by Megan Footit
The Greater Boston One-Day Prayer Summit is an event that unites ministers across denominational and cultural lines to worship God, seek his face and develop the relationships that foster functional unity throughout the city. The Summit does not have a set schedule or agenda, but centers around times of corporate prayer and worship. It is through this experiences that genuine community is fostered and people encounter the almighty God.
It was a Tuesday afternoon, one month before the Summit, when the planning team sat around a table, considering what theme the Lord would have us use to guide our corporate worship. As we sought God’s guidance, “harvest” came to mind. The word was not spoken again until the day of the summit, when one minister, deep in prayer, asked the Lord that we see his work be done. In following sessions the theme of harvest emerged, not by the direction of the leadership, but the movement of God’s spirit. Scriptures such as Luke 10:2 and 2 Kings 6:17 were spoken, encouraging us to reap the harvest that is here and walk in the victory the Lord has given us.
In the hours that followed, ministers wrested with these words, examined their hearts, and received instructions on how to prepare for the harvest. The reality is that we’ve heard about God’s harvest over and over again, at times, it would seem, to no avail. As the call was made, some responded with enthusiasm, others wondered if it would be the same hype and disappointment they’ve experienced, all over again. Despite initial reactions, people were drawn into times of self-reflection and prayer, where God worked on our hearts and prepared us for the next season. In such times, themes of grace arose, reminding us that whatever is accomplished is only because of what God has done. People were encouraged to have faith, and believe that God is faithful to his promises. Bishop Thompson encouraged people to proclaim or, “speak the same things” as God so we could see his will be accomplished on Earth. Times of extended fellowship and small group prayer also ministered to leaders needs and helped bring healing and encouragement. It would seem, as one minister commented, God was doing a work in us, so he could do a work through us, and lead our congregations and communities in the work of the Lord.
If God is preparing us to reap a harvest, the question becomes, how must we change our relationship with the Body in order to accommodate the harvest to come? What if God really was to bless our city in a way no single church or denomination could contain? Would we be ready for it? As we continued to seek God’s heart, it was suggested that we be intentional about looking beyond our usual points of connection and spheres of influence. We were encouraged to humble ourselves and commit to working together with those different from us unto something greater than ourselves. Though this is just a starting point, and much hard and rigorous work must be done, it was encouraging to see the Lord preparing people’s hearts, and in doing so, calling us unto unity.
For more information about the Greater Boston Minister’s Prayer Summit, upcoming events, or prayer groups throughout the city of Boston please visit our website at www.bostonprayersummit.org.
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