“He keeps every promise forever!”
Psalm 146:6b (NLT)
The Message Bible says, He always does what He wants. The NIV says, He remains faithful forever! In other words, our God is going to do what He has promised. What He promises He will fulfill, in His time and His way. We are told we will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7), He guarantees that! He says that He will open when we knock, He will answer when we ask, and He will be found when we seek (Matt 7:7-8). His name is behind that promise! He says that if we ask Him for anything in His name, even “greater things” He will do it (John 14:12-14)! He says that our prayers release His awesome deeds (Ps 65:5 NLT)! How we pray and what we ask for reveals how big we see our God as! So, let’s ask big! Pray for God to move mountains and pour out His Spirit on our city! Just because it’s summer, don’t let your prayers become small!
Here are some opportunities to press into God with others this month and pray some big prayers. Our God is more awesome than we can imagine! We cannot out ask Him! May God fill you with audacity to ask for huge and impossible things for our city!!!
Please note… During the summer, many of our normally scheduled prayer opportunities are not happening as usual. Enjoy, embrace this season of broken rhythm and get ready for jumping into the white-water rapids of the Spirit this Fall!
Student Pastors Prayer
Thursday, July 5 / 9 to 10am
St James UMC – 111 West Lake Drive, Athens 30606
Each month (first Thursday) the Student Pastors from around Athens meet up to connect and pray together. Please continue to join us as we pray for God to move powerfully on all the Middle School and High School campuses in Athens this Fall. Pray that each Student Ministry would be effective and fruitful this summer. Pray for all the camps, mission trips and activities the various Student Ministries will be involved in, starting with the ones at your church. Pray that God would prepare the way, doing whatever is necessary, for a huge harvest across the campuses in Athens this Fall.
Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, July 11 / 9 to 10am
St James UMC – 111 West Lake Drive, Athens 30606
Every month Senior Pastors from around Athens come together to encourage one another and pray for and with each other. This has become a safe place for these pastors to connect, share deeply and pray with others who are in the same role. Senior Pastors carry a tremendous responsibility and play a very important role in our city. God has given us an amazing and unique grace for unity in Athens, especially among pastors. Please pray for your pastor, and most importantly, that God would grant him a passionate faith and courage to lead boldly.
Prayer Walking at UGA
Saturday, July 14 / 10am to just before noon
UGA Arch – Corner of Broad Street and College Ave
Rain or shine, hot or hotter, we will hit the ground praying huge prayers. These times are always amazing and quite unique!!! Come meet up with us at the UGA Arch and we’ll go from there. This is a monthly opportunity (the second Saturday) to join in with other prayer warriors 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 at UGA, across Athens, and beyond.
Pastors Racial Reconciliation Gathering
Thursday, July 26 / 10am to noon
Classic City Ministry Center – 386 N Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30601
God is really breaking down walls and allowing us to grow deep with one another. Please be praying that the next Pastors Racial Reconciliation Gathering will continue to build upon the breakthrough God gave us at our last meeting. Pray that the ground that was taken would be maintained and occupied. Pray that each pastor would be prepared for this next gathering to press in even more as we revisit where we left off last time. Pray that God would give us His strategies to lead us into a reconciled Athens!
Ongoing and inspirational…
Athens Daily Prayer Texts
Ongoing
All across Athens area
These Daily Prayer Texts are short messages sent to your cell phone every morning at 8am (ET). Each text includes a brief bible verse and a focus for praying. Pause and join with others across our city, having the same prayer focus each day! 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.
Encounter Gatherings
Thursdays / 6:30 to 8pm
Cornerstone (Athens Prayer Center) – 4680 Lexington Road, Athens 30605
These weekly gatherings continue through the summer and are open to everyone who wants to meet with God and grow in their faith. The summer focus is “The Believers Authority.” These gatherings include some amazing teaching, deep worship and lots of prayer! Everyone from across the city is invited join in if you are able!
Coming up…
End of Summer Prayer Vigil
Friday, August 3 / 8pm to 8pm
Wesley Prayer Chapel – 1196 South Lumpkin, Athens 30605
All the slots are filled for this strategic and important prayer vigil. We will be praying for all the students going back to school (from elementary through college). Teams from churches and ministries have signed up for ONE HOUR slots and will come facilitate their hour. Even if your church/ministry isn’t leading a specific slot, you are welcome to come pray for your kids at any time during the 24 hours! Please don’t miss this important opportunity to pray for your kids and the kids from your church as they re-enter their schools. This is going to be awesome and have a huge impact on our city!
Campus Ministries Leaders Prayer Gathering
Tuesday, August 7 / 9 to 11am
Christ Community Church – 890 Boulevard, Athens 30601
This is a beautiful opportunity for all the various campus ministries leadership teams to come together to connect and pray before classes start up at UGA (on Monday August 13). These times of unified prayer are always amazing as we recognize that each ministry is part of the body of Christ on the campus and that we are working together to reach and minister to students on the campus!!! Together we cry out for revival on our campus!
All Campus Prayer Gathering
Venue, time and date still to be determined
This will be an opportunity for students from the various campus ministries to come together on campus to worship and pray sometime near the beginning of the school year! Having some challenges getting the date and venue nailed down. Please pray that these details would fall into place! Following this we will launch Campus Prayer, which is a weekly prayer gathering for students and others to come together on campus and pray for God to do His awesome deeds!
For more (and up to date) stuff…
Not every prayer activity in Athens is listed above. Some of the above activities may change, and there are other prayer opportunities that come up in addition to things listed above… you can get the latest happenings at www.facebook.com/groups/1423907481169281/
Bless you heaps!!!
Steve
