ON 13-15 June 2016, district prayer coordinators and representatives from all Annual Conferences and the Sengoi Mission Conference of the Methodist Church in Malaysia gathered at Port Dickson Methodist Centre for the Methodist School of Intercessors (MSI). At the School, 248 participants were spiritually fed and nourished by the sharing of God’s Word through His anointed servants Rev Dr Iman Santoso from Indonesia and Chrisanne Chin from the secretariat of Prayer United, Malaysia.
Prayer Stations for personal prayers and reflections, and prayers for the nations were set up around the compound for the participants to pray and to spend time basking in God’s presence. Over the two and a half days, participants were awakened to The First Methodist School of Intercessors birthed the “Issachar Watchmen Movement” the importance of holding our nation in prayer. They departed the School with zeal to stand in the gap to intercede for our beloved country Malaysia.
From this Methodist School of Intercessors was birthed the “Issachar Watchmen Movement”, whereby men and women committed themselves to be watchmen of the nation through intercessory prayers.
The Old Testament recorded the sons of a man named Issachar, who understood the times (1 Chronicles 12:32). Today, God is looking for men and women whom He could use as watchmen for this nation.
In the Old Testament, the watchmen were stationed in the watch towers on the city wall. When they saw enemies approaching, they would alert the people to prepare for defence.
Likewise today, our country needs watchmen to alert enemies, for “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12), and to cover our nation in prayers. This must indeed be done with a sense of urgency.
For me personally, the time spent at the School rekindled my heart to pray for that nation which I call my home, and to encourage people, young and old, to arise and stand and watch over this country.
by Rev Candy Liong,
Faith Methodist Church, Kuching