“At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me,
like those of a woman in labor;
I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.”
Isaiah 21:3 (NIV)
Recently there has been much talk from intercessory people of birthing, travailing and the weariness of the process! I believe we are in a birthing season. It is a time of transition. In those final hours, a mother giving birth will be quite focused. She won’t be out mowing the lawn (ha!), or running a marathon, or making a purchase, or whatever she may normally be doing. Her attention will be on getting that baby out… breathe, push, rest, ouch, breathe, push, rest… then suddenly everything changes as the baby arrives. With the baby a new season has dawned. And that is exactly what’s happening. We are on the verge of a very new season. As a real darkness presses in, the Holy Spirit is hovering, just waiting for the word… and the greatest revival ever will be born! Keep praying. But remember to breathe and rest as well!!!
Here are some ways you can press in and pray with and for others this month….
Athens Prayer Walk
Saturday, May 1 / 10am to noon
The Arch – Corner of College Avenue and East Broad Street
Each month we converge at The Arch to wander around and cry out to God for a powerful movement here at UGA and in our city. On the ground, in person prayer really does matter! We are pressing into God for revival, even reformation, on this campus, across our city and beyond! These prayer walks are always unique and quite a huge blessing to those who come! Please join us if you’re able!
Student Pastors Prayer
Thursday, May 6 / 9 to 10am
Living Hope – 2150 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605
Each month Student Pastors from around Athens meet up to pray together. Please join us from wherever you are and pray that God would stir a great spiritual hunger in the students across our city! Ask God to pour out grace, wisdom and creativity upon all those who minister to the young people of our city, starting with the ones at your church. Pray that God would protect each of these Students Pastors, their families, their teams (whether staff or volunteers). Please pray that every student in our city would be drawn to God in this unprecedented moment in history and that they would become the catalyst for revival on their campuses, in our city and beyond. Continue to ask God to protect, nourish and grow every seed that was planted at The Mix!
National Day of Prayer – Courthouse Steps
Thursday, May 6 / Noon to 1pm
Athens Courthouse – 325 E Washington St, Athens, GA 30601
This year we have had to adjust our normal activities on the National Day of Prayer (such is the season). Nevertheless, we will be gathering (informally) at the Athens Courthouse steps to pray together for our city and nation at noon. Please join us if you’re able. But be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to park.
There is a prayer breakfast at the Classic Center, though it is already sold out. Though there are ways to participate in it virtually as a church or group. There are also prayer focuses every hour during the day. For more info on the prayer breakfast and hourly prayer focuses throughout the day go to… https://acmin.org/national-day-of-prayer-2/
Athens Intercessors Community
Tuesday, May 11 / 7 to 9pm
APN Prayer Center
Each month intercessors from around Athens to come together, in person, to hear what God has been saying to each of us, and get a sense of where we are heading as we press into this new era. These are always amazing times as the watchmen link together and stand in our positions across our city, in unity! We will be praying into the Altar of Fire! If you’re one of the intercessors, please join us!
Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, May 12 / 9 to 10am
Cornerstone – 4680 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605
Each month Senior pastors from around our city come together to pray for and with each other! Use this as an opportunity to join us in praying for the pastors in our city, starting with your own! Pray that God would give them supernatural stamina, divine insights and wisdom from above, along with extraordinary creativity and Holy Spirit boldness, as they lead their congregations through this long challenging, unprecedented, and hostile season. Ask God to prepare them for revival and reformation. Ask God to empower them to lead well, and for each church to be an instrument of life and help to the Athens community in such a time as this. Pray that God would protect, even expand the kingdom unity among pastors in our city in 2021. In the midst of the tremendous weight that is currently on them, ask God to abundantly bless, extravagantly refresh, greatly encourage, divinely protect and supernaturally provide for your pastor, their marriage and their family. Ask God to meet each of these lead shepherds in Athens right where they are, and give them all that it takes to stay intimately connected to God and run strongly throughout this battle and season of transition. Plead with God for the authority of His word to increase in each pulpit and for each pastor to know an increase in anointing in their preaching! And cry out for God to use our pastors as a powerful Godly voice in our city and beyond, that they would not be silenced, fearful or hidden!
