Join the Story 2021 by 24-7 Prayer

JOIN THE STORY

THE WORLD HAS NEVER, IN ANY OF OUR LIFETIMES, NEEDED PRAYER MORE DESPERATELY THAN IT DOES TODAY.

There is a growing awareness that we “have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) The Guardian newspaper headlines in May 2020 announced, “British Public Turn to Prayer”. After two decades seeking to mobilise and resource prayer, that was encouraging; but the subtitle was equally amazing: ‘Young People Lead Resurgence in Faith.’ As you’ll read in this magazine, our Lectio 365 daily devotional app, in its first year, has grown exponentially. A nurse wrote to me to from the frontlines of fighting Covid-19 to say it provides her with the only moments in her day of silence and perspective. Meanwhile, prayer rooms continue to grow; the Prayer Course has been translated into new languages and my book God on Mute has been re-released to help people process the trauma of the Coronavirus pandemic. There are two people I have repeatedly thanked God for in this season. The first is Lisa Koons, National Prayer Coordinator of 24-7 Prayer USA. As an African American woman, Lisa has worked relentlessly to bring reconciliation amidst the racial crisis in her country. The other is Mike Andrea, our brilliant International Team Leader. When God told me to pass the executive leadership of 24-7 to him, none of us could have known the profound challenges awaiting us in 2020, nor the unprecedented opportunities they would afford the 24-7 movement in our 21st year. Mike has been perfectly positioned - along with the whole team - raised up ‘for such a time as this’.

PETE GREIG

FOUNDER, 24-7 PRAYER INT.

INSIDE

24-7 PRAYER

JOIN THE STORY

PART I

EQUIPPING PRAYER 6

Prayer Rooms

Prayer Course

The Prayer Course II

Lectio 365

Inner Room

Prayer Spaces in Schools

24-7 PRAYER HAS FOUND ITSELF IN WHAT COULD ARGUABLY BE OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT SEASON.

As the world locked down in March 2020, the church opened up to prayer. Within weeks the global demand for our resources had exploded – and the demand has not subsided. Our days are filled with conversations of opportunity and growth; the need for translated resources; developing new global partnerships, and establishing international hubs in the USA, Hong Kong and Australia. We have a holy ambition to mobilise tens of millions of people to pray globally. To accomplish this will require us to be: Agile - moving quickly and easily in very changing times. Able – serving the global church in helping it pray with the right resources, developed by the right teams, and deployed in the right ways. Accessible - We are 24-7 Prayer ‘International’ and so we must be committed to developing digital and translated resources that can be accessed from all over the world. The world needs prayer like never before, and we are committed to supporting that need. I hope that you will join our holy ambition too.

MIKE ANDREA BEM

INTERNATIONAL TEAM LEADER, 24-7 PRAYER INT.

PART II

DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP

PART III

PART IV

28 Asia

38 Resources 40

ALL OVER THE WORLD

24-7 Events

30 Ibiza

Order of the Mustard Seed

32 USA 34

24-7 Communities

JOIN IN Four ways to give

EQUI PING PRA

IPG AYER

“For over two decades, 24-7 Prayer

has played a key role in stirring the body of Christ to prayer in the UK. The passion for,

and dedication to its mission has challenged

us at Jesus House and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

As we sail into uncharted waters in this

nation, I am especially grateful that we have before us the example of 24-7 Prayer,

demonstrating to us the power of persevering prayer.”

PASTOR AGU IRUKWU

SENIOR PASTOR OF JESUS HOUSE FOR ALL THE

NATIONS, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD, UK.

PART

P R

DETROIT CHURCH, USA Community prayer week

EQUIPPING

PRAYER

DURING THE PANDEMIC,

THE WORLD HAS TURNED TO PRAYER

In 2020 with the escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic, communities all over the world have responded in an unprecedented wave of prayer by registering online prayer rooms. Individuals are creating holy spaces in their homes, linking together in lockdown through unbroken chains of intercession. After two decades of non-stop prayer we’ve seen an explosion in the number of churches and communities praying 24-7. The rise of online prayer rooms alongside physical ones is facilitating new ways of creative non-stop prayer, putting 24-7 at the heart of mobilizing prayer for the world at this crucial time in history.

24-7prayer.com/prayerrooms 6

A Y E R

O O MS IN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS…

IN 7 2 NATIONS

3,400

PRAYER ROOMS

247%

INCREASE* * ON THE SAME PERIOD IN 2019

CONT-

HOME PRAYER ROOM, DENMARK Prayer rooms aren’t just for communities; these prayer stations at home enable creative prayer, daily.

