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Pray for Scotland National Prayer Walk
Ernie Gibson (Pray for Scotland / Inverness) writes:
Pray For ScotlandNational Prayer Walk
Easter (8th, April 2007)
to
Pentecost (27th May 2007)
Events for Saturday, 14th April in Inverness
Ernie Gibson (centre) and Donald McCuish with Bert McKaig (right) of Pray for Scotland
Many churches and Christian organisations are joining together across Scotland during this period to fill their villages, towns, cities with prayer.
A team will be travelling throughout Scotland during these 50 days praying in various communities as they go and holding meetings in a key place on each of the 50 days.
They will begin in the very north of Shetland on Easter day and culminate with a walk down the Royal Mile and rally in Hollyrood Park in Edinburgh on Pentecost Sunday.
The team will arrive in Inverness on Saturday 14th April and the following events are planned to which you are invited to participate along with others who have a heart to pray for our nation:
1. 24 hour prayer from 6am Saturday 14th April till 6am Sunday 15th April. We are looking for people to do either half or 1 hour ‘shifts’.
Contact Ann MacArthur: Tel. 01463 793426
2. A rally starting at 3.00pm which will last 30 – 45 mins at the Eastgate pedestrian area outside Marks and Spencers. Alison feels that it would be good to have an open air rally to proclaim the goodness of God. In the context of "Highland 2007", a piper is scheduled to take part along with songs from a member of the Gaelic choir; with a couple of Scottish country dances to follow. This will be rounded off by some modern praise songs.
Contact: Alison Ross Tel. 01381 620813
3. A meeting to pray, praise and proclaim the name of Jesus over Inverness and surrounding area. Venue is The King’s Factory, Smithton Industrial Estate starting at 7.30pm.
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| | Connecting Scotland Team (Guest) | 10/04/2007, 00:14 | | We have had a wonderful launch on Saxa Vord in Unst, Shetland. The weather was atrocious! With gales, snow, hail, rain – in fact, every season except the sun. In spite of this, we were privileged to have at least 30 people standing with us on the top of this hill at 6:00a.m. on today, Easter Sunday!
We started out with a time of silence, waiting before God so that Connecting Scotland was launched from a place of His presence. And indeed, there was a real sense of the manifest presence of God this morning. We proceeded in this weather to a double baptism in the sea – this was an INCREDIBLE experience. One of those being baptised was a lady in her 70s. And she walked into that water without flinching. Wow!
We then went to the most northerly church in Scotland (and all of Britain) and had an amazing time worshipping and praising the Lord with many of the people gathered dancing round the most beautiful altar of fresh daffodils and flowers that had been arranged as though the whole church were there, in the garden with our Saviour.
All this took place before 9 o’clock in the morning! After breakfast we divided into two teams: one team went by ferry to Fetlar and had many anointed experiences, including opportunity to share in communion fellowship with an order of nuns from the Anglican church. The grace and peace of God flowed from these beautiful ladies. The head sister had such a twinkle in her eyes, they ministered to all of us. (And we were there to minister to them!)
Bert had the joy of leading a liturgy in a Church of Scotland that normally has a congregation of – two (a lovely gentleman and his wife who keep this isolated church open…). This liturgy had never been performed to a larger congregation before, and what a special experience.
Just before the evening rally Bert’s team also prayed for a lady who, up until two ago, was fit and healthy. Now completely paralysed, she was able only to acknowledge Bert and Ann through tears, as they told her how special she was in Christ and the tears flowed freely. Please, remember Eileen in your prayers.
In the same manner, on Yell, Jean Black and other half of the team ministered to a blind and deaf widow of 92, who just last year lost her husband of 60 years of marriage. The team also visited multiple Yell churches, praying for God’s love … and a pouring out of His Spirit. Throughout, the gales never lifted!
And also throughout, the reoccurring message is that this would be a cry of God’s love ministering down through the nation. Over and over again the people we have met have spoken forth that this is the time for God’s love to be poured out, ministering to and enveloping the nation.
We cannot wait to see what else God will do!
The day ended with the first rally! Held in Mid Yell in a recreation centre, there were over 50 people gathered and the rally consisted of praise, prayer and proclamation – and a real freedom and openness to minister. So typical of what is being experienced, the team had such meaningful conversations with people at the end.
Whether in the Outer Skerries of Scotland or what might seem like a remote territory on Unst, Yell or Fetlar, we are finding such warmth and people of such a generous spirit, and we are finding – God is there.
Tomorrow we go to mainland Shetland, one team in the north and one in the south.
Again, thank you for your continued prayers.
| | | The Editor | 14/04/2007, 01:23 | | Report from folks in Orkney
(see Orkney section of the Christians Together web site).
Tuesday 10th April was Day Three of the 50-day prayer walk – for twenty two hours the National Team were in Orkney – flying in at 8.00am and dispersing to several different island before coming together in the late afternoon.
Christians at Stromness, Kirkwall and Finstown organised structured walks and prayer times en route, while in the isles there were prayer walks and drives in Stronsay, Sanday, Westray, Flotta, Papa Westray and South Ronaldsay.
Other smaller isles were being prayed for by whoever was available on the day. Each area cut a branch or plant to bring in to the praise rally in the evening and it is hoped to use these growing things as a sign of new life in a community gardening project later in the 50 days.
As every one came together to walk round the capital city of Kirkwall, there was a balloon release of red and gold balloons symbolising both blood and the fire from the North. Each balloon carried a text and a note of who had prayed for the balloon’s finder. Every balloon found will be rewarded with the gift of a New Testament.
Orkney pray for scotland meetiAfter mince and clapshot (local delicacy) the rally got started and well over two hundred people packed the cinema for a time of praise and worship. Musical items by the CE Campers and the local group the Linties encouraged the singers to raise the roof.
After a stirring word from Pastor Bert McKaig the local church leaders gathered round to pray for the team, who were setting off for Caithness the next morning.
The team were sent on to the ferry following a simple communion at the quayside; and although they boarded the ship to get some much needed rest, they were up until the wee small hours sharing all that God had done that day.
Meanwhile at the 24-hour prayer time in Kirkwall, the local warriors were stirred to pray with several joining the number at 2.00am, 3.00am and 5.00am; and finding that it was soon time to go home.
When the ship left the berth at 6.30am there was a long rolling thunder as the team set off into the Pentland Firth and on to Caithness.
The next day the news filtered through locally of prayers already being answered – Praise God!
| | | Derek (Pray for Scotland) (Guest) | 23/04/2007, 22:05 | | The Lord's provision has really moved us this week. We set off knowing that our financial base was not really great enough for so widespread a mission but believed fully that God had called us to Connect Scotland in this way. We are seeing each week that our needs are being met even though often at the eleventh hour. I once pondered on why God nearly always moves in that eleventh hour and concluded that to Him it is simply at the time when it is needed. The apparent delay, until that time, could be the opportunity to build faith in us which just might be His true purpose.
I know that after this national prayer walk has finished it will not be the end but the beginning of the next phase of what God wants to do in our land. As to what the next chapter will be I do not know, but already I feel that there is a lot more to come.
I am pleased again this week to include some testimonies from around the nation and love to hear how hearts are being stirred and encouraged. Don't forget to check Bert's "blog", details are below.
I could do with a few more forthcoming events to list so please let me know of any you hear about.
Blessings to you all, Derek.
My Email address is below so please keep sending me material and tell me what is happening near you. The digest is going out to 1,000s of people across the nation and beyond. Think of all those people who are potential pray-ers to support what is happening in your area! We have people in other nations too supporting us. Prayer changes things!
May the Lord bless you at this time, Derek.
derek@jardineclan.org.uk
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