We are moving into a new season. As many places begin the slow process of moving out of a time of restriction, lockdown and sheltering in place, we move into what we could describe as a season of restoration.
The work of prayer and intercession is central to this restoration work and fits with the vision of the Prayer House at the Community of the Cross as being a hub for intercession. In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, the PRMI Board moved to pause the capital campaign for the Prayer House back in March. But now feel the Lord is calling the ministry to lift that pause.
Places of Prayer Are Important
The work of prayer can happen anywhere. Frequently it takes place in the prayer closets of individuals. With the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 many intercessors have found themselves connected together through prayer events happening online.
But what is often the case is that the ongoing work of prayer happens in places that are set aside specifically for the work of prayer and intercession.
- Herrnhut in Germany, became the center for a 100-year prayer service established by the Moravians on the estate of Count Zinzendorf. This 24/7 prayer services resulted in over 300 missionaries sent out around the world.
- The Bible College of Wales became the center for the prayer and intercessory work of Rees Howells during the 1930’s and throughout World War II.
- Archer Torrey (grandson to R.A. Torrey) established Jesus Abbey in South Korea as a place of prayer. This is the place where I (Brad) received the initial vision of a Prayer House at the Community of the Cross.
- The International House of Prayer in Kansas City has become the center for ongoing prayer using the “Harp and Bowl” style of worship and intercession.
All of these places continue to sustain the work of prayer strategic to advancing the Kingdom of God and fulfilling the missionary mandate of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Since the 1970’s the vision for a Prayer House for the set-apart work of prayer was given to me. This Prayer House, modeled after the work of prayer at Jesus Abbey in Korea has been a part of the vision for PRMI’s Community of the Cross since the property was obtained in 2003.
Construction finally began on the Prayer House in 2019 and it has risen as a majestic Cathedral in the Woods at the very heart of the Community of the Cross.
PRMI’s Current Work of Prayer
With the pause in place upon the capital campaign for the Prayer House the Lord directed the ministry into a time of intercession during the pandemic.
We have engaged intensely in intercession, especially during the Passover/Easter and Shavuot/ Pentecost season.
Our focus was to pray into reality the many prophetic words given that this would be a time of a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
We are seeing these prayers answered in our tributary in this great river of God, especially in the remarkable way that God has used the PRMI online Upper Rooms for praying for the Baptism and infilling with the Holy Spirit.
Praise God for birthing this new wineskin.
These Upper Room prayer events have been offered three times a week during this interval between Easter and Pentecost. Janet, a PRMI Board member, summed up these results:
Last night I was privileged to participate in an Upper Room at 7:00 pm, with James Kearny as leader. My second one. I’m delighted PRMI is offering these and rather amazed at what the Holy Spirit (HS) can do in a very short time and by zoom. People were touched, opened up, and invited to take steps of faith in specific ways. Many were pastors who had backgrounds in theology but seemed to be tip-toeing into HS matters.
Janet, a PRMI Board member
The incredible response to this virtual Upper Room context for praying to be empowered by the Holy Spirit means that we will continue to offer this now once a week in June.
Please don’t miss the opportunity to join with others in receiving Jesus’ provision for facing the next phase of spiritual warfare and advancing the Kingdom of God.
The Pause on PRMI’s Capital Campaign is Lifted!
We are praying in the provision needed to complete the Prayer House at the Community of the Cross so that it can be a global hub of prayer for the next phase of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
In response to the pandemic with its devastating financial results for many individuals, businesses and the nations, the PRMI Board of Directors received the guidance that we were to put a “Selah” or a pause on our focus on raising the money to complete the Prayer House.
This guidance was given through the Board and a word received by Joanne Rozendaal. The Board took formal action to “pause” this campaign.
In the Psalms, the word “Selah” is used between verses. It seems to mean an interlude in which one should praise God or be in silent adoration. (Actually, scholars are not exactly sure what it means.)
So we did not send out the already printed Capital Campaign brochures and instead mailed out a letter about the guidance to put a pause on raising money for the Prayer House.
We asked everyone to please pray for financial provision for the general fund needed to keep the ministry solvent during this financial crisis.
We were led by the Holy Spirit to knock on all doors for the financial provision required to see us through the crisis, which included applying for the CARES Act.1
We are so grateful for your prayers for us during this time of crisis and great financial need—not just for us, but for most of the world as well.
Well, the Lord chose not to provide through the CARES Act. We received nothing from the government. Instead, the Lord prompted many of you to give generously and sacrificially so that PRMI’s global mission could be provided for!!
Thank YOU, and thank you, Lord!
Provision To Get The Prayer House Weathered In
Not only did we experience the miracle of God’s provision for general funds during this crisis, but He also provided for us to keep working on the Prayer House.
We have been able to continue to work on the Prayer House during this season because of some generous gifts that came in the first two and a half months of the year before the pandemic and the plunge in the stock market.
By the time we exhaust our funds at the end of June 2020, we will have the building completely weathered in. This means that without doing damage to the building, we can hold off on further construction until funds are available.
The building is beautiful! The majestic hemlocks we had to cut down to make room for the building provided external siding which fits with the lovely mountains, river, and forest setting.
Our main prayer chapel is a stunning sacred space that draws one’s heart to prayer and worship. I go out there every day to walk the prayer trails of the Community of the Cross and walk through the whole Prayer House praying.
I always linger in the main prayer chapel for as long as the Holy Spirit is on me praying and worshiping. I have placed an open Bible on a small table that the construction workers use for their drawings. Sometimes I am joined by others.
I have used the unfinished chapel as the background for the prayer calls that I have been doing over zoom.So already the Prayer House is providing that geographic centering place for this global prayer work that is taking place now mainly over the internet. Thanks to God!!!
The Lord is giving us clear guidance that He is calling us to pray in the rest of the provision for the completion of the Prayer House at the Community of the Cross as part of this becoming a global hub of intercession as well as equipping of Holy Spirit-empowered witnesses to Jesus Christ.
As we have grown globally through cyberspace, we must continue to build our center that is geographically grounded and embodies people meeting face to face as a living community of faith.
This is essential for the next phases of 2020 and moving into 2021 with joyful expectation of the Holy Spirit moving in a great outpouring as well as anticipating Satan’s counterattacks.
So please join us in praying!
Pray that the Lord will continue to provide all that is needed to complete the Prayer House and the necessary improvement of the land (like widening the road to meet the fire code) so that we can start using the building as planning by the end of August. That means asking the Lord to send nearly $1 million more that is needed.
Pray into this prophetic Word which was given about the Prayer House on April 8, 2020
See its foundation: it is My Word with My Son as the Cornerstone.
See its walls: they are My ramparts.
See its temple: it is all a temple for Me.
See My Glory: it will descend upon this place,
first into My people,
then into the place as My people fill it.
The Lord is roaring in the heavens.
NOW is a time of power and deliverance.
TODAY is a day of power and deliverance.
It will be like a tide rolling forward: today, tomorrow, into Easter.
Pray that the Lord will continue to call, equip, anoint, and deploy the army of intercessors for defeating demonic strongholds and advancing the Kingdom of God. The intercessors are the vanguard in the advance of God’s Kingdom plans!
As always, please share any discernment right away.
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