Prayer is in the very DNA of Norwich says Greig 

Prayer is in the very DNA of Norwich and has been for hundreds of years, says 24-7 Prayer movement founder and author Pete Greig, who spoke at several meetings at Soul Church in the city yesterday (Sunday February 1). Keith Morris reports.

“Prayer is the secret source to our power as Christians. It is the fuel for the fire and the single greatest calling we can have,” said Pete, who was in Norwich to speak at Soul Church services, including a prayer evening to which Christians from across Norfolk were invited.
 
“The invitation to intimacy with God through the priority and power of prayer is at the heart of our mission. It is also the bit  of the great commission which, if we are not careful, we omit. Prayer is the ignition for the mission.”
 
Speaking about how the 24-7 prayer ministry began, Pete said: “It all started in a prayer room which we held night and day for a month. At the end we could not stop because miracles kept happening and angels appeared in the prayer room. We also started to see the pain and lament in our community – the agony that people bring to God in prayer.
 
“We could not stop and have now been praying non-stop since September 5, 1999. We are now in almost every nation on earth. It has been an amazing ride.”
 
Speaking of the relationship between prayer and mission, Pete said: “The church walks on two legs – proclamation of the Gospel and prayer. If you are trying to do mission without prayer you are hopping – you ain’t going to go very far. You need both legs working properly to go anywhere.
 

“The Body of Christ has always marched on these two legs – just look at the Acts of the Apostles. When God’s people push on into prayer, mission results. Your job is to focus on the Lord and the Lord will focus you on the lost.”
 
There is also particular call on some people to be intercessors, spiritual warriors for the nations, said Pete.
“Prayer is in the very DNA of Norwich. In 1096, Norwich Cathedral began as a house of prayer – a Benedictine monastery. In the 11th century, Norwich was one of the leading pilgrim destinations in all of Europe. People came here to pray.
 
“In the 14th century Julian of Norwich was the first woman to write a book in the English language. In the 15th century there was the  great movement of the non-conformists, Thomas Bilney – an extraordinary man, born here in Norfolk. He said salvation comes from faith in Jesus Christ, not through works. For that, the Bishop of Norwich had him killed at Lollards Pit, when he would not recant on what we all know now to be true.
 
“There was an incredible movement of Lollards and Quakers and Non-Conformist Christians here in this part of the world and Norfolk gave more pilgrims to the Mayflower to found America, as we now know it, than any other place in the UK.
 
“Norfolk has 650 medieval churches, more than anywhere else in the world – and many of them empty, said Pete. “It is possible though to have the outward form of religion and no life. Sadly the 2011 Census dubbed Norwich the most Godless city in the UK and 65.4% of people in Norfolk no longer call themselves Christian. More than 90% of people in Norwich are nowhere near a church on Sunday.
 
“But thank God that those statistics are changing, we can see it here in Soul Church and in other churches in this region. Tonight there are 36 people getting baptised and that is happening every month here.
 
“When people ask about Soul Church don’t tell them about this building, which is very cool, but tell them about caring for the poor, preaching the Gospel, tell them about baptisms and families being restored, because I am not sure God cares about our brands.”
 
Later in the day Pete and Brian Heasley, International Prayer Director for 24-7 Prayer, who lives in Norfolk, led a prayer night which involved churches and Christians from across Norwich and Norfolk. There were prayers for the situation in Iran, prayers for schools, workplaces, churches, streets and families.

There was prayer for revival amongst the young and for churches throughout the region, for Alpha courses and church leaders. There was also the opportunity to join together with people from different churches and to pray for one another.
 
Pictured above is Pete Grieg, pictures by Soul Church and Keith Morris.

www.24-7prayergb.com

Watch Pete Greig speak at Soul Church’s morning service.