Steadfast for our Cities By Jon Petersen

Published: April 16th, 2009

All across the world the Lord is calling his church back to unity and to prayer.  Prayer without unity doesn’t reach heaven; unity without prayer doesn’t change the earth.  The body of Christ is coming together in many cities of our world to pray.  Although much of this effort is embryonic, loose and somewhat individualistic, it is an encouraging step towards the goal that the church become not only one in heart but God’s emissary between heaven and earth for souls and for the brokenness in cities and nations.

Church unity is not a new concept; in fact it could be called a return to an early model of Christianity.  Most of Paul’s epistles were written to the church in a city – one unified church with many parts.  This is somewhat unlike what we see in most places today.  More commonly we have many local churches and not much cohesive or affectionate relationship between them.   The need for citywide prayer is not merely a good idea; it is a key component in reforming the church to once again become “steadfast in prayer in one accord.” (Acts 1:14).   These two pillars of church function (prayer and unity) were in place in Jerusalem on the day the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples.  A new temple of flesh was established that day adjacent to a temple of stone.   Spirit filled and on a mission the movement we call Christianity was born and from that foundation propelled across the globe.

At the core of 24-7 Prayer has always been a heart for unity and agreement.  Creative 24-7 Prayer spaces have given people the freedom to pray in many styles, using many traditions and their own creative expression.  From the beginning of this movement of night and day prayer we’ve seen Christians agree that crying out to Jesus is our only hope, when agreement was hard to find elsewhere.  From the first year of our journey people were dreaming about how they could unite their whole city in 24-7 prayer.

But here’s the thing… we cannot create a House of Prayer in a city, there’s no need – the church in the city IS the house of prayer for the nations and we only realize that house-ness by being “steadfast in prayer” and “in one accord.”  Repentance and reconciliation between God’s people make our prayer effective and the Spirit come in fullness to His temple. (Acts 1:14, 2:1).  We need not look for structural unity, but a spirit of oneness through our salvation in Christ together, “burning in our hearts for one another,” forgiving one another and in that spirit pray in agreement for heavens purposes to invade our hurting cities.

Once the city of Amsterdam had only ten churches, small and fragmented.  It wasn’t until after a dramatic season of repentance and unity 20 years ago, that this European city saw an explosion of new growth. Pastors, leaders and praying saints have seen some dramatic answers to prayer including a significant reduction in the infamous Red Light District.

Across the Atlantic only six churches in Victoria, Canada dedicated themselves to prayer from Easter to Pentecost last year.  On the day they began to pray together, nearly 35 churches signed on to share the blessing.  They continue to meet, increase the prayer base and reach out to the spiritual and social needs of the city together.  It’s amazing to see what happens when the church realises the power and potential of standing together.

We are many parts in a city, many denominations and communities, but we must remember we are one body.  We should not be able to say of the other “I don’t need you” while God should be able to say there is “no division in this Body.”  (I Cor 12:21,25) Citywide prayer is blossoming around our world and transformation is beginning to be seen in every continent.  The Lord is utterly committed to see His own prayer answered, “Father, that they may be one, that the world might know that you sent me.”  

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