Groups Pastors Prayer
Wednesday, May 19 / 9:30 to 10:30am
Athens Church – 10 Huntington Drive, Athens 30606
Each month those who lead Groups Ministries come together to share and pray with and for each other. Join us in praying for those who lead Groups Ministries across Athens. People are desperate for authentic community and groups provide it! There are virtual groups, in person groups and hybrid groups, operating in our city. Groups are going to play an increasingly important role in discipling our city! Pray that God would continue to lead the Groups Pastors in our city to create even more new and effective ways to stay connected and to connect new people. Pray that God would grant them wisdom and creativity. Pray for the groups’ leaders to lead their groups well in these new formats. Pray that God would raise up more group leaders for this new era. Ask God to gently remove those who should not be leading groups any more. Ask God to protect and expand this vital ministry in our city. And ask Him for heaven to come down upon every group that meets in Jesus’ powerful Name in Athens!
Executive Pastors Prayer
Thursday, May 20 / 9 to 10am
Beech Haven Baptist – 2390 W Broad St, Athens, GA 30606
Each month those who “run” churches in Athens come together to share and pray with and for each other. Pray for these hidden heroes who make huge decisions in a climate they have never been before. God has been and continues to prepare them for the new season upon us! Please 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 our city. They need wisdom, creativity, boldness and faith. This is a very important ministry at such a crucial time as this! Pray that God would give them supernatural joy and grace as they keep the systems operating and create new ones for Kingdom growth in Athens. Pray that God would increase His presence and favor on their lives and homes. Pray that God would give them what they need as the Church emerges in this new era.
Altar of Fire
Thursday, May 20 / 7 to 9pm
Living Hope (chapel) – 2150 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605
In May we will be continuing our monthly, citywide gathering for intercessors, worshippers and lovers of Jesus. This gathering is definitely not for the light-hearted, but for those who want to jump into the fire of God, with a wholehearted surrender to Jesus. This is an amazing time of worship, high praise, prayer and surrender. If you’re interested in giving it all to Jesus in a corporate setting with others who are desperate for God, this is for you!!! Please mark your calendar and plan to join us.
Prayer for the Middle East
Friday, May 21 / Noon to 1pm
Living Hope (house of prayer) – 2150 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605
Each month a group of passionate prayer warriors gather to pray for Israel and the nations in the Middle East. You are most welcome to join in. Even if you can’t be there in person, please take time during this hour to pray with them from wherever you may be. There is much power in agreeing prayer!
ONGOING & INSPIRATIONAL…
Pastors “Contending for Revival” Prayer Gathering
Thursdays, May 6, 13, 20 and 27 / 10:30 to 11:30am
The Light – 174 Henderson Ext, Athens 30605
Senior Pastors from around Athens are invited to join in a weekly prayer time as we contend for revival in our city, state and nation. These are amazing and are filled with intensity and a strong sense of God’s presence. The last Thursday of the month (May 27) is open for all pastors and key leadership in churches to join us as well. Please be praying for your pastor to catch the fire of the Holy Spirit and a passion to see revival released right here in our city!
Give Him 15
Daily
Everywhere
If you are not already seeing the daily videos or reading the daily post, I would highly recommend it. This will continue till it’s over! Get the GiveHim15 App at the App store or go to https://www.givehim15.com/. You can also get the written post most days on the APN Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1423907481169281
Georgia Prayer Line
Wednesdays / 7:45am
Dial 425-436-6325 – when prompted enter access code 423231#
Please try to log in at 7:40am to announce your city and county. If you miss the live call you can still hear it by dialing 425-436-6309 (same access code).
Athens Daily Prayer Texts
Ongoing
All across Athens area
Every day at 8am these Daily Prayer Texts are delivered to cell phones across Athens and beyond. And they are also posted each day at noon on the APN Facebook page. If you would like to receive these DPT’s on your phone, please text @athenspray to 81010. This is a simple and amazingly awesome way to start your day and to stand in unified focused prayer with others from across our city, for our city!
MORE & UP TO DATE STUFF…
Every day we post something on the APN Facebook page. Usually (and especially recently) it is more than once. These posts include prayer opportunities, prayer points, prayer inspirations and the Daily Prayer Text. It is definitely worth checking daily to help stay connected with what God is doing and to see how other people are praying in our city!
Together pressing into the new season that is upon us…
Steve