PRAYER CARAVAN, CZECH REPUBLIC This mobile prayer room travels around cities every summer, reaching more than 180 people in 2020!

SEED COMMUNITY WAVERLEY A permanent prayer room

24-7 Prayer’s newest c

ELAM MINISTRI

A prayer room in the H

serving Christ

Y PRAYER ROOM, ABBEY, UK at the heart of one of

community locations.

IES, UK/ IRAN

HQ of Elam Ministries,

tians in Iran.

POP UP PRAYER ROOM, NETHERLANDS This camper van parks on university campuses across the Netherlands to meet and engage with students.

HOUSE OF PRAYER, BETHLEHEM Christians from all over the world are invited to this prayer room to pray for unity across the region.

P R A Y E

C OUR S Thousands of small groups all over the world have spent eight weeks in the company of Pete Greig and co-host Poppy Williams, journeying through The Prayer Course. Sitting alongside Pete’s book How To Pray, the book and online course are a practical prayer toolkit for individuals and communities alike to dive into.

OVER 3 MILLION

EQUIPPING

PRAYER

VIEWS

TRANSLATED

INTO MULTIPLE LANGUAGES INCLUDING SPANISH, DUTCH, CZECH AND SWEDISH

E R

“I did the Prayer Course with my small group this time last year. Having been a Christian for years, I arrogantly thought, ‘What could this teach me?’ But, it fundamentally changed the way I pray and my view of prayer

- and that has proved

to be a life saver over these last 6 months.”

FRANCESCA

ONLINE COURSE

PRAYER GUIDE

The course consists of 8 video sessions, with accompanying small group guides. Everything you need to run the Prayer Course is available at on the website.

YOU’LL

NEED:

• Video call software so that you can gather as a small group online – such as Skype, Zoom or Google Meet • The Prayer Course Online guide, available at prayercourse.org/run • The Prayer Course videos and small group guides (we recommend allocating a leader for each group to run through the guides each time), available at prayercourse.org/sessions

For more tips on running the course online, check out the Prayer Course Online guide.

prayercourse.org

T H E P R COURSE I

U N A N S W E R E D Five sessions provoking honest conversation around the hardest and most personal questions we all ask about prayer. The Prayer Course II helps groups to: - Process disappointment - Explore important intellectual questions - Discover a deeper, darker, more resilient faith Each session includes video teaching and an interview with a special guest. These guests are author Bob Sorge,

EQUIPPING

PRAYER

broadcaster Simon Thomas, 24-7 Prayer leader Alain Emerson, gospel singer Helen Berhane, activist and Church planter Ladan Nouri, and Sammy Greig. Everything you need to run the course is available at:

prayercourse.org

40,000

VIEWS IN ITS FIRST MONTH

A Y E R II PRAYER

GOD ON MUTE Pete Greig’s bestselling book is the perfect companion to The Prayer Course II: Unanswered Prayer. Go deeper into the themes explored on the course, and pause each day with a 40 day devotional guide that’s included in the book. God on Mute is available from all good bookshops.

EQUIPPING

PRAYER

LECTIO

The Lectio 365 story began with a vision for young people to pray and read the Bible every

5 STAR APP REVIEWS

day, but the impact of 247’s daily devotional app has quickly expanded to become a vital prayer tool across ages,

and nations.

life and helped me to start my day focused

NEW: LECTIO NIGHT PRAYERS

on God. I love that I can listen to the

As the audience continues to

read through to focus on what the Spirit

grow, Lectio 365 is growing too!

is bringing my attention to. Thanks so

“This app has revitalised my prayer

audio (while barely awake!), and then

The resource now includes NIGHT

much for developing this, and for your

PRAYERS, which means you can begin

work in providing content each day - what

your day with regular P.R.A.Y

a gift!”

morning devotionals, and end it

LAURAC83

with new content that enables a rhythm of rest and reflection before bedtime. Even though Lectio 365 was only

launched in December 2019, it has

app is helping me to slow down, fill up,

rapidly become a key product for

“As a Mum with young kids, this

reflect and pray. I also appreciate how

equipping and inspiring regular

relevant it is to current events as it has

reflection and prayer across the

helped me to respond to them in prayer.

global church.

Thank you so much.”

228,000

LULABELLEC

LIFETIME USERS

116,000

PEOPLE PRAYING EACH MONTH (FEB

2021)

Featuring daily content from 24-7 Prayer senior leaders and guests, the simple structure has connected with Christians of all ages and dominations. With new weekly, topical content, Lectio 365 is

24-7prayer.com/lectio365

an essential tool that will equip your community to pause and pray each day. 15

INNER ROOM Inner Room is a free customisable app which equips you to pray for what matters to you.

