FEATURES
MIAMI PASTORS' PRAYER SUMMIT
by Nick Woodbury
There is an unusual movement of prayer growing among pastors all across the United States. Pastors are gathering together from different races and denominations for four days of prayer just to seek the face of God. There is no agenda, no time schedule, no speaker, and no special music. They gather to pray and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
More than l0,000 pastors from numerous denominations have participated in Prayer Summits over the past seven years. Many of these pastors pray together weekly in smaller geographical groups. The Lord has taken many to greater depths of intimacy with Himself and unity with one another as they have persevered. A Prayer Summit is a four-day worship experience attended by a diversity of Christian leaders from specific geographical communities. Their singular purpose is to seek God, His kingdom, and His righteousness. They expect He will guide them through a humbling, healing and uniting process. This process will lead them to a unity of heart, mind and mission.
The International Renewal Ministries, a ministry of Multonomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary in Portland, Oregon, led by the vision of president Joe Aldrich, has facilitated over 300 Prayer Summits. It has been found that beginning with the pastors, the shepherds of a specific community, the Prayer Summit becomes the launching pad that provides the setting for confession, brokenness, repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration and revival. As a result of these Summits, the pastors experience a great desire to meet regularly in a persistent pursuit of God. The testimonies of changed lives is numerous and the impact upon the local congregation is amazing. Churches are truly becoming houses of prayer.
Steve Lee writes from Corvallis, OR: "Prayer Summits continue to be the highlights of the year and the most significant times when God speaks new direction to the movement. We sense God saying that our regular times of prayer must keep worship centered and vital; that ministry to one another is essential and that we should move into more intentional, focused and fervent intercession."
Pastor Bick Moore writes from Tuscaloosa: "Since the first Prayer Summit, a consistent and deeply committed core of pastors has emerged and the numbers are increasing. More than one hundred pastors and church leaders have been impacted as a result of the prayer movement. . .
God is speaking 'WIN THE LOST.' "
From Spokane, Washington, Tom Starr writes: "They have greatly influenced and impacted Spokane in bringing us together as the Church of Spokane." The Prayer Summits have done more to bring the Body of Christ together than any other single thing.
The first Pastors' Prayer Summit for Miami pastors will take place from Monday, October 7th to Thursday, October 10 at the Bibletown Conference Retreat Center in Boca Raton, Fla. For more information please call the Latin America Mission at 305-884-8400.