Believe in the power of prayer

I am convinced that prayer plays a significant role in making communities safer, stronger and kinder places. Someone once said ‘Prayer is a powerful first step.’ However, the idea of prayer being followed by action is even better.

Informed intercession is the key. The community deserves our best prayers and this should include things like observation, research, mapping, and getting to know people. Asking questions. ‘What is the community known for?’ ‘Which things is it good at and what is worthy of celebration?’ Note that the questions should seek to discover the best things about the community not merely its challenges. We call this ‘celebrate the good.’ Some refer to the ‘redemptive purpose’ of a place. What are we good at and what are we here for? For example, Manchester is a pioneer city and we are good at raising up pioneers. All of this information helps us to pray effective, specific prayers. Once the research is done, it’s time to go.

Manchester, where I am from, had the nickname ‘Gunchester.’ We held a big united prayer event in the city. We invited civic leaders and senior representatives from the fire and police services. We were able to explore how and why crime was affecting our city. We prayed a bold prayer. ‘No more Gunchester.’ Six months later, the Manchester Evening News carried the front-page headline, ‘Is this the end of Gunchester?’ as violent crime was dramatically reduced. The event in Manchester also led to us being invited by Merseyside Police to host a similar event for 5,000 people at the Echo Arena following the tragic deaths of Rhys Jones and Anthony Walker.

Key events in the calendar of a community can provide great opportunities to pray. During the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, we held a large prayer event at the Velodrome, cycling dome. We interviewed key people who were involved in the Games including the Chief Executive Frances Done. We prayed about the safety of the athletes, the hospitality offered to visitors and, of course, the weather! It was fantastic to have the Olympic cyclists there doing laps just as our guests were arriving. Following the prayer event we were asked to provide 300 people to sing alongside Russell Watson at the opening ceremony of the Games. A few years later, we were able to host another event at The Velodrome when J John presented the gospel to over 5,000 people.

It’s so important to get to know the community. Over the last 5 years, we’ve developed a community engagement model, a ROC Conversation and have delivered over 160 in communities around the UK. We invite people of ‘goodwill’ including schools, Police & Fire services, the Council, healthcare professionals and churches.

Once everyone comes together under one roof some brilliant things happen. In Dawlish, Devon a young woman shared about her vision to support homeless people. She was just doing what she could in her school holidays. At the event, she met a Head teacher who decided his school would adopt her project for a year. Another group from Lymm held a ROC Conversation and 18 months later have just been given the local library as a community hub.

Sometimes though, we experience challenges alongside the opportunities. Last year our city went through a time of grief and shock when a bomb exploded during the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena. A terrorist detonated a homemade bomb as people were leaving the concert. 23 people were killed and 139 injured whilst hundreds suffered psychological trauma. The City was devastated in the aftermath of the attack and the Mayor, Andy Burnham organized a vigil in Albert Square which thousands attended. Good always triumphs over evil and there was an outpouring of love across the city. The whole community come together and churches offered support by opening their buildings as a place of prayer, practical help and council.
One of the things we wanted to avoid was a backlash against the Muslim community. Churches and mosques worked together to offer love and support across the City. The Cathedral hosted a memorial service which was attended by Prince William and Theresa May. It was broadcast to the crowds outside in Cathedral gardens on a giant screen. In all of this, prayer was the thing which united us and gave us hope for the future. I was at Festival of Praise, at the Manchester Arena, this January when 8000 people gathered to pray and worship. Prayer changes the spiritual atmosphere and enables the people of God to release greater light into their communities.

Prayer really is a powerful first step and, followed by action, can lead to communities being transformed and it acts as a catalyst to bring people together at times of greatest need.