Pastors and prayer coordinators in the Southeastern California Conference united in prayer the weekend of October 12 to 14, in response to an invitation from Pacific Union Conference leaders.

At the request of Gerald Penick, SECC president, the weekend was dedicated to asking for God's blessings for individuals, families, churches and the world. It was a call to a deeper and richer relationship to Christ. It was about coming to Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and sharing Jesus with others. It was about praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Local churches created opportunities for prayer, praise and worship Friday night and Sabbath in each of their services. Host churches in each area of the conference opened their doors so members from surrounding churches could meet for corporate prayer on Sabbath afternoon. Sunday morning prayer breakfasts were times for testimonies and celebration.

The power of focused, united prayer became evident to those who prayed for evangelistic meetings. Four prayer groups from the Temecula Spanish church saw answers to their prayers and learned how to pray for those they wanted to bring to Christ.

Valley Fellowship in Rialto had a prayer team that prayed for individuals who were struggling to make decisions, and they saw results from their earnest efforts.

Fred Self, pastor of the Lucerne Valley church, reports that his prayer team, a group of six women, drove 15 to 20 miles to get to prayer meeting. In conjunction with the 10 days of prayer and fasting and studying God's Word, some of the women began visiting church members and praying with them.

"The people are experiencing God in their lives and have gained a new excitement for prayer," Self reports. "They ‘prayer walk' before church services and plan to create a prayer room."

Lola Vander Mei says that the prayer ministry of the Fullerton church is two-pronged: a 24-hour prayer chain and a prayer warriors group that meets each Sabbath. They have seen loved ones won to Christ, employment needs met, relationships mended, and emotional as well as physical healing.

Wilma Lovelace, prayer leader at the San Diego 31st Street church, says they have a prayer group of 30 members that prays 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They prayed for a child who was in a life-threatening coma, and the child was healed. As they see lives change, they have become believers in miracles.

Many of the constituents of Southeastern California Conference have prayed together that God will inspire them to be a part of a finished work in this part of the vineyard. He has already sent blessings and an abundance of His Spirit to those who participated in October's special prayer weekend.

SIDEBAR:

January: Month of Prayer

Gerald Penick, president, and the conference leadership team invite you to pray with them through the month of January for direction and revival so this conference can do its part to fulfill the gospel commission.

Plan now to be a prayer partner for this work. Look for information on the SECC Web site, http://secc.netadventist.org.