What Hope Do Christians Have For The Local Church?

The beginning of the new year witnessed a streak of church arson that culminated with the Body of Christ in East Texas gathering together for corporate prayer at Bergfeld Park in Tyler, Texas at 1pm on January 24th, 2010. Below you will find a few highlights from the prayer rally that should both bless you and inspire you to unity of hope & purpose.

HIGHLIGHTS
Toward the end of the service, Pastor Joe Canal, of Tyler Christian Fellowship, led the 300 plus participants at the Prayer Rally in a period of silent prayer. After closing the silent prayer with a plea to God for His Church to be unified, Pastor Canal asked all in attendance to write a hope or prayer for the church on the post-it note they had been handed.

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Then Troy Kriechbaum, President of Encouragement FM (KVNE & KGLY), came forward to thank everyone; he closed with a heartfelt prayer. After the final prayer, members of over 30 different Anglo, African-American, and Hispanic churches & Christian organizations in the Tyler & East Texas community came forward to add their hope and prayer to a banner declaring our ultimate hope, JESUS.

The banner simply declared, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

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Excerpts of The Hopes & Prayers Submitted:
Download All Hopes & Prayers Submitted; Click Here.

“My prayer is that the church would be awake, real, and unified. No more walls. Live the love of Jesus.”

“My hope is for the church to be able to meet the ministry needs of the people in our community.”

“Strength and unity.”

“Racial harmony and community without suspicion or hostility. To the praise of Jesus Christ and God almighty.”

“May the walls be torn down and the community be built up in Christ.”

“Reach out and disciple young believers and give prayer on a weekly, if not daily, basis for others.”

“The church will become stronger through community and not denomination or structure.”

“I give thanks for the outpouring of love from one denomination to another as the unified Body of Christ. And I hope for the Christian community’s continued solidarity as we focus on “Church” as the people of God and not a building.”

“That the church would be united and walk in the Spirit of God in boldness, authority, power, and love.”

“The church in Tyler would come together as one in Christ like never before – in prayer, love, and reaching out to the community – working together – going up higher and higher.”

“I hope for healing and reconciliation and a greater love for God.”

“Fully visible. One accord. Totally surrendered.”

“That the walls will stay down and we would be unified as one body.”

“The unity of Christ would be evident in the midst of the churches in Tyler.”

“That we would gather in unity to worship our Lord and Savior.”

“That church would love, live, and work as though we really believe that Jesus is coming soon.”

“Become one church – united for His Kingdom purposes – let the walls come down – let go of our divisions. Psalms 133 – blessings where unity is.”

“I hope that the Body of Christ (church) will begin to cooperate, communicate, and work together in an ever increasing manner to accomplish the work of the Kingdom of God in East Texas.”

“That all churches would continue the church of Acts – teach, pray, and act upon the truth.”

“Through Christ we will grow as Christians. Our faith will sustain us and we as a faith community will be strengthened. Our prayers are for the arsonists to be found and justice be served. Our prayers are that your church will be stronger.”

“My hope for the church is that we allow God to fill our hearts, our spirits, and our soul with His love for each other. My hope for the church is that we would exemplify what God meant for Christians to live like, look like, and love like. Be unified.”

“Unity and comfort for the congregations of the burned churches. Errors and mistakes on the part of the arsonists or a simple confession so this will stop.”

“That the church may increase in numbers, in unity, in purity, in the knowledge of God in this time of difficulty.”

“That our churches would come together in unity to further the cause of Christ.”

“Unity through Christ. Recovery from loss. Strengthening of the body of Christ.”

“My prayer for the church is that we live with open hearts, hearts and hands to the church – the body of Christ and to all the community.”

“That the church would grow together in the Word and be strengthened by our Lord’s promises. That thru this we would gain a better understanding of what the persecuted church faces daily.”

“My hope and prayer for the church is that we cross denominational walls and become the one true Bride of Christ, that we’ll pray together, worship together, relate to one another, and stand strong that the world would know that Jesus is the answer. That they would know because we love one another.”

“That our hearts would be united and set on fire for Christ.”

“Revival. Rebuilding of church.”

“I would love to see our city meet for joint prayer every seventh Sunday.”

Special Thanks To Jane Oakes Who Graciously Transcribed All The Prayers.
“Jane, you are a pleasure to work with and an asset to Grace Community Church!”