By Jack Krayenhoff

THERE WERE some gray heads scattered among the crowd at Glad Tidings Church on the evening before Pentecost Sunday.

But most of the people who came to the May 10 ‘Draw Near’ event, to celebrate the completion of 52 Days of Prayer, were young. And did they celebrate!

They sang their hearts out, jumped up and down, waved flags and danced in the aisles – which would indicate those 52 days must have been a success.

But how was that success expressed?

No spectacular revivals had broken out, no remarkable healings had been reported, no big crowds had suddenly filled the churches.

No, the results were more low-key – but they were unmistakably the work of God.

In his welcoming remarks, Ron Michalsky, pastor of Glad Tidings, confessed he had been dubious that the sign-up sheets would be filled.

Each church was responsible for signing up enough people to pray for each of the 24 hours, day and night, for each day of prayer it had taken on.

But Michalsky need not have worried; they were filled easily. He waved the full sign-up sheets in the air, and said: “I think I’m going to frame them.”

Norah Walker of First Baptist reported that, in her church, the people were quick to commit themselves – including for the night hours – even though most of them were elderly.

Several leaders testified to a deep work of God – within themselves. Shaun Jessop, youth pastor of Gateway Baptist, reported how God told him to “let go” in preaching his upcoming sermon, instead of relying on his notes.

He resisted – but finally, the Saturday evening before the event, gave in.

That Sunday, he found himself preaching powerfully. He thought it was for 10 minutes, but in fact it was 35 – and many people came forward in response afterward.

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Another powerful experience was reported by Ted Bednarski of First Nazarene: “This was the most wonderful time – I’ll never forget it. In the prayer room, the people took off their shoes; they felt it was holy ground.”

John Schaper, founder of Arbutus Christian Fellowship, said the 52 days had exceeded his own expectations.

“This celebration is not an end, it is a beginning for me.”

Rev. Gary Bennett of First Nazarene described how he had been affected: “I came to a place of rest. I am being drawn away from the distractions of busy-work, and I am getting back to hearing the voice of God.”

He also admitted that, when the idea was launched, he had expected maybe 12 churches would respond. To him, it was quite incredible that 35 would take up the challenge.

The main address came from Jon Peterson, who had inspired a group of pastors meeting in retreat last fall to consider what God wanted them to do to bring transformation to the city as a whole.

Peterson is a veteran of Youth With A Mission, who had worked with the ‘24/7 Prayer Initiative’ – a movement which started in 1999, in Chichester, England. He now is president of City Force, a ministry which focuses on God’s purposes for the cities of the world.

Peterson pointed out that, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on disciples who were both steadfast in prayer, and of one accord. Those two factors have to be in place.

Furthermore, he said: “Don’t just get hung up on getting more from God. Don’t stop at revival, but give it to others.”

He added: “People are blind – they don’t get it. That’s where prayer comes in. Deeper prayer means warfare, so do it in unison, not on your own. The enemy will retaliate; we’ll go through difficult times.”

Finally, Peterson stressed: “God does not repeat himself. Don’t try to do the same thing again, [just] because it worked last time.”

So, where do we go from here?

Peter McRaild concluded the rally by saying: “We need to  go forward on our knees. We are calling pastors to another retreat, where Jon Peterson will again be present. We want to wait on God to show us the next step.”

June 2008