On the road … in Dryden, Ontario

by Richard Long

After a wonderful weekend at Thunder Bay Christian Fellowship, we were picked up by our former house managers, Doug and Michelle McMillan who drove us to their home town Dryden.  It’s about 4 hours north west of T-Bay and to my surprise, in another time zone.  It’s been wonderful to catch up with them and see what they are up to these days.  Many of you will remember the way they made our NHOP house a home in the first year and a half or operation.

We’ve already had a meeting Sunday night, done a short seminar this morning, and had a pastors’ lunch at noon.  Tonight is our final meeting here before Rob and I get on a small plane and head back to Thunder Bay and then home to Ottawa.  So this afternoon we went to the foodbank ministry that Doug and Michelle now direct here in the downtown.  It is extremely well organized, and has great volunteers who are very friendly and helpful to their clients.  Right now they have 260 families who access this foodbank out of a surrounding population of about 15,000 people.

It is very clear to us that Doug and Michelle have earned a lot of favour with the local ministerial who sponsor the foodbank and they seem to know every other person who drives by in a pickup truck or is out walking their dog.  This is the town they grew up in, met, married and raised a family in, so we are enjoying putting real scenery to the stories they used to tell us.

The McMillans are also an wonderful spiritual influence in the whole region.  They helped to open the doors for us in Thunder Bay and also are great hosts here in their home town.  We believe that long-term relationships are important in the kingdom of God.  We hope to keep coming back to this region over the years, and we hope to very soon have a prayer team from Thunder Bay and Dryden come and spend a week with us at NHOP.

On the road … in Thunder Bay

by Richard Long

Over the next weeks you will read some blogs from our road trips.  Tonight we have just finished (Rob Parker and myself) an evening meeting in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  It would be about an 18 hour drive from Ottawa so we obviously flew. 

In the early years of our nation’s history, this is the place that was the grand meeting place of the fur traders and the voyageurs from the Northwest Company and later the Hudson Bay Company.  It was literally the gateway to the west.  We sense that these are key meetings in a place that affects the whole nation.

Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Rob changed his topic at the last minute and preached a message on Intercession in the Last Days.  It seemed to hit the mark and stir up these faithful intercessors for the weekend that is ahead.  Please pray that the school of prayer we do here tomorrow would have a powerful catalytic effect.  We are expecting to have people come from outlying areas tomorrow and then on Sunday we will head 3-4 hours west to Dryden, Ontario for a couple of days.

When Pastors Pray Together

by Richard Long

Once a month it is our privilege to host a breakfast for “Mission O”.  That’s the name for the city-wide pastors network in the Ottawa/Outaouais region.  (see www.missiono.ca)  So this morning we delighted again in meeting these leaders from all different denominations and serving them a hearty breakfast prepared by Deanna & Connard Hoffman, our cooks. 

Those of you who know me, realize that this is one of my favourite days of the month.  Since the Lord called me on Canada Day, July 1st, 1997 to a specific role in networking it has been my passion to see unity develop in the Body of Christ.  Over the years I have traveled to Ottawa to meet the key leaders in this city who make up the Servant Leadership Team (SLT) and have always been impressed with their strong love for one another.  This translates into a similar cooperation and love amongst all the pastors and leaders who meet from month to month.

Today, because the regular chair – Barry Boucher was away, the vice-chair – Doug Ward led our time together.  Worship is always led by Alan Gilman, who today also sang a song over us about “leaving behind” the possessions of the world that try to grip us.  We enjoyed the opportunity under Doug’s humorous leadership to hear a short testimony from everyone in the room about the moment that they had God interrupt their life and begin calling them to Himself.  What a feast of stories and heart-felt encounters we heard as we went around the circle.  Prayer was easy as we followed that up with the opportunity to pray with one another before the morning was over. 

I hope you have a pastors network that prays together regularly in your city or region.  If you don’t I encourage you to pray that God will raise it up.  There is a commanded blessing from heaven that comes when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity.

Free Tibet!

by Richard Long

  Just a few days ago we could hear out our back window the loud chanting of a large demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy.  For those of you who have visited us here at NHOP you will know that we are located very close to them.  The main chant from the several hundred demonstrators was “Free Tibet!, Free Tibet!”

   Like many of you we have been praying about the situation in Lhasa, and other cities in Tibet and western China.  It is apparent that with the window of time leading up to the Beijing Olympics this is the best moment for Tibetans to make a point to the watching world about their continued occupation.  Our hearts go out to those who have been oppressed and are now experiencing persecution.  So some of our prayers go in that direction.

   However, on another level, our deeper cry in prayer is “Free Tibet!”  Free it from the centuries of spiritual darkness and oppression that the Tibetan Buddhist priests exerted over the people.  Free them from the power of blinded obediance to the Dalai Lama.

   On that level we wonder if China is continuing to be used for Divine purposes to shake the foundations of that society so that it can be free to hear about the Saviour Jesus Christ.  So we pray for Tibetans and Chinese that the gospel would go forth in power in these lands that so desperately need to have true freedom of religion.

Introducing Prayer Missionary – Joan Jones

by Joan Jones (she is pictured above with her son Earl)

 

The end of April will close my sojourn here at the National House of Prayer where I’ve been in residence since the first week of September, 2007.  Having been asked to furnish NHOP with a short biography, here goes.

   After teaching elementary primary for twenty years, I retired because my husband retired after working for Bell Canada for 35 years.  I have always been glad of my retirement in 1983 as we were able to spend time together before his death in January of 1990.

    In September of 1990 I attended the Hebron Ministerial Institute in Waverley N.Y., later renamed Zion Ministerial Institute,  and graduated in April 1992 as a trained missionary, whereupon I went to India for the following 6 years to teach the Word of God.  My first term was spent at Birmitrapur, Orissa where I taught a group of young Christian ladies. The following 5 terms were spent at Kuramunda, Orissa where I taught male pastors. 

    I left India in March of 1998 and spent the next few years at home, and babysitting my two youngest grandchildren until they entered school.  In 2005-6 I attended the Supernatural Training School in Abbotsford, B.C. and fulfilled a mission trip to Trinidad and Tabago  where we ministered in the inner cities to cancer patients,at orphanages, in prisons, and held evening services on the streets.  

    When I saw, in the NHOP newsletter, their request for prayer missionaries, I applied and was accepted. I have had a wonderful time here praying together with like-minded people who desire to see God glorified the length and breadth of this great land, Canada.

“Oh that men, [Canadians] would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”  Ps. 107:8,15,21,31,  I totally concur with the author of this Psalm.

   Parliamentarians make great personal and family sacrifices to live in Ottawa.  Please take time to consider coming to NHOP for a few weeks or months where daily representatives sit in the galleries of the House of Commons or in the Senate, if you prefer, to pray for wisdom, health and strength for those who determine the direction of this nation.  1 Timothy 2:1-4 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that WE may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth.”  Amen and Amen.

The Miracle of Seeing Nothing

By Terry Long

        Easter Monday is a special day to continue rejoicing and celebrating our Saviour’s resurrection from death to life.   I had the joy of recently returning from a life changing trip to Israel which included a deeply moving visit to what is highly regarded as the Garden Tomb.  I had the experience of walking up to the tomb and entering in.  I am excited to report that the tomb is indeed empty!!!  I know that we all know it is empty.  I knew that before going in, but it is incredible to actually see the empty tomb.  I can now say that I have seen the place where Jesus was laid with my own eyes and the greatest miracle of all is that there is nothing there!

     “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!  Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”  Then they remembered his words.”   Luke 24: 5 – 8

                                                 Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! 

                                                 Son of men and angels say, Alleluia! 

                                                 Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

                                                 Sing ye heavens and earth reply, Alleluia!

Why Pray if there was no resurrection?

by Richard Long

   I read yesterday that a progressive minded minister in Toronto decide to change the words of that favourite Easter hymn “Christ the Lord is risen today” to “Glorious Hope has risen today …” in their liturgy this weekend.   I’m glad it made the papers.  What hope is there at all if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead?

   Why pray either, if there was no resurrection?  If Jesus didn’t defeat death, and rise as its victor, then he was just another dead hero, and not the atoning offering we all needed.  Furthermore, he failed as a high priest, and has not ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father, living forevermore as our great Intercessor.  We would have no advocate in the throneroom and our hope would be at best wishful thinking, not “glorious”. 

   Aren’t you glad instead that Mary Magdalene found an empty tomb, two attending angels and a gardener/Teacher who knew her name even before she asked.

Prayer Canada

-by Richard Long

Surely the oldest prayer movement in Canada is the one led by the beloved Arne Bryan from Surrey, B.C.  Though there are many initiatives that Prayer Canada has worked on over the years since it’s launch in 1977, the one best known is the effort to establish regular prayer in city halls, legislatures and other public buildings in towns and cities across the nation.

If you go online to their website www.prayercanada you can read full reports of what is happening in these many prayer meetings by downloading their newsletters or using the links provided.

At NHOP we thank God for Arne and Kathy Bryan and the forerunning ministry they have had over decades of faithful service before the throne of grace in prayer.

Good Friday Poem (inspired by Psalm 22)

by Wendy Turpin 

 Abba my wounded hands
and feet
are driven through hard
with roman nails
that fasten me to this tree

king of the jews

I ache
I am nothing more than a mere animal

a disgrace

Abba I cannot see
shed blood
from torn skin
caused by a thorny crown
drips without mercy
into my eyes

blinded

Abba I can hear my mother weeping
I long to comfort her
but I can`t

weeping

Abba shadows prevail
around me
satan is here
tempting me again

evil awaits

Abba it feels like
I am shut up
and far from your presence
I long to feel the joy of you within me again
will your wonders be known in the dark

s  e  p  a  r  a  t  i  o  n

Abba I`ve been stripped and flogged
then suspended
on this tree
of humiliation

the price for sin

Abba my
head
aches I
cannot
breathe — life flows from me — can you see it tracking my
skin
down
this
cross
into
a
pool
beneath 

the sacrifice

Abba you said
I am the chosen one
the perfect atonement
the lamb
spotless and without wrinkle
for a fallen world

darkness

A pitchblack earth in the afternoon
my flame is burning out

your will be done

Abba
into your hands I commit my spirit

from death
to life

 

Maundy Thursday

Washing the Disciples Feet -Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

-by Richard Long

Having grown up in a non-liturgical tradition, I am fascinated with the rich history of the Church.  It’s only in recent years that we have drawn on the spirituality contained in the Church Calendar and the practical lessons to be learned in such things as Lent, Holy Week and Maundy Thursday. 

According to Wikipedai the word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin “mandatum”, the first word of the phrase “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos” (“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you”), the statement by Jesus in the John13:34 by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet. The phrase is used as the antiphone sung during the traditional “Mandatum” ceremony of the washing of the feet, during the “Holy Thursday” service.

One way of applying this in our prayers, is to think about whom we can serve in love today.  Not only with our prayers, but with acts of kindness and service.  In doing so we know that we are serving our Lord and obeying his “mandatum”.