“My Father is always working, and so am I.”
John 5:17 (NLT)

God is always working. Last time I checked, always means, well, ALWAYS. In other words, He never stops, whether it’s in the bright light of day or in the dense darkness of night God is ALWAYS working. Whether it’s the dead of winter, or the blazing heat of summer (or Spring like this past week in Georgia), God is ALWAYS up to something. Dictionary.com defines ALWAYS as “every time, on every occasion, without exception, all the time, continuously, uninterruptedly, forever!” So, in the midst the craziness of summer, with mission trips, vacations, kids out of school and a sense of broken rhythm, it is vital that we stay connected to what God is doing, since He is ALWAYS doing something. It is absolutely important for us to be ready for what God has planned for the fall. To do so, we need to press into to Him now and ALWAYS pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1). In other words, whatever you are doing this summer, please be intentional in seeking God and crying out for your church and our city. You won’t regret it!

Here are some great opportunities to press into God together with others across our city to stay in touch with Him who is ALWAYS working, through prayer.

By the way, every day we post something on the APN Facebook page. These posts include prayer opportunities, prayer points and prayer inspirations. Definitely worth checking out daily to help stay connected with what God is doing!

Prayer Walking at UGA
Saturday, June 1 and 8 / 10am to just before noon
UGA Arch – Corner of Broad Street and College Ave

This month we will hit the pavement twice, crying out for God to do His will, completely and powerfully, in Athens. Please come and join in with other folks from across Athens, if you are able, and focus faith filled prayer on the campus and on our city. Every prayer walk is pretty awesome, truly unique, and always amazing!!! We meet up at the UGA Arch and go from there. Whether you have never been on a prayer walk before, or you’re a veteran intercessor, or like most of us, somewhere in-between, you are welcome to join us as we walk, talk and pray for revival at UGA, across Athens, and beyond.

Day of Prayer for President Donald Trump
Sunday, June 2 / All Day
Across America

Whether you voted for him or not, Donald Trump is our president and God has called us as followers of Jesus, to pray for him. Isn’t it interesting that God links prayer for “kings and all those in authority” with reaching the lost (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Franklin Graham has felt prompted to call the church to pray for Mr. Trump in a focused unified way on Sunday, June 2. According to Franklin, “President Trump’s enemies continue to try everything to destroy him, his family, and the presidency. In the history of our country, no president has been attacked as he has. I believe the only hope for him, and this nation, is God. This is a critical time for America. We’re on the edge of a precipice. Time is short. We need to pray for God to intervene. We need to ask God to protect, strengthen, encourage, and guide the President.” For more info check out https://billygraham.org/story/special-day-of-prayer/?fbclid=IwAR2r5XZ-69U3FAGs7_q2YDtLAFeT3GFjDQoSl909WAx0PUuP_3PHXy3PI3M

Student Pastors Prayer
Thursday, June 6 / 9 to 10am
Watkinsville First Baptist Church – 1610 Simonton Bridge Rd, Watkinsville, GA 30677

On the first Thursday on every month, Student Pastors from around Athens connect to pray together. Take this opportunity to pray for the student pastor at your church. Ask God to prepare for a powerful movement to sweep across all the Middle School and High School campuses in Athens this fall. Pray for the effectiveness and fruitfulness of every student ministry in our city over this summer. Ask for God’s favor on every gathering and big event such as camps and mission trips. Pray that God would rise up and prepare more leaders during this summer for the coming school year, even with ones who are currently out of town. Ask God for more students to be drawn into ministries across Athens than ever before. Please ask Him to increase your faith to believe for an awakening (lost kids coming to Christ) on all the campuses across our city! And, pray for The Mix 2020, as preparations are under way!

Intercessors Gathering
Monday, June 10 / 7 to 9pm
APN Prayer Center

This is a call to intercessors around Athens to come together to hear what God is saying to them, to pray together and to determine if we should start meeting regularly. If you’re interested in joining us, please let me know.

Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, June 12 / 9 to 10am
Hill Chapel Baptist Church – 1692 W Hancock Ave, Athens, GA 30606

Senior Pastors come together each month to prayerfully share their journey with each other. This is such a beautiful expression of the unity that God is expanding in Athens. Take time to pray for your pastor while we are meeting, from wherever you are at (i.e. the beach, Disney World, Costa Rica…). Ask God to refresh, encourage, protect and provide for your pastor, their marriage and their family. Pray that God would guard and deepen the unity He has established in Athens among pastors. Ask God to meet these spiritual gatekeepers of Athens right where they are, and give them all it takes to stay connected to God and run strongly throughout this summer! Ask God to prepare and position these pastors for what’s coming in the Fall.

Groups Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, June 19 / 9:30 to 10:30am
Athens Church – 10 Huntington Road, Athens, GA 30606

God said, “It’s not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). He created us to be in life giving relationships with others and groups provide a context to do that. Groups Ministries are a key part of our advancing the Kingdom of God in our city as well as helping to establish and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Every month those who lead the Groups Ministries in Athens come together to pray. Please pray that in the broken rhythm of summer, people across Athens would stay connected. Pray that God would refresh the current leaders and raise up and prepare more leaders to pastor these groups. And of course, please pray for God to refresh, renew and inspire those who lead the groups ministries in Athens, starting with your own church.

Executive Pastors Prayer
Thursday, June 20 / 9 to 10am
Athens Church – 10 Huntington Road, Athens 30606

Every month, the amazing leaders who “run” churches in Athens come together to share and pray for and with each other. Take this opportunity to pray for the executive / administrative pastor (or those who do that role in your church) and the others who carry this load in the churches across Athens. Pray that God would give them wisdom and great joy as they keep the systems operating smoothly and effectively (or set up new ones) for Kingdom growth in our city. Pray that God would increase His presence in their lives and homes. Pray that God would give them what they need to be prepared for what’s coming this fall.

Prayer for the Middle East & Israel
Friday, June 21 / noon to 1pm
Living Hope (House of Prayer)  2150 Lexington Road, Athens 30605

This is an opportunity to pray focused prayer for important issues in the Middle East. There are often reports from missionaries who are on the ground there, to help direct the prayer. Please join in with others as we press into God on behalf of this region of the world. And if you cannot be physically at this gathering, please take time on this day to pray for the Middle East.

Ongoing and inspirational…

Athens Daily Prayer Texts
Ongoing
All across Athens area

Every day at 8am (ET) Daily Prayer Texts are delivered to cell phones across Athens and beyond. If you’re not yet receiving these please sign up. It’s a great way to stand in unified focused prayer with others from across our city! To receive the DPT just text @athenspray to 81010 and you’ll start getting them right away.

Coming up…

Pastors Racial Unity Gathering
Thursday, July 25 / 10am to noon

End of Summer Prayer Vigil – MORE INFO IS COMING VERY SOON!
Friday & Saturday, August 2 & 3 / 24 hours

Campus Ministries Leadership Prayer
Tuesday, August 6 / 9 to 11am

All Campus Worship & Prayer Night
Sunday, August 11 / 7 to 8pm

Campus Prayer
Monday, August 19 / noon to 1pm

For more (and up to date) stuff…
There are usually more prayer things happening in Athens than listed above. Some activities may change, and other prayer opportunities often come up in addition to things listed… you can get the latest happenings at www.facebook.com/groups/1423907481169281/

Bless you heaps!!!
Steve