday, April 6 / 9 to 10am
Tuckston UMC – 4175 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605
On the first Thursday of each month student pastors from around Athens meet up to pray for and with each other and for the student ministries in our region. Please join us in praying for a move of God on the middle school and high school campuses across Athens, especially as we press in to finish this school year with a great harvest.
Prayer Walking at UGA
Saturday, April 8 / 10am to just before noon
UGA Arch – Corner of Broad Street and College Ave
Rain or shine, heat or cold (and it could be anything), we hit the ground praying. We meet up at the UGA Arch and go from there. This is a monthly opportunity (usually the second Saturday) to join in with others from across our city to focus prayer on the campus and our city. You are most welcome to join us as we walk, talk and pray for revival.
Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, April 12 / 9 to 10am
Bethel Baptist – 59 N. Main Street, Watkinsville, GA 30677
This monthly gathering on the second Wednesday is for senior pastors from around Athens to meet up to pray for and with each other. Please keep up your intense prayer for your pastor, as well as for the other senior pastors from across our city. Pray that God would protect them, their marriages and their families. Ask God to stir a greater hunger and thirst for Jesus, that He would be the one thing they seek and chase after. Ask God to grant them wisdom and grace in all they do that they might know Him better (Ephesians 1:17-18)! Ask God to make their ministry in Athens a joy to do!
Prayer for the Middle East
Wednesday, April 19 / noon to 1pm
Living Hope (House of Prayer) – 2150 Lexington Road, Athens 30605
This gathering is a time of focused prayer for the Middle East and Israel. There are often updates from the Middle East, which leads to some very specific prayers. Please join us as we pray for Israel and the conflict in the Middle East.
Executive Pastors Prayer
Thursday, April 20 / 9 to 10am
Athens Church – 10 Huntington Road, Athens 30606
This monthly gathering is for executive pastors from around Athens to meet up to pray for and with each other and for their ministries in churches in Athens. Please pray that God would pour our wisdom upon these pastors who “run” churches in Athens.
Groups Pastors Prayer
Thursday, April 20 / 1:30 to 2:30pm
Cornerstone – 4680 Lexington Road, Athens 30605
This monthly gathering is for groups & discipleship pastors from around Athens to meet up to pray for and with each other and for their ministries in churches in Athens. Please pray that God would give these leaders wisdom on growing and connecting more believers from our churches in Athens.
Unity Prayer
Sunday, April 23 / 9:15 to 10:30pm
Classic City Church Ministry Center – 386 N. Milledge Ave., Athens 30601
This is a monthly gathering where college students from various campus ministries and churches across Athens converge for a time to pray together in unity for the campus and their lives. Unity Prayer is a college student lead, college student only prayer event. Please pray for the leaders of this ministry and well as the college students who will be gathering together. Ask God to intensify their hunger for Him. Pray that they would have a strong finish to the year!
Kid’s Pastors Prayer
Thursday, April 27 / 9 to 10am
Classic City Church Ministry Center – 386 N. Milledge Ave., Athens 30601
This very important prayer gathering is for children’s pastors. We meet every three months. Please pray that God would give them all they need to raise up the next generation of warriors for Jesus. Pray that God would provide the volunteers, the resources, and the grace to prepare for a large harvest of children to come into the Kingdom of God!
Citywide Prayer Leaders Gathering
Friday April 28 / 9:30 to 11am
Cornerstone (Athens Prayer Center) – 4680 Lexington Road, Athens 30605
This is a monthly gathering (usually on the last Friday of the month) for those folks who lead (or facilitate) prayer ministries in Athens. It’s a great opportunity to connect, hear what God is saying to each other and to pray together. Please pray for these strategic prayer leaders, asking God to take them deeper and deeper in their own intimate walk with Jesus and that out of this place, lead their prayer ministries forward!
Ongoing and inspirational…
Athens Daily Prayer Texts
April 1, 2017 onward
All across Athens area
The Athens Daily Prayer Text continues, though if you were a part of it and did not reply to continue, your name is no longer on the list. These are short texts that go out every morning at 8am. Each text includes a brief bible verse and a focus for praying. To sign up all you need to do is text @athenspray to 81010 and you’ll start getting these inspirational prayer focusing texts right away.
Coming up (definitely mark your calendar)…
Worship Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, May 3 / 9 to 10:00am
Living Hope – 2150 Lexington Road, Athens GA 30605
National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 4 / 7am to 8:30pm
Various locations across Athens
This is the annual nation-wide Day of Prayer. The day starts with a prayer breakfast at the Classic Center, followed by prayer activities throughout the day (including prayer at the courthouse steps at noon) and then concludes with a citywide prayer gathering at Cornerstone from 7 to 8:30pm. We are really pressing in to see if we can have a great spread of churches involved in the closing session of prayer at Cornerstone that evening. Please mark your calendar now and plan to join in as much as you are able. For more info on the day check out http://www.acmin.org/National-Day-of-Prayer
Pastors Racial Reconciliation Gathering
Thursday, June 29 / 9am to 1pm
Venue TBD
This is the continuation of some deep, amazing, and healing dialog in the area of racial reconciliation, for SENIOR PASTORS ONLY. Please be praying for your pastor to both participate and to fully engage in this important process for our city!
For more (and up to date) stuff…
Some of the above activities may change, and there are other prayer opportunities that come up in addition to things happening that were not listed above… you can get the latest happening at www.facebook.com/groups/1423907481169281/
Bless you heaps!!!
Steve
