May 2005

Dear People of the Northstate Vision:

By the time you read this I will be leading several hundred Christians in declaring the whole Word of God over the city of Redding and preparing to preach the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Hindu people of Fiji. These activities are inextricably linked in the heart and mind of Our Lord – and hopefully in our hearts and minds as well.

Hindu people believe that this world is an illusion at best and a snare at worst. Everything they do and say and believe toward salvation is an effort to escape the grasp of materiality – of physicality. The concept of Nirvana, for example, means literally to achieve oblivion – non-existence – and leave the suffering of this world behind. They understand that suffering is all too real – and I will preach in the very real slums of Fiji.

What I will share with them is the reality of God in Christ inhabiting a body just as they do. I will speak to them that He reaches right into this entirely real world to heal and to create and to resurrect – people, land, and communities. The Holy Spirit will demonstrate in signs and wonders what I can only talk and pray about – albeit in the authority of His powerful Name. And finally I will offer to these people for whom God gave up His own life the abundant life He makes available to those who receive Him in the Son – abundant life that is lived in this world as well as in the next – abundant life that makes us more the existing individual persons we were created to be rather than less. I will bring them the Word and Person of God and I hope to return with more than a firsthand account of transformation in action.

Fiji is at present the most dramatic expression of Holy Spirit transformation in the world. But the move of God has left the Hindu community virtually untouched. Because they believe that no dramatic change can come from anything they do – including crying out to God with a passion born of hunger for His face – they receive what they anticipate. Many NorCal Christians behave the same way – even though we claim to believe otherwise. We limp along the status quo of our lives and punctuate our existence with occasional programs no larger than our unaided vision. I hope to loose in the Hindu slums such a hunger for God that they will cry out and He will come. I hope to return with that same provocation to hunger, cry out, and wait passionately until we receive Him. Proclaim the Word with me; hunger with me; pray with me for transformation.

CURRENTPrayNorthstateEVENTS

The Bible: Up Close and Personal takes place from Monday Morning, May 2, at 6:00AM until Thursday Noon, May 5. Readers and supporters will gather in the breezeway at Redding’s City Hall to declare the Word of the Lord in fifteen minute increments. Readers will report in fifteen minutes ahead of their scheduled time, check in with the site captain – who supervises and facilitates for one of the three hour blocks into which the marathon is divided – and simply pick up where the preceding reader leaves off at the appointed time. All of the reading slots are filled, but people are urged to come down to City Hall ( 777 Cypress Avenue) to pray and worship the Lord at any time during the three and a half days of declaration. The site captains will gladly assign reading positions to the praying people when – as sometimes happens – a reader does not show up. God’s peace will be experienced by all and the city will be blessed.

For those who come to pray – be sure that you are sowing in the opposite spirit of those issues God brings to mind. Pray positive blessings where issues occupy. Ask God to bring Holy Spirit transformation to the city and get glory for Himself. Be sure to avoid interference with traffic in the breezeway and do not initiate conversations with those not involved in the Bible reading. (Evangelism is for another time.) Give God praise for permitting the Word to be declared in such a public venue.

PrayNorthstate is cooperating with the Redding Transformation ministry in Operation Saturation. Events are planned to occupy each day between May 5 (TheNational Day of Prayer) and May 15 (The Global Day of Prayer). Following the community observance of the National Day of Prayer – from Noon to 1:00 on Thursday, May 5, PrayNorthstate is organizing teams of intercessors – each under the guidance of a team leader – to travel to the twenty-four spiritual and physical gates of the city of Redding. Christians of all denominational backgrounds who are active members of a congregation are invited to gather at the patio of City Hall – 777 CypressAvenue – at 4:00 PM. After introductions and brief instruction the teams will depart for their chosen gates. Each team will pray at its gate for the transformation of the city and the coming of the Kingdom and return to the patio by 5:30. After a brief commissioning service everyone will be released at 6:00.

