This School of Intercessors was also a journey of deepening prayer. Three prayer stations were prepared so that the participants could, at their own pace, pray in depth and quiet.
These three prayer stations were:
1) Encountering Jesus:
unhurriedly and silently meditating upon the images and bible verses relating to Jesus’ life so as to re-encounter Jesus Christ.
2) Personal Prayer Station:
This station was subdivided into 10 small stations. This was a journey of getting to know ourselves. Starting from holding a piece of rock that symbolized our own burdens, station by station we discovered that we were actually pearls in the hand of God. And finally we write a love letter to God our wonderful maker.
3) National Prayer Station:
In this station the participants interceded for the nation. This station was subdivided into 4 small stations, from entering a dark alley to feel the phenomenon of our society, into being inspired by objects representing different aspects of our nation like economy, education, politics, social issues and the intercessors knelt in prayer to seek God’s intervention; this was followed by making handicraft to bring home so as to continue to pray for and to go into the world to become the salt and light of Jesus, till “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14).
Other than the journey to deepen personal prayer, on the 14th a collective fast and pray session throughout the lunch break was powerful. In one spirit, we prayed for:
• The holiness and righteousness of the Malaysian churches;
• The Indigenous people churches to grow with power;
• Every Christian that we will be true disciples of Christ;
• Religious freedom to be uplifted;
• The protection of the independence of public institutions such as the Central Bank (BNM), the Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the National Audit Department (JAN), the judiciary and the Parliament.
• The regression of righteousness and justice to our nation.
• The economic recovery of the nation;
• Our next generation so that they will be sanctified and belong to Christ.
In another prayer session, Bishop Ong Hwai Teck led the participants to intercede for the needs of each Annual Conference and at the same time for deepening and widening of the M24-7 Prayer Ministry. Bishop Ong said that in future the holding of Methodist Prayer Convention and Methodist School of Intercessors would be run alternatively.
As the first wave of M24-7 (a twoyear national chain of watch and pray for the nation movement) will end by the end of this year, the following effects are reflected by different Annual Conferences:
1) M24-7 enrich the prayer life of the intercessors, of which one-third are adults. Their faith become stronger and they experienced God answering their prayers. On top of that more and more intercessors, especially among young people, are joining. In this MSI out of the 248 participants 25 are below 35 years old.
2) Those interceding for the nation are burdened by the development of national issues.
3) The prayer scope of the intercessors are also broadened and become keener about current affairs, more keen to promote interdenominational unity and cooperation among churches. Churches in other countries are also inspired to watch and pray for their nations.
Reported by Saffron Ling
Translated by KT Chew