Eighty-seven adult and youth leaders from the international prayer movement gathered in Hong Kong to consider the way forward after the World Prayer Assembly, especially the ongoing relationship of the three generations, youth, children and adults. A team of younger people helped to draft the program for the consultation. They also led all the worship segments, co-facilitated the event with the older generation and did a great job! It was a super time together of prayer, deliberation and just enjoying one another’s company in the presence of the Lord. We also met in the lovely Noah’s Ark Resort (the only one built to the actual biblical dimensions), perched next to the Hong Kong harbor with the hills of the city in the distance.
We also met on October 23 with mainland and Hong Kong Chinese for a WPA reunion that was a special time of prayer and sharing what has happened since the WPA. It was also a chance for the Children in Prayer international team to give some input to the Chinese about starting CiP in China. China could well become the home for the most significant CiP movement on the planet!
Here in brief summary are some of the thrilling reports and conclusions of the consultation. Please pray with us for God’s leading as we move forward, keeping the three generations relating effectively together as a new wineskin or wineskins for the movement develop.
Some of the encouraging highlights and reports presented at the WPA reunion and the “New Wave” Consultation:
1) We heard the Chinese joyfully worship and sing the WPA theme song “New Wave of Glory”! They also thanked the WPA leadership and said they would use their lives to have an impact for Christ in their land. (More than 300 came to the WPA from China.) They want to become more united as they observed the Indonesians are, connecting the prayer networks and efforts into a spiritual force. They hope to one day have a large prayer assembly at Tien An Men, Beijing’s enormous central square! They also plan to emphasize the raising up of youth and children. A woman pastor who died during the WPA and was prayed back to life said she saw Jesus holding her hand, and He said, “China will enter my glory”.
2) We prayed at the Peak overlooking Hong Kong (Hong Kong’s meaning in Chinese is “Fragrant Harbor”) that it would no longer burn incense to false gods but would become a sweet-smelling fragrance to the Lord and would fulfill its spiritual destiny, connecting China to the nations.
3) Two of our elder statesmen in the prayer movement had clear visions to share. Brian Mills saw the three generations as one going through the door with Jesus but also suggested the image of a three-legged race because of the need to flex with each generation’s culture and communication style. Michael Maeliau said that the new wine that we experienced at the WPA and in Hong Kong is the glory of God which is the manifest presence of His person among us, and that the new wineskin is our total response to it, laying aside other things that may compete.
4) Daniel Pandji and the Indonesian team reported huge impacts from the WPA going on in their country:
- A number of those who are leaders in the majority religion received the same dream at the same time and were baptized.
- Many others are coming to Christ, and 4000 new believers were added this month to church near Jakarta.
- Almost every city of the 378 cities that took part in the WPA had overflowing participation by the churches, and they continue to pray together in many parts of the nation.
- They prayed, and Lady Gaga had to cancel her performance there.
- Youth leaders were given a 5-room apartment for a prayer tower and mission center for five years.
- Christians have been elected to political office following the WPA.
- December 1, they will launch the “My Home” effort to pray, love and care for unsaved friends and neighbors. This is also a fruit of the WPA as well as the new marketplace network, which brings together pastors, business people and government officials once per month.
- They are proceeding to send out 1000 “global prayer ambassadors” to various parts of the world.
- He also reported his discovery that millions in Korea were also impacted by seeing the WPA on TV there.
5) Those from China testified that the WPA put a burning fire of vision in the hearts of the Chinese to build 24/7 prayer efforts in various areas. They also carried out a 40-day fast for China to enter into her destiny. They are developing a strategic prayer movement and are sending prayer concerns around the country to one another. God has put the nations on their hearts, especially the Arabs and Israel.
6) The Children in Prayer team testified about the “tsunami of prayer” within Indonesia in which children are playing an important role as well as other nations that have developing movements of CiP going on. They plan an international CiP consultation next year in May in Hong Kong.
7) Brazilian leaders shared the impact of the transformational prayer efforts in their nation which has resulted in:
- 38 corrupt politicians being convicted
- One city known as the “capital of witchcraft” with a church now full of former witches and wizards that grew from 100 to 1200
-Many Christians have become mayors (18 districts) or members of the city councils
-Large unified worship gatherings such as in Sao Paulo where 2 million took part
-New wave of salvation and economic growth
-Several youth and prayer movements in universities
-Prayer movement within the police force and departments
-They want more unity and to activate all three generations in prayer together as well as mobilize the church for mission
-They plan to bring 500 leaders together for a regional prayer gathering next year
8) The Indian delegation shared about the growth of the Children in Prayer efforts there. The Royal Kids now have 32,000 praying kids and will focus on raising up 100,000 since children can be used of God to bring revival to churches and nations. A medical missionary deeply impacted by the WPA is mobilizing churches and educational institutes around her hospital and is also working among the Buddhists and Muslims. Thousands of Catholic charismatics in India have been set on fire with prayer and their leader was with us to excite us with his pictures of immense gatherings for prayer and spiritual renewal. Youth leaders are mobilizing churches and colleges having been challenged to do 24/7 prayer at the WPA.
During our deliberations, some of the questions we considered were:
1. What are we already doing that we should continue with more intentionality?
2. What are we not doing together that we could start doing?
3. What initiatives or events should we undertake together to facilitate the “New Wave”?
Here are some conclusions and suggested future directions from our deliberations and prayer times:
1. An all-nations school of prayer for children/youth is needed
2. Connect youth in prayer
3. Create a regional structure with a means of monitoring progress
4. Encourage continuous prayer (24-7/365) for all generations
5. Focused prayer on global priorities. Intentionally target our prayers to global issues. For weapons to be used mightily against the enemy.
6. Form a global prophetic council. A “three-generational global prophetic something” is a way to continue to relate. Possibly regionally or like the UN. Come together regularly to seek God together. We are in a cosmic conflict.
7. Come to a common understanding of the new wave and new wine and learn to live, act and behave in light of the new revelation/manifestation
8. Find ways to build cross-generational relationships using new media and develop a media strategy. Set up a communications hub (website, social media). One young man sparked the Arab Spring through Facebook – urgency; it’s not just a time of planning but someone needs to step up; God’s people, especially the next generation should come to the forefront.
9. Arrange global children’s and youth prayer consultations
10. Getting together, building relationships. Accountability to one another - to stay connected – circulate email contacts.
11. World Youth Prayer Assembly. But with the tri-generational spirit
12. Global conference in HK in 2013 with children leading
13. Regional leaders in various areas (ME, N. America, SEA, India etc.)
14. Raising funds for the prayer movement
15. Informing the network of local events so others can participate
16. The urgency is not just about time, but that God is very serious. Call to arms. Urgency. Picture of the arrow (children and youth as the tip, adults the shaft and older folks the feathers) and how it comes together. The arrow is to be used in the hand of Christ. We must be watchful and prayerful to bring the world to Christ.
17. CIP task force senses urgency of China and HK. Next Global Children in Prayer Consultation will be in May 2013 in Hong Kong. Plans to strengthen CIP network through website – compiling resources, transferable to many more nations.
18. Mobilize the new wave in a deeper and more practical way in our regions.
19. Revival is always connected to the presence of God. There has been an acceleration since the WPA. We will see also an acceleration of evil and must be ready. Radical holiness is the next step we must pursue individually.
20. The list is so long. Where do we begin? We need to work in our local areas. Break down the lists and do it in little ways in our areas. We need to start doing the little things. Having a prayer revolution that will affect the whole world.
21. Tremendous potential in the Google generation. Encourage the younger generation. God is going to do great things through them!
If you have anything you think is important to add to this necessarily partial, summarized list, please send your suggestion to the IPC office. Please pray with us for the development of this three-generational prayer movement throughout the world.