Jim leads an evangelistic team to Fiji from May 15 (Pentecost Sunday) through May 22 (Trinity Sunday) and will preach and minister in the Hindu community. The trip is under the overall leadership of Ken Greenlee and Teach Us to Pray Ministries. Medical and construction teams will already be serving on site when Jim and his co-workers arrive. He hopes to meet with some of the principal figures and see some of the healed places in what is the most dynamic transformation experience in the world at this moment. More than that, he hopes to be God’s instrument in bringing new life to the Asian Indian segment of the population, which has yet to be touched by what God is doing in the Melanesian people of the island nation. And he hopes to bring the spark of God’s wonderful work back to Northern California and the rest of the state. The trip is planned to coincide with the Global Day of Prayer – a worldwide time of celebration and seeking of the Lord Jesus on Sunday, May 15.

WHAT’S UP IN THE NORTHSTATE

The vision for a Global Day of Prayer began with a handful of pastors in South Africa just a few years ago and it has spread to more than two hundred nations in 2005. Climaxing on May 15 – Pentecost Sunday – the event in Redding will include an interdenominational worship service at the Cascade Theatre on May 6, servant teams fanning out over the city, prayer tents at various locations, and a city-wide service in Library Park over the eleven-day span from May 5-15. Redding area activities are under the leadership of Redding Transformation Ministry. PrayNorthstate will lead prayer teams to the twenty-four (physical and spiritual) gates of the city on May 5.

In other parts of the region, groups observing the day from across the Body of Christ will gather in Eureka(Humboldt County) under the banner of Humboldt Healing Rooms. Oroville ( Butte County) will hold a community service day in honor of the late Pastor Don North on May 14. In Sacramento leaders from the region will pray at the state capitol under National Day ofPrayer auspices. Southern California observances include stadium gatherings in Orange County and Pasadena.

Healing Rooms are open and operating in Humboldt County under the direction of Gary and Jill Kennedy. They lead some forty volunteers under the cover of ten area churches. This movement originates in Spokane, Washington, under the leadership of Cal Pierce. He saw a vision while attending a Bethel Church, Redding. in which God called him to revive the healing ministry of early 20 th century apostle John G. Lake. There are now more than three hundred healing rooms spread across the country – with the greatest number in various parts of California. Volunteers are trained to soak clients in prayer for extended periods over whatever ailments or issues they bring to the rooms. Prayer teams come from across the spectrum of streams in the Body of Christ – evangelical, charismatic and/or liturgical – and are taught that faithfulness in prayer is far more important than giftedness or style. Healing Rooms operating in other parts of the region include Nevada and Sacramento Counties, and a new ministry will soon begin in the city of Oakland.

Pray California cooperated with gathered churches in Oakland for a pastors’ prayer summit April 18-19. Approximately forty Oakland pastors joined intercessors from their own churches and Pray Cal leaders from around the state to worship, bless the city, and prayer-walk the gates of the city. Teams went to twenty such gates – both spiritual and physical – to bless people, forgive sin, and pray for the transformation of the city into a province of the Kingdom of God.

Planning is underway – and nearly completed – for the second annual Pray CaliforniaSchool of Prayer to be held in Chico from September 29 through October 1. Chico’s Neighborhood Church will serve as the host site and keynote speakers are the internationally renowned Pastor Bill Johnson of Redding’s Bethel Church and Dr.Alistair Petrie of Partnership Ministries International. Johnson is the author When Heaven Invades Earth and The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind; his ministry networks with and supports some three hundred congregations of all denominations seeking transformation in their communities. Petrie’s credits include Transformed and Releasing Heaven on Earth; he is considered one of the foremost authorities on the dynamics of community transformation in the world. In addition to plenary and worship sessions the school will feature a selection of workshops taught by northern, southern, and central California regional leaders – including PrayNorthstate’s Jim Wilson. Watch this newsletter or the Pray California web site for details.

In Shasta County Redding’s Bethel Church is holding their first School of the Prophets. Prophecy as both gift and office is enjoying a remarkable resurgence in the Body and this school will seek to put the fire in the fireplace – so to speak. The school will be offered from May 31 to June 3 at a cost of $250.00 per person. Speakers include recognized prophets Kris Valloton, and Nancy Cobb; worship leader and teacher Dan McCollam; and Apostle and Senior Pastor Bill Johnson. Only those recognized by their congregational leadership as called to this office may attend and the school will cover such topics as how to verify authentic prophecy and how to deal with the inauthentic, developing a community culture that draws God’s gifts and greatness from people, and how to keep feet on the ground while the eyes are in heaven. Registration deadline is May 24 and information is available at 530-246-6000 ex 1311 or by e-mail at assistant2kris@aol.com.

Also in Shasta County, the Living Water Foursquare Church will offer Springfest 2005 at the Anderson River Park on Saturday, May 21, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This annual event is intended to bless the larger community and will offer music from bands such as Justified BC, Genesis 14, and Appointed. There will be free food, a jumping house, face painting, a puppet show, and live music videos. Contact the church at 530-365-1897 for information on attending – or staging your own community-blessing event – there is no charge for participation.

Again in Shasta County, Faith Assembly Church is hosting a Health Fair for the community on Saturday, May 21, at their location at 9585 Airport Road in Redding. Organizers Victor and Cynthia Ogrey call the theme of this event Spring Into Health: Mind, Body and Soul. There will be free health screenings and information about wellness – across the board. Contact for information is available at vcogrey@yahoo.com.

And still in Shasta County – Outreach America is organizing Christian Music Night at the County Fair on June 16. The featured performer will be Rebecca St. James at 8:00 PM at the US Bank Grandstands and admission is included with the fair admission ticket. (Call 530-222-3803 for information.) Christian Music Nights at County Fairs are becoming increasingly popular in the region as they were pioneered by a group from Calvary Chapel in Red Bluff (Tehama County Fair) in 2003 and the challenge was taken up by Anderson’s Gateway Fellowship in 2004. As a regional ministry Outreach America is able to pull together the broadest possible participation of the Body and Pastor Ivan Richesen has graciously passed the baton to OA leaders Pete and Suzie Lorenzen this year. They can provide tips on establishing these nights in other counties.

UPCOMINGPraynorthstateEVENTS

The Intercessors’ Summit returns to the Northcoast in June. Arcata First BaptistChurch will host their second summit from Friday, June 17, (7-9:30 PM) through Saturday, June 18 (8:30-5:00) in their location right next door to Humboldt StateUniversity. Saturday’s breakfast and lunch are included in the $20.00 registration fee and participants will be trained for the Prayer Vanguard and Lighthouses of Prayer ministries. This will also provide an opportunity to hear about Jim’s recently concluded trip to Fiji. Phone 707-822-0367 for information or to register.

WHAT THE COORDINATORS ARE UP TO

It’s Government Month at PrayNorthstate! On May 3 Jim leads teams to prayerwalk the Shasta County Board of Supervisors’ and the Anderson City Council Chambers. (He also addresses the Anderson Council at their May 3 meeting.) On May 4 he leads a team to bless the Redding City Council Chambers. On Thursday, May 12, Jim will lead a team – under the auspices of Pray California – to the state capitol where they will pray for the state in one of the senate hearing rooms and celebrate the Lord’s Supper in the offices of their host – Senator George Runner. This is Jim’s sixth trip to the capitol in the past eight months and the third that he has led. He will preach the Gospel on at least three different occasions during his time in Fiji between May 15 and 22.

PRAYNORTHSTATE RADIO and TV FOR MAY

PrayNorthstate Radio opens May with Pastor Rob and Samantha Schaeffer as they discuss their outreach to the Anderson-Cottonwood community called Springfest on May 7. Foothill and Enterprise High School students Adam Proveaux and Stephanie Grabreck will guest on May 14 to talk about the outreach to their own generation in the form of a concert of Christian music and witness. Roberto and Judith D’Amico will be featured – along with their tutoring-the-whole-child ministry known as Abba’s Child – on May 21. We wrap up the month on May 28 with PastorMike and Kim Harman – Christian bikers who share the gospel with other bikers on Redding’s Market Street and in their new church plant.

PrayNorthstate TV will feature Foothