Dear friends,
We are writing to invite you to join with us and other leaders from across the
nation to stand before God to pray for our church and nation on St Andrew’s Day.
This gathering builds on the “Big IF” leaders’ gatherings in late 2009, which were called jointly by the Evangelical Alliance, Alpha, CARE and Pray for Scotland. These gatherings led to the “Big IF”continuous year of prayer in 2010, where many individuals and churches rose to the challenge of prayer based on 2 Chronicles 7:14. However, we believe that this was a start, and not the end.
We believe that it is time for us, as leaders in this nation, to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn to Him with all our hearts.
As such we are calling this wider leaders’ gathering to pray,fast and seek the Lord together at this challenging and important time in the life of our church and nation, in accordance with Joel 2:12Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting…13so rend your heart…return to the LORD your God…15blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast…16 assemble the elders.
We believe the event should have no big ‘names’, nor be filled with speakers, rather it should focus simply on prayer with worship and be guided by God’s Word. Our desire in 2011 is firstly to consecrate ourselves to God in unity and humility; secondly to pray for the church; and thirdly to pray for God’s blessing on the different aspects of the life of our nation – parliament, business,health & education, youth, family life.
The Gathering will be held in the historic Canongate Kirk – parish church to Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle, and Parliament. This call to prayer is being issued by the partnership of a wide range of non-denominational mission, prayer and justice organisations including: The Evangelical Alliance; Alpha; CARE; Pray for Scotland; Tearfund; CLAN Gathering; 24-7 Prayer; The Scotland Trust; Firestarters; Glasgow House of Prayer; Lydia Fellowship International; Parliamentary Prayers Scotland; Aglow International; TryPraying.
We would ask you to prayerfully consider joining us for the day or a part of it. We appreciate it is short notice for a national event but we did not feel we could delay till 2012. Please also feel free to invite other leaders known to you from churches and every sector of Scottish society. We aim tohave key leaders from each sector leading the relevant time of prayer. No prior booking is required and no catering will be supplied as we would encourage all that are able to join us in fasting during
the day. However, if you can notify us at Paul.Davie@alpha.org, it will help to estimate the number
planning to attend.
With every blessing in Christ,
Jean Black – Director, Pray for Scotland and on behalf of partner organisations
