We started 2022 in prayer and hosting the London Camino Prayer Journey throughout the month of January. We took some time apart to gather with others and go for a walk or a bike ride, or even a bus ride around our neighbourhoods. We prayed together for mission and discipleship in our local areas and for London as a whole. Thanks to all who joined us in this month of prayer.
We gathered on the last Sunday of January to worship together share our impressions/senses from the month of prayer. You can find them below:
- “One of the words I had during my prayer walks was about Jesus using us, His church, to connect with people from the nations that are all over London. A bit like pieces of a jigsaw coming together and becoming whole in Jesus!”
- “God reminded me about the word in Ezekiel 37 (The Valley of Dry Bones). And God drew my attention sharing that He will do something from inside to outside. He’s going to start from the inside and finish on the outside. And He told me about creating something new, like new structures. In the same way, He did in that vision!”
- ‘Pray Workers for harvest’ – vision of the Terracotta Army – God breathing life into an army of millennials – came to life an emerged into the light (Ezekiel 37)
- “As I was praying out on the streets with Street Pastors relaunching after the last two years in our Borough, it was clear there is loneliness, escapism and isolation on the streets and the SP’s were magnificent at what they did – retraining muscle memory – there is SUCH an opportunity for breathing hope on our streets, people are open, hungry, weary, the church has a great opportunity to bring leadership into the vacuum…”
- “The church will become an OASIS and the desert will decrease and the OASIS will expand.”
- “I was praying down Portobello Street last week… a building reminded me of God seeing, hearing and speaking (like Hagar’s story)”
- “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” John 1:14 The Message
- “I cycled east (to Stratford), west (to London Zoo and Regents Park) and north (to Alexandra Palace). Beautiful to pray whilst you cycle – asking God to come and renew our city. Ally Pally is a high place and a centre of entertainment – lovely to think of people going up there to worship Jesus together and to transmit that worship over London…”
- “While prayer walking our area, I saw a van with the words ‘Wild at Heart’ on its side. I felt there was something prophetic about this – the Celtic imagery of the wild geese – God’s spirit blowing through.”
- “I noticed so many high points from different angles. I walked North, South and East of Southwark. In prayer and mission God reminded me we need to look and learn from different angles. I noticed many things as I walked through different estates passing people and places. Some of the symbols spoke loudly on the side of buildings eg Domine dirige nos – Lord lead us – on the side of London City housing. Housing challenges are great in Southwark – how amazing that one of the symbols shouts out that prayer!”
- “In my prayer walks I took salt and shook it about! For melting hearts and cleansing. I felt the combination. Have also followed up from Bless Weekend Away and the Mr Eternity story been writing on the streets words of life. It has been amazing to see them there still nearly 2 weeks later as it hasn’t rained and reminds me who I am as I see them as I go about my daily life!”
- “I managed to walk everyday (minus two) – this in itself was not possible last year (long covid). But yesterday I was able to even ride my bike – woo hoo. As I have regained strength I have prayed for such recovery over our city. Regularly God has reminded me that we need to partner up. We cannot do mission alone – we are invited into the greatest partnership of God – to be missional together.”
- Psalm 3:3 – God is the lifter of heads – of the weary
- Eph 5:16 – ‘make the most of every opportunity (and the Lord is opening those up everywhere!) because the days are evil’
- Sense that this is the season for creative church planting with great focus on community – an intergenerational extended family. There are lots of opportunities in London. The snow has already melted and it’s time to blossom.
- Sense that God wants to provide for Christian workers – especially with finances and housing in this season.
- Sense that there is a hardness in many that needs to melt. Some who have lost grace. Prayer for those in isolation like beautiful birds hiding away.
- Rom 15:13 May the God of HOPE full you with ALL joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
- “God is doing a new thing. Pouring out new wine. What does that look like for the church in terms of old and new wine skins? Great season of opportunity and possibility for us”
- “In 2022 Jesus wants to melt the divisions that have stopped the nations in London from experiencing His salvation and become part of His amazing family. Praying He melts loneliness, isolation and enables all peoples and cultures in London to see His beauty and become part of what He is doing in London and then reaching across the earth. Reach London and then London Reach”
