Coronavirus provokes an avalanche of prayer in Nelson Mandela Bay

Special report by Nelson Mandela Bay prayer coordinator Pastor Joan Keeling

While many have been enslaved in chains of lethargy by the coronavirus pandemic – and all the horrors that it has brought with it —  it has provoked Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) prayer warriors to get down to the business of fervent intercession and spiritual warfare. 

One of the wonderful attributes of the Lord is His great compassion. Compassion is the ability to share in another’s struggle. However, compassion is also linked to an urgent desire to help. (#Alive to God#Andrew Roebert #SpreadTheWord) 

Prayer Warriors, moved by compassion for the tremendous suffering caused by the onslaught of Covid-19 on the people of Bay — one of the current pandemic hotspots in SA — have done the only thing that they know to do – and that is to pray!

God gave a vision to Pastor Nicolette van Staden to stir up an army of prayer warriors to fight this battle. She had the vision a week before and meditated on it during that week, then on Thursday November 19, she sent out a message on WhatsApp and another on her Facebook page, calling people to band together in their different areas and then, at 3pm on Sunday November 22 to prayer walk their areas and like David, to face the Goliath threatening NMB.

Prayer warriors throughout the metro caught the vision. The response was phenomenal!  Within just four days, a sizeable and militant army was ready for action.

And on Sunday afternoon, November 22, the army rallied forth. Some of the areas that were covered in prayer on that day were: Algoa Park, Arcadia, Beachview, Bethelsdorp and all its extensions, Booysens Park, Cleary Estate, Gelvandale, Helenvale, Jeffreys Bay, Kabega Park, Lorraine, Malabar, Salt Lake, Schauderville, Schoeenmakerskop, Seaview, Sherwood, Summerstrand, Sunridge Park, Uitenhage, Van Staden’s bridge, Walmer; West End and Windvogel. 

Prayer warriors from other South African towns and cities, as well as from other countries, joined forces in prayer for Nelson Mandela Bay.  

Thus revealing the ‘Power-of-One’ – one person with a vison and courageous enough to obey the call of God. The photos tell the tale.   

Certainly, a challenge to us all!   

 Footnote:
There are also other prayer initiatives in the metro that have been taking place over lockdown which have been quite amazing.

Tricia Daniels instigated the Livingstone Hospital Prayer from 9am to 10am every Saturday. This has been going on for months and a group of people have been very faithful. Peter Gooch and Worship SA’s “Feet On The Street”’ have joined in whenever they have been available.

There has also been prayer every Wednesday at the St George’s, Greenacres and Mercantile Hospitals — led by Shirley Kruger.

Last week, this group concentrated on Provincial Hospital and also prayed outside the Mount Road SAPS Station. All this has been happening, while regular WhatsApp prayer group intercessors have faithfully continued in in-depth prayer. It has been an intense time for our prayer warriors.   

And of course, Pastor Blessing Marunga also recently led the 90 Days of Prayer for Revival, but he also included prayer concerning Covid-19.