“For too long divisions and disagreements have torn the fabric of our society. Now is the time to mend and strengthen bonds between us,” says a press release from the visionaries of an ambitious campaign to pursue unity and healing in Nelson Mandela Bay through three days of fasting and prayer.
“Let’s pray, fast and believe God for a miracle in our metro,” say the founders of the so-called “One People, One Vision: Healing the Nation” fasting and prayer campaign which is calling all NMB Christians to put aside their “simmering” differences for 72 hours from August 18 to 20 “to seek the heart of God for our city”.
Pastor Neville Goldman, chairperson of the campaign told Gateway News: “The initiative is from the advisor to the mayor, Christian Martin, the Religious Desk of the metro and the Church. The initiative is being led by me as the chairperson and the vice chairperson is Bishop Zola Moses.”
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The release of a press statement on the initiative [see full statement here] follows a gathering of Christian leaders at the Pleinhuis in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) on Tuesday to plan the campaign.
The call to action includes a call on all churches and believers in the metro to participate in three days of prayer and fasting from Friday August 18 to Sunday August 20 with the fast starting on the Friday morning and ending on the Sunday evening.
Daily action headlines include:
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Friday August 18 — Young People unite in prayer in their local churches. Scripture Union and youth organisations to unite as we approach schools from August 14 to 18 to open their doors for prayer on the 18th.
Saturday August 19 — A massive motor vehicle convoy will traverse the metro, visiting 17 major shopping malls, with messages of hope and a demonstration of unity with the Church, business, government and civil society standing together. They will communicate in three languages and pray together for “One People, One Vision: Healing the Nation”.
Sunday August 20 — All churches in 60 wards praying for the city ministering the message of hope from Esther 4 vs 14 -16 during their morning services. They will also pray for their wards.
The campaign press release also identifies the following prayer guidelines:
Healing and reconciliation — Pray for hearts to be softened and wounds to be healed. Ask God to bring reconciliation between people of different races, political parties, faiths, and backgrounds. Pray for forgiveness, empathy, and understanding.
Leadership — Pray for wisdom, humility, integrity and compassion in our leaders. Ask God to give them a vision for unity and the courage to make difficult decisions that promote the common good. Pray that they would govern fairly and seek unity over division.
Media and influencers — Pray that media outlets, journalists, public figures, and thought leaders would use their platforms to spread messages of hope, empathy, truth and unity rather than fear, division, or misinformation. Ask God to give them a spirit of responsibility and care for the impact of their words.
Communities — Pray for unity, trust and cooperation within our local communities. Ask God to strengthen relationships between neighbours, community groups, schools, churches, businesses, and civic organisations. Pray that people of diverse backgrounds would come together through shared interests and for the benefit of the community.
Pray for yourself — Pray that God would give you a spirit of unity, humility, and reconciliation. Ask Him to search your heart for any prejudice, bitterness or division and to forgive you. Pray for wisdom and courage to build bridges with people different from you and to promote healing in your spheres of influence. Our nation’s unity starts with each of us.
Other action topics in the press release include some practical advice on how to get started with prayer and fasting, how to use reflection and journaling to partner with God towards achieving local and national unity, how to promote local unity through community service, and how to keep prayer for unity and healing going after the 3-day campaign. There is also a call to share the news of the campaign using the hashtag #OnePeopleOneNation
The press release concludes: “So there you have it – a vision for bringing unity and healing to our city through prayer and fasting. While it may seem like a small act, when we come together and petition heaven on behalf of our communities, it releases spiritual power that brings transformation. Even if you’ve never fasted before, give it a try.
“Start slowly and see how God meets you in your sacrifice. When we humble ourselves, repent of our sin, and cry out for God to move in our Metro, He hears and answers our prayers. Join with brothers and sisters from all walks of life, lay aside differences, and be part of something bigger than yourself. Lift your voice for the healing of the nation. Believe that united we stand, but divided we fall. Together, let’s stand in the gap through prayer and see revival come to our Metro. The time is now — will you join in?”
For more information about the One People, One Vision: Healing our Land campaign email nevillewg@icloud.com
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