During the World Prayer Assembly last year in Jakarta and again during the United Nations and Children in Prayer events last week, a number of us in the IPC have been discussing the possibility of a World Youth Prayer Assembly for 2015 or 2016. It would be tri-generational but would be led primarily by the younger generation with the older adults in a supportive capacity.
Last week, during our IPC/New Wave leadership team meeting and in other conversations, we envisioned a WYPA in which regional gatherings happen simultaneously around the world, connected through Internet streaming and satellite TV to truly enable a global connection of the Body of Christ (up to 100 million) around the issues of youth and children. We believe the Lord will use such a global engagement in prayer to help raise up the next generation into leadership, not only in the church, prayer and mission movements, but also it would be used by Him to call and lift up the modern Josephs, Esthers and Daniels within the public arena of government, economics and cultural spheres (Seven Mountains). "Pray the Lord of the harvest that He may thrust out laborers into His harvest."
We will also pray holistically about the needs of the younger generation, including issues like human trafficking, poverty, disease and protection of children and youth from violence and war, asking for God's intervention and transformation of these awful realities. Such intelligent, well-informed praying should also lead to actions God-inspired actions by participants on behalf of young people in their own communities and nations. We expect a massive upsurge of loving, Spirit-led activism (as is happening in Indonesia after the WPA through My Home Indonesia) to deal with the outrageous situations in which many children and youth find themselves.
As with the WPA, such an effort, if it is to have a global reach, would necessarily require the help of many different networks and ministries from the Church and para-church as well as the prayer and mission realms. Such a coming together and concentration of resources and force, we believe, will extend the WYPA not only around the world for a deep, transformational impact, but will also have a strong, lasting influence on generations to come.
As a stepping-stone along this path, we propose a global prayer focus for a 24-hour period on April 14, 2014, connected to the 4-14 Window Movement that seeks to raise up children and youth (ages four to fourteen) as "agents of transformation" in their communities and nations worldwide. If we make use of the Internet and media effectively, tens of millions of praying believers could be mobilized to take part in homes, churches and stadia. This would also be an excellent intermediary step to the WYPA two years later, building awareness and anticipation so that global event is all the more consequential.
All of this is just at the initial prayer and consultation stage now, so we in the IPC/ New Wave team enthusiastically welcome any suggestions or input from you, our brothers and sisters in Christ, in other prayer and mission movements. Does any of this resonate with you as it does with us? If so, please help shape the vision and planning by giving us your frank feedback and let us know how we might pray and work together to see the children and youth blessed, encouraged, called and raised up to become all He wants them to be, even impacting the generations to come.
Yours in Christ,
John Robb
(on behalf of the IPC/ New Wave leadership team)