With Inner Room, you can record prayers in an interactive and creative way, set prayer reminders and even celebrate answers to prayer! Churches can even use the app together as

EQUIPPING

PRAYER

a creative place to pray for communities and individuals.

STAR

APP

REVIEWS

“I’ve been using this app for about month now and already

I’ve prayed more and in a more meaningful way for the things I want to. It presents and organises your prayerful intentions in a way that makes it accessible and simple. So often I don’t know where to start - prayer can seem overwhelming – but this app helps me start. It doesn’t replace having to think or engage, but it does give you an excuse and an alternative to the default screen time.” IAMTHEBEAR76 16

SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2019, INNER ROOM HAS...

TRANSLATIONS IN SPANISH AND SWEDISH WITH MORE IN PROGRESS

41,000

DOWNLOADS

24-7prayer.com/innerroom

“I’ve had prayer apps and

“Thanks so much for investing

deleted them - not this one though.

time and resources in providing

I set it to prompt me to pray -

this amazing app. So simple and well

brilliant! Often I whack up the timer

structured, yet has led me into much

to 20 minutes of prayer because I

more engaged and profound times of

enjoy it so much. For the first time

prayer already. I will recommend

in my life I’m consistently praying.

this to all I know. What a great use

Get this app, change your life!”

of my phone.”

WD38

MARKJG 17

PR AYE SPACES I N SCHOOLS At least 1 million school pupils have participated in a prayer space in their school, exploring questions, spirituality and faith in a creative and interactive way. The international reach of Prayer Spaces in Schools has greatly expanded over the past few years. The team are currently redesigning and relaunching their website, with 3 satellite national sites in Malta, Germany and Austria – in their native languages.

EQUIPPING

PRAYER

The rise of online events means that people from across Europe, South Africa, the USA and Australia are engaging with vital and valuable training materials produced by the Prayer Spaces in Schools team. Thousands of people from all over the world attended their online conference, New Hope, in September 2020. This interest and engagement has led to the team producing a monthly online training session to resource those developing prayer spaces around the world. The international team is growing, with a new national coordinator appointed in the USA, who will sit among a team of coordinators based in the Netherlands, Austria, Germany and Australia.

prayerspacesinschools.com 18

Our Prayer Spaces journey began in

2009, when we started by running a few in local schools. In 2011, one secondary school we’d been working in for a few years had a new headteacher. So, we offered a simple invitation: “We’re from a local church and we really want to serve you. How can we bless you and the school?” We began running an after-school café weekly, with a regular prayer space. This led to great conversations, so in 2012 we approached the leadership with the possibility of becoming school chaplains. There was unanimous yes – even though this school is not Christian they welcomed the church’s permanent presence. The 1 school became an academy trust, launched into 3 sites, and we were invited to roll out our support services to all 3. Our roles have evolved over the past 10 years as we offer spiritual, pastoral and practical support, but all began with 1 prayer space in a school. This is where we get to be church out in the world. CHARL HARMAN, PROXIMITY CHURCH,

MILLION

SCHOOL PUPILS HAVE PARTICIPATED

DEEPE ING R TIONS

“24-7 Prayer is on the bleeding edge of what the

Spirit of God is stirring up across the global church - a return to a neo-monastic life of deep prayer, thick webbing of communal life, and a massive heart for justice and the gospel’s advance. I continue to look to them as a pole star

RELASHIP for the future church.”

JOHN MARK COMER

PASTOR OF TEACHING & VISION, BRIDGETOWN CHURCH, USA

PART

EVENTS

WILDFIR ONLINE Launched in a field in West Sussex, UK in 2018, Wildfires is an incredible opportunity for the whole family to seek Jesus together. In 2021, Wildfires Festival will take place online from 30 May - 31 May, and will be free to attend. Tickets are now available at:

wildfiresfestival.com

In 2022, Our next in-person festival will take place 30 May - 2 June 2022, followed by the Big

OUR FIRST EVER GATHERING ONLINE CONFERENCE HAD...

39,000+ VIEWS

110+

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

DEEPENING

RELATIONSHI PS

Church Day Out.

