Every great movement of God starts with prayer. In 2023 we are nowhere close to a move of God, but we have certainly seen God move and all this is due to the church falling to its knees in prayer.
This year the ICPA launched a prayer initiative for 100,000 souls. This is part of our 10 year goal to see 100,000 baptized into Christ by 2033. The best way to see all these reached for Christ is to start with prayer, specific prayer for each soul. The only way to see this happen was through the mobilization of the church. And the church responded, in a big way! People in the church took 10 individuals they love and started praying. They prayed every day and started interceding before God for their lost loved ones. The ICPA did very little. We made a simple tool, a bookmark, that the church can use to write the names of their friends, family, and neighbors- their 10.
In 2023 we saw 15,000 bookmarks distributed throughout the church and something happened, although its hard pinpoint exactly what. We certainly cannot take any credit for it, but God did move. We surveyed churches whose senior leader cast vision and encouraged their entire church to participate saw the number of baptisms in those churches on average double.
This is exciting because it tells a story of our God. When we pray, God responds! Especially when we pray in alignment with Gods will. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” -2 Peter 3:9 NIV
This also tells us a story about our partnership with God. We are called a Kingdom of priests and when Christ called his disciples he sent them into their field to make more disciples. God wants to partner with us in the mission of seeing lost souls come to repentance.
I have learned something. If a movement of God is going to happen, it won’t be the pastors praying. It will be the people praying. If we are going to see a move of God, it won’t be the ministry leaders working harder, it will be Gods people, the whole church, inspired to go on mission.
As we think about the next ten years, what started in 2023 has to be multiplied. Gods people were mobilized to pray. That can’t stop, we need to double our efforts here, because when God’s people pray, God moves and God changes our hearts and we move.
In order to see 100,000 souls by 2033 we must see the church must be mobilized in a way we have never seen in our lifetime. We don’t know how this will happen, but after 2023 we know where to start; on our knees in prayer.
“Sober men will do the church no good. At this hour we need men drunk with the Holy Spirit.” -Leonard Ravenhill
If you want to be part of dreaming for 2033 and the continued work of People are the Prize, we need partners in this work. We need creative individuals who are willing to help mobilize the church around this mission. Take action today.