LIVERPOOL - famous around the world as birthplace of The Beatles, home of Liverpool Football Club (playing Milan in next week's European cup final) and inspiration for songs like 'Ferry across the Mersey'. Now God is doing something amazing with the churches of the city and 24-7 has a key part to play. "There's a strong sense that there is a 'God-thing' happening here in Liverpool right now..." says Anna Beamont from Merseyfest. She continues: "There is a vibe going around that we are on the verge of a special move of God. There is a sudden incredible sense of optimism all across the city of Liverpool, that anyone living here could not fail to notice - and it’s definitely not just football fever! In a city which has historically suffered more than it’s fair share of problems and bad press, a great change is happening, the tide is turning and things are starting to shift in the spiritual."

 

As over 200 churches partner together across the area, in the approach of Merseyfest, Liverpool’s biggest ever urban mission (August 14-21st ), God is turning up the spiritual temperature in an incredible way. If you took part in last year’s Soul in the City, or 2003’s Festival: Manchester, then you will have already experienced first hand the massive impact made when groups of Christians work together to re-build local communities and actively share God’s love. From improving deprived areas, to building work and sports events; from crime reduction efforts with the local police, to drop-in cafes and counseling services; from environmental clear ups to holiday camps for kids, Merseyfest will provide over 100,000 hours of voluntary community service to Merseyside, creating a dynamic example of an active Christian message that actually makes a difference in the world.

There is so much prayer and cross-church unity happening all across the city and region at the moment, and God is restoring a fresh sense of faith and expectation as His hand of blessing is so evidently upon the city. The start of June also sees the launch of a massive, 6 month, non-stop 24-7 Prayer chain, passing across many partnering churches to pray for Merseyfest, but also into the ongoing, long-term vision for complete physical and spiritual transformation which the event will build into.

Several years ago, it was prophesied that Liverpool would win the Capital of Culture 2008 bid, and that what would begin to happen in the physical would also mirror what is happening in the spiritual, as Christians really push into God through prayer. More and more we’re finding this to be true in every area of city life. As whole areas are being renovated and re-built in the natural, we’re also finding an increased openness to the Gospel, people getting saved in Sunday services at a rate we have never experienced before, crime figures dropping in areas where focused prayer is taking place in conjunction with information from drugs units and crime prevention teams, plus real unity amongst different denominations of churches.

God is already doing some fantastic things, and the temperature is rising all the time! Over 200 local churches are now involved in running locally sustainable projects, and the Merseyside Police are encouraging their off-duty officers to join Merseyfest’s volunteers on the Afternoon Session ‘projects of kindness’, after being so impressed by the good feedback from Greater Manchester’s Police regarding Festival: Manchester and it’s long-term impact into improving trouble spots.

There’s just a massive attitude shift and an amazing sense of positivity as God’s blessing and hope is being restored all across our broken city. This week, 24-7’s James Bullock (Ibiza Team) and friends, who have been running a club night in Liverpool over the past year as a means to connect with the scene, are blitzing the city centre with club flyers and posters for their next night – it’s a prophetic message of hope from the church in this city  – “We Love Liverpool”

What is happening here is awesome, we really believe we are on the brink of something big, but we don’t want to stop short of anything less than God’s total transformation of our city. Stand with us by lifting up Liverpool in prayer, and consider coming along and getting involved in August. We really need your help!

Find out more about Merseyfest and book your place now at: http://www.merseyfest.com/
Or call our hotline on: 0151 282 8054