AN C

RES E

CONTENDING FOR THE NEXT GREAT AWAKENING WITH

35,000 VIEWS

OF THE ONLINE FESTIVAL IN 2020

NNUAL CON FE RE N C E Our conferences are an incredible opportunity

to join us and meet with likeminded people from across the globe. This year we’ll be gathering from 28 - 31 October 2021,

in Belfast, UK, and also

online for four incredible days of worship, prayer and community. Find out more:

24-7prayer.com/events 23

RELATIONSHI PS DEEPENING

ORDER OF THE MUSTARD SEED THE ORDER HAS 189 MEMBERS WITH 83 IN PREPARATION TO JOIN IN OCTOBER 2020

The Order of the Mustard Seed (OMS) is an international, interdenominational religious order, united by a shared rule of life to be true to Christ, kind to people and to take the gospel to the nations. The Order of the Mustard Seed was formally acknowledged as an ecumenical religious order in the UK in July 2018.

THE OMS IS FAMILY_ “I took my OMS vows last year in Belfast after a year of preparation, and the OMS community has welcomed me in with open arms. Through the prayer watches, the community has continued to show me the love of God through loving me, accepting me, engaging me and inspiring me whether I’ve turned up full of enthusiasm and ready to pray or tired in my pyjamas. The OMS is a community where I can bring my full self, without striving or putting on an image, it’s a place where we all get to play our part and share as family together. It’s been a safe place to intercede, to wrestle with God and to share victories and struggles with others. It’s a community where laughter, joy, love, prayer, tears and unity are shared. Over the last year, the OMS has continued to draw me deeper towards God, inspire and encourage me to impact my own community. If I could sum it up in one word, the OMS is family.” Read more about the OMS in The Lord of The Ring, available from all good bookshops.

orderofthemustardseed.com 25

ALL

“I love the 24-7 Prayer

movement. The people doing this work

around the world are people I dream of becoming more like. This movement

WO R has had an impact on the way that I pray and the need to pray.”

DANIELLE STRICKLAND SPIRITUAL LEADER AND JUSTICE ADVOCATE

OVER THE

RLD PART

III

ASI

2020: A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH PERIOD FOR 24-7 ASIA Across Malaysia and into

Malaysia is a predominantly

from seven Asian Islamic

Asia, there is a growing

Muslim nation, but the team,

nations. The women attending are

supported by the Roman Catholic

persecuted Muslim women who have

hunger for prayer.

Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur,

either been kicked out by their

2020 marked a significant

have also just launched a year

husbands, or whose husbands have

growth period for the 24-7 Team

of prayer with support from

been jailed or killed.

in Malaysia. They hosted a 13-

different Malaysian Church

hour livestream prayer meeting

denominations.

with nearly 7,500 participants; their virtual women’s conference had 800 attendees; and after launching a Prayer School, they

the work 24-7 is doing across

This period of growth has even

Asia, but the team are seeing the

extended beyond Malaysia, with

favour of God – and are praying

the launch of a women’s prayer

for protection as they serve

meeting that will have attendees

Christians across the region.

ALL

OVER

THE

WORLD

had 270 sign ups!

There are real sensitivities to

IA 13-HOUR LIVESTREAM

PRAYER MEETING HOSTED WITH NEARLY 7,500 PARTICIPANTS

ALL

OVER

THE

WORLD

IBI ZA OVER 2,000

JESUS LOVES IBIZA BIBLES GIVEN OUT OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS 30

San Antonio, on the

about God, where we see hope

one of the multiple times

west coast of Ibiza, Spain,

rising up and God moving…

Jesus shows up in our everyday

is known for its wild

One night, we found ourselves

parties, cheap drinks and

in the middle of a conversation

We have given out over 2,000

‘anything goes’ attitude.

with a man about different

of these Bibles in the last

religions. He explained that

seven years!

As 24-7 Prayer in Ibiza,

he’d studied various world

we’ve spent 20 summers in a

religions and had a good

rhythm of prayer and mission,

understanding of what Jesus

walking and praying along the

was all about, but had never

San Antonian streets.

actually read the Bible,

Every night is different. From

saying;

encounters.

Summer 2020 was very different - the bars have been closed, and Spain has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet we continue to help people and build relationships.

prayer walking around the bar

‘If someone would just be

We’re running online zoom

area, chatting to bar owners,

able to give me a Bible, then

church, providing washing

walking vulnerable tourists

I could see what it really

and food for the homeless,

back to their accommodation

said for myself…’

and continuing to reach out

to praying for people on the street.

With great delight we were

to those around us.

able to give him a Bible - and

Some nights are filled with

wrote a personalised message

incredible conversations

to him in it. This is just

JUD SWEENEY, 24-7 IBIZA TEAM

24-7ibiza.com 31

US UNITED STATES

IN 2020

OVER 900

24-7 PRAYER ROOMS RUN IN THE USA

WORLD

WE JOINED WITH

UNITE714

OVER

THE

MOBILISING MILLIONS TO PRAY TWICE A DAY ALL OVER THE WORLD

ALL

NEW 24-7 PRAYER USA

WEBSITE LAUNCHED 32

OF AMERICA 15 YEARS OF 24-7 PRAYER USA 2021 marks the 15th anniversary

wider than what we do presently.

of 24-7 Prayer USA. Full of holy

We are contributing into significant

ambition for North America and

conversations on race: teams were

24-7 Prayer USA, we have begun

deployed to pray in Minneapolis very

reformulating the team, building

quickly after the tragic death of

on the foundation of the USA

George Floyd in May 2020.

journey to raise the ceiling of

We have an audacious ambition to grow

prayer across the nation into

hubs in all 50 states, partnering with

every state.

influential churches and organisations to see this become a reality. Our

In 2020 there were over 900 24-7 Prayer

plan is to recruit a USA team leader,

Rooms in the USA. The growth of our

establish a new communications team

influence in the nation has grown

and expand our prayer co-ordinators,

significantly and now is the time to

led by USA National Prayer Coordinator

see all things 24-7 Prayer expand far

Lisa Koons.

24-7prayerusa.com

COMMUN TIES 24-7 Prayer Communities are a growing, international family of Churches and Houses of Prayer, outworking values of

prayer, mission and justice, locally and globally. There are 24-7 Communities all over the world, including...

TREE OF LIFE

MANENBERG, SOUTH AFRICA

NAVAH

KANSAS CITY, USA

The mission of Tree of Life is to

WORLD

regime of forced removal of ‘non-

Navah is a verb, meaning

whites’ from Cape Town’s city

home and make beautiful’ and

centre. This looks like eating as

the vision of Navah is to see

community, praying together and

Jesus transform hearts, homes,

reaching out to the addicted and

neighbourhoods and nations. For

hurting. The Tree of Life community

15 years, the Navah community have

believe transformation happens in

outworked their mission by living

and through kingdom family, and

among, and praying for Jesus to

outwork these values to bring hope

grow and multiply His kingdom in

and new life.

Kansas City.

ALL

OVER

one of South Africa’s communities

THE

show the hope of Jesus in Manenberg, established under the old apartheid

‘bring

NITHE SEED COMMUNITY WAVERLEY ABBEY, UK

One of the newest 24-7 communities has deeply ancient roots; 24-7 has a vision to create a hub for the 24-7 Prayer movement on the Waverley Abbey estate. This is also the site of the Waverley Abbey ruins – the first Cisterian abbey in England. The vision is for the Seed Community to be a place where God’s purposes are birthed, and leaders and ministries are incubated.

POLYLUX

REVELATION FAMILY CHURCH

NEUBRANDENBURG, GERMANY

CHICHESTER, UK

Since 2007, the Polylux community have been living and serving in one of

Revelation Family Church (or

Germany’s poorest neighbourhoods,

Revs, as it’s fondly known) is

living by the motto, “mach was

the home of the first ever 24-7

schoenes”, meaning “make something

Prayer room back in 1999. Today,

beautiful”. The community live in

they’re a community leaning into

and around the same block, eating

Jesus, developing people in their

together, praying together and

giftings and serving the needs of

inviting God’s presence into their

their city in the south of England.

neighbourhood.

24-7prayer.com/24-7communities 35

JOIN

“One of the things I love most about 24-7 Prayer

is that they not only promote and advocate for prayer, they model prayer for the global Church. We’ve been a financial partner (supporter) of 24-7 for years. I especially am thankful that their excellent work ethic in teaching the Church how to pray also extends to their internal reporting and donor-relationprocesses. They truly are exceptional in every way.”

DAVID DENMARK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE MACLELLAN FOUNDATION

IN PART

BOOKS

24-7 Prayer books are available from all good Christian bookshops and widely stocked online.

God on Mute / Red Moon Rising / Dirty Glory / How to Pray WRITTEN BY PETE GREIG

Even the Sparrow WRITTEN BY JILL WEBER

Punk Monk WRITTEN BY ANDY FREEMAN & PETE GREIG

Gatecrashing WRITTEN BY BRIAN HEASLEY

RESOU Luminous Dark

WRITTEN BY ALAIN EMERSON

No Neutral Ground WRITTEN BY PETE PORTAL

APPS Use your phone to pray.

Download our apps for free on both Apple and Android. Read

JOIN