It’s Time Cape Town 2018
GROUND ZERO PRAYER INITIATIVE
Report
The “Ground Zero Prayer Initiative” was birthed out of the “24/7 Prayer Summit”, held in Parow on February, 14th, as a prayer support strategy for the “It’s Time Event” on 24th March.
The strategy was two-fold:
- Weekly Corporate Prayer Gathering on-site, 10:00-12:00.
- “Ground Zero 24/7”, with 7 days of continuous prayer, 17 – 24 March.
Weekly Gatherings:
5 Weeks in a row, people from all over the city gathered every Wednesday at the Swartklip Indoor Sports Centre. From Muizenberg to Paarl, from Gordon’s Bay to Melkbosstrand, they came. There was a visible build-up in excitement and expectation among the crowd, as the attendance grew from 70 on the first day to 250 on the last Wednesday, three days before the actual event. Prayer of repentance were facilitated by various church leaders, around the themes of Revival, Salvation & Social Justice.
On the last Wednesday, identificational repentance have been offered from the Afrikaner people to the coloured people affected by “forced removals” in the past. This act was so well received and appreciated by those present. Many tears flowed as God restored many hearts and brought reconciliation. Two of the most influential pastors in the Mitchell’s Plain area were also present. They came with mutual hurt as a result of past misunderstandings not being resolved. However, they left visibly touched and reconciled with one another.
These acts of reconciliation seemed to have spilled over to the rest of the week’s activities. At one of the 24/7 venues in Colorado Park, Mitchell’s Plain, a mother was praying the following Thursday evening for her alienated son caught in drug-addiction. She gave up hope on this child. However, later the evening the boy came to the corporate worship session. Then the next morning he was back and had a deep conversation with his mother. He wrote the following words in the journal at the prayer room…
“I thank the Lord for restoring the relationship with my mother. It was the most important thing I ever wanted from God. My life is about to grow in every area.”
21 x 24/7 Prayer Watches:
21 Groups across the city committed to praying 24/7 during the last week, 17- 24 March. About 80% of them were physical prayer rooms, and others were whatsapp groups. Here are some feedback from the various venues:
- Klapmuts 24/7(Fisiesegebedskamer in winkelkompleks)
“Ons was 26 bidders wat al die uregedek het. Almal het getuigoor hoe goedditvirhulle was endat die Here baiepraatoor die droogte wat Hygaanbenatgeestelikenfisies. Eenmiddag toe kom ‘n dwelmverslaafdemeisiena my toe. Sykom tot bekeringenverduidelikdatsyniemeerkantiknieen die Gees het met haargewerk. Sy het haar Ma se foongesteel, maar konditnieverkoopnie.Sy het toe die foonteruggegeevirhaar Ma engesêsymoethaarsaak met God regmaak.”Vyfmense het hulsaak met die Herereggemaakgedurende die paardae van intensiewegebed. Ons is so opgewondeook dag-en-nag-gebed!
(JoycelynCloete)
- Brackenfell 24/7 (Whatsapp Group)
“Ons was 64 bidders wat ongeveer 80% van die 7 dae se uregedek het. Sterkfokus op persoonlikeontwakingenheiligmaking.” (Hannelie Human)
- Kleinplaas 24/7 (fisiesegebedskamer in woonbuurt)
“Ons het sowat 80% van die week se uregedek, met korporatiewegebedsbyeenkomsteelkeaand, gefokus op herlewing. From the first evening, the Lord made His intentions known… One man received healing from back pain as he fell from a ladder during the week. Another brother felt release from depression during the worship. His whole countenance changed.” (Lizette van Rooyen)
- Retreat 24/7 (fisiesegebedskamer)
“We had about 45 individuals actively engaging in the prayer room. We also had an All-night Prayer during the Friday night before the event. Many prayers evolved around themes of revival, salvation & social justice. Prayed through various promises like Isaiah 43:18.19.” (Terence Phillips)
- Wine Cellar Picardie Paarl (fisiesegebedskamer)
“The Cross was the focal point, with a table to break bread and a table to write and draw and colour in. More than 50 people came to pray. Some families came to pray together and broke bread. Well over 100 hours were prayed and reading through the Psalms was powerful.” (Antoinetta Botha)
- Mitchell’s Plain 24/7 (fisiesegebedskamer)
“117 Hours filled in prayer seeking the Lord with 185 individuals visiting the prayer room. Praise Jesus! Did not think we could do this but it’s going to get better. This was the first time as a church and network that we have taken up such a task. There was lots of weeping as God healed and humbled us. The pastors that attended are all looking forward to when the watch resumes on the 13th May. My highlightwas when one young man in our community came home with me from the hairdresser, walked into the prayer watch and started to worship for more than an hour. He then returned the evening to continue in prayer and worship.”
(Colleen de Allende)