Early next month, the Middle East Prayer Assembly will gather Christian leaders from across the region to pray for His peace and healing in Syria, Egypt, Iraq and other nations that are currently in tumult. The following month, in mid-November, hundreds of ministry leaders as well as praying youth and children will gather at the United Nations to pray with ambassadors and UN officials for this most powerful human 2! institution on earth. Why are we doing this? Many would say that the Middle East will always be in conflict and that the UN is corrupt and anti-Christian.

The reason we in the IPC are arranging these and other such prayer initiatives is that Jesus said His followers are to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world”. Salt is a preservative from corruption, and light helps people to see clearly the way ahead. We as believers in Christ are the temple of God by His Spirit, carrying the salt and light of His presence into a world that is liable to become corrupt and darkened. Where we go, through united, faith-filled prayer, we invite His transforming power into any situation we face.

I have written to you in the past about the prayer initiatives in over 50 nations in which we so often saw the hand of the Lord changing impossible situations of war and human suffering. Unexpected breakthroughs of peace and governments of national unity between former enemies came about as Christian leaders gathered in desperation to call on the Lord together. In 2007 and 2009, it was also our privilege to facilitate international prayer initiatives inside the United Nations with hundreds from many nations taking part. Ambassadors who took part wept in His presence, and the president of the General Assembly cried out to the Lord like a small child, asking for His help with the impossible issues with which he and other ambassadors were struggling at that time. It was a moving and powerful experience! The leader of a group of intercessors who work and pray inside the UN reminded me this past week that each time one of these initiatives happened, they felt the shift in what had been a dark and oppressive atmosphere. Praise the Lord that He can change even a daunting organization like the UN if we pray!

The UN is involved in many noble efforts to eradicate poverty, ensure people get enough food, maintain peace in conflicted areas and help children and youth reach their potential through getting a good education and healthcare. I have met some outstanding and dedicated individuals working there. How they need our help in prayer as many of them would acknowledge. If the organization becomes corrupt or goes astray into adopting oppressive, dominating policies as a world government, it will be our fault as followers of Christ. We can connect with the One who has all power to change things through our prayers so it is extreme dereliction of duty for us not to pray for the UN and other governmental entities.

If you would like to join us this year, November 18-20, in New York, we will hold the third International Prayer Initiative for the United Nations.

Just before that will be the third Children in Prayer Global Consultation, November 15-18. There is still time to register and some places left, but you will need to move quickly to hold your place.

Registration closes by October 15. You can register on this website: www.arrowheadregistration.org/?117

If you cannot come in person, please pray with us. Some key concerns for five upcoming initiatives are attached below.

It is an awesome privilege and responsibility to be His representatives and the vehicles by which His mighty working takes place in our world! Let’s use the awesome prerogative He has given us- united prayer- to see His transformation come to the United Nations and the individual nations in which we live or minister.

John Robb

IPC Chairman