“Your presence releases a fragrance so pleasing
– over and over poured out.”
Song of Songs 1:3b (TPT)
The crazy thing about perfumes and colognes is that after a very short amount of time the one wearing them is no longer aware of the scent. But everyone else definitely can smell it! That’s what God’s presence in our lives is like. We don’t realize just how much others can experience God through His presence on us. His peace, His joy, His love, oozes through us drawing others to Him. His presence sets us apart from the rest of the world. As you spend time with God in prayer and worship, He draws near to you (James 4:8), His presence rests on you, and will continue on you as you get on with your daily responsibilities. Pray that His presence and fragrance would increase upon yourself and all those who are chasing after Him with all their hearts – over and over again, AND that the entire city of Athens would be filled with His fragrance!
Here are some great opportunities to press into God together with others across our city to release His fragrance here and beyond…
National Day of Prayer Breakfast
Thursday, May 2 / 7 to 8:30am
The Classic Center – 300 N Thomas St, Athens 30601
For more information on this great opportunity to be a part of the National Day of Prayer activities in Athens, or to grab a seat/table at the breakfast, go to https://acmin.populiweb.com/router/bookstore/items/142651/variations/164785/show
Student Pastors Prayer
Thursday, May 2 / 9:15 to 10:15am
Athens Church – 10 Huntington Road, Athens 30606
On the first Thursday on every month, Student Pastors from around our city connect and pray together. Please pray for the student pastor at your church. Pray for a powerful movement of God to sweep across all the Middle School and High School campuses in Athens as classes wrap up for the school year. Pray for the effectiveness and fruitfulness of every student ministry in our city over this summer. Ask God to rise up and prepare more leaders during this summer for the coming school year. Ask God for more students to be drawn into ministries across Athens than ever before. Please ask God to increase your faith to believe in Him for an awakening (lost kids coming to Christ) on all the campuses across our city! And even now, pray for The Mix 2020, as preparations are already under way!
Prayer at Athens Courthouse Steps
Thursday, May 2 / noon to 1pm
Athens Courthouse – 325 East Washington St, Athens 30601
In connection with the National Day of Prayer, we have an absolutely awesome opportunity to meet up with other believers and publicly pray at the courthouse. It’s not every day that we get to kneel together with others from churches across Athens in such a public display of faith, and to cry out for our city and nation. Please join us if you possibly can!
Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, May 8 / 9 to 10am
St James UMC – 111 West Lake Drive, Athens 30606
Every month SENIOR PASTORS come together in humility and prayerfully share their journey. This is a beautiful expression of the unity God is establishing in Athens. Please take time to pray for your pastor from wherever you are at while we are meeting. 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 them right where they are, and give them all it takes to run strongly throughout this coming summer! Ask God to prepare and position these pastors for what’s coming in the Fall.
Prayer Walking at UGA
Saturday, May 11 / 10am to just before noon
UGA Arch – Corner of Broad Street and College Ave
Whether it is cold, wet, dry, sunny, gloomy, windy or still, on the second Saturday of the month, we will hit the pavement praying 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 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 somewhere in-between, you are welcome to join us as we walk, talk and pray for revival at UGA, across Athens, and beyond.
Groups Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, May 22 / 9:30 to 10:30am
Classic City Ministry Center – 386 N Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30601
Every month those who lead the groups ministries in Athens come together to pray. God said, “It’s not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). God created us to be in relationships and groups provide a context to do that. These 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. At this point most groups are winding down for the summer. Please pray that in the broken rhythm of summer, people across Athens would stay connected. Pray that more that God would refresh the current leaders and raise up/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.
Pastors Racial Unity Gathering
Thursday, May 23 / 10am to noon
Redeemer Presbyterian Church – 165 Pulaski St, Athens, GA 30601
Over the past several years, every two months, black and white senior pastors of Athens come together to pray and dialog around sensitive racial issues. This has been a tremendously powerful time of deep sharing and listening to one another’s stories. Walls are coming down, trust is being established as authentic relationships flow out of these gatherings. The spiritual atmosphere in our city is definitely changing. Please continue to pray for God’s momentum and deeper healing as we press in together. Pray that the ground of racial unity that has already been taken would be occupied and that more territory would be taken. Pray that God would give us His strategies to lead us into a reconciled, unified and transformed Athens! Pray for this next gathering as we are hoping to have the new Athens Police Chief (Cleveland Spruill) come and connect with the spiritual gatekeepers of our city!
Prayer for the Middle East & Israel
Friday, May 24 / noon to 1pm
Living Hope (House of Prayer) – 2150 Lexington Road, Athens 30605
This is an opportunity to pray laser focused prayer for issues in the Middle East. There are usually reports from missionaries 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.
Executive Pastors Prayer
Thursday, May 30 / 9 to 10am
Grace Fellowship – 1120 Malcom Bridge Rd, Bogart 30622
Each 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.
Ongoing and inspirational…
Athens Daily Prayer Texts
Ongoing
All across Athens area
Every morning at 8am (ET) Daily Prayer Texts are sent to cell phones across Athens and beyond. If you’re not getting these yet please sign up. You will be standing in unity with others across our city, and have the same prayer focus every day! To receive the DPT just text @athenspray to 81010 and you’ll start getting them right away.
Coming up…
End of Summer Prayer Vigil
Possibly 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
For more (and up to date) stuff…
There are more prayer things happening in Athens than listed here. 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
