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This article was originally published in Edition (7) of Prayer Magazine, Jul-Sep 2006. ‘When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies’ Numbers 10.9 Walking into the arena at the start of Trumpet Call IV on 13th May was awesome. The invitation had gone to Christians to come to pray, worship, stand together and hear the sound of the trumpet for our nations. Around 6,000 people had responded and were waiting to go! The morning’s focus was one of worship to Jesus, the Lord of Lords. Lloyd Cooke shared the journey that Christians in Stoke on Trent were walking through, after that city had been declared the worst place to live in the UK. We spent time seeking God’s forgiveness and humbling ourselves before the cross of Christ for ourselves, our church and our nations and shared a fellowship meal together. Before lunch we heard of some of the keys to breakthrough that had been experienced by the partnership of Christians across Greater Manchester over recent years – notably building a foundation of united prayer, honouring and working with the police, loving people and showing acts of kindness. [ ‘The church that makes little of prayer cannot maintain vital piety and is powerless to advance the Gospel. The Gospel cannot live, fight, conquer without prayer – prayer unceasing, instant and ardent. E.M.Bounds. ] Over the lunch break, the four host organisations (World Prayer Center, Prayer Week, City Links and The Message) hosted a lunch for invited guests, ministry leaders and dignatries, while the delegates of the day mingled around the 25 or so exhibition stands within the forum, making new friendships and discovering new initiatives. Leaders of police forces and councils, Members of Parliament and many Christian organisations from across the UK then joined us in the afternoon for the official national launch of Redeeming our Communities’ hosted by Debra Green (City Links) and Andy Hawthorne (The Message). After the welcome by the leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Mike Whitby, we saw a really faith-building presentation thorough video and live testimony about how God has transformed not only individuals but also communities through prayer and positive action. We were challenged by political leaders and leaders of the police and inspired by the stories of those working on the ground in difficult communities, prisons, on the streets and in schools. We honoured the police force and prayed for them and our politicians. The day concluded with worship and prayer. All were invited to receive afresh from the Holy Spirit the ‘anointing’ needed to use all the gifts and talents that God has given. The organisers gave away 5,000 resource packs to enable this partnership of prayer and action to continue across the nation. People were invited to link into the Redeeming our Communities vision and we heard and prayed about the vision of a year of mission in 2008 (Hope). Trumpet Call IV is just one part of what God is doing in mobilising the river of prayer that is gaining in depth and breadth across the nation – and the nations. As God gathers his people to pray, and we his Church learn to work in partnership with Him and each other, His purposes can be fulfilled, to bring the good news to each person and each community through us. We are the people we’ve been waiting for. Jane Holloway Websites: www.worldprayer.org.uk and www.redeemingourcommunities.org.uk
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