City Wide Prayer for Christchurch 2003 - 2013
by Sally Curham (Cowie)
Back in 2003 I was asked to lead city prayer for the upcoming Impact World Tour crusades. At first I was reluctant, but the Lord challenged me and downloaded to me a plan as to how to do it. I asked local churches to host the monthly prayer meeting, providing the worship and in conjunction with the Pastor, I would lead. We did this for five months prior to IWT culminating in the largest prayer meeting I have witnessed in the city held in the Majestic Church. It was such a fulfilment of the vision that I had held in my heart over many years.
After Impact World Tour was over I was encouraged by city church leaders to continue and I continued to lead Christ's Church Pray for ten years until December 2013. It was held on the third Wednesday of each month. I was supported by a great team of personal friends together with my pastor Wes Chambers, and other pastors in the city.
Significant prayer targets over the ten years included asking the Lord to pour out His Spirit of prayer and intercession in His church in greater dimensions, unity between church leaders and churches, gathering of harvest with specific events being prayed into as they arose in the city, city leadership at all levels etc. On many occasions we prayed for the churches in the area of the host church and had some memorable times praying and encouraging the host church - leaders and members alike.
Over the years we were privileged to pray in over 30 churches in the city. Whether the numbers were small or large, God's Presence characterized the meetings.
December 2013 was our last meeting. Dwindling numbers, in a city recovering after the earthquakes, led us to seek the Lord for his direction. We believe He showed us that this prayer meeting had run its course and was no longer fulfilling its original purpose of a citywide event.
I believe we saw only a little of what the Lord wants to release in city wide prayer gatherings in the city. As I have watched transformation DVDs over the years, my heart has been stirred as I have seen how united corporate prayer is key to the transformation of a city.
From my experience of those ten years, city wide prayer works best when church leaders are passionate about it and inspire their congregations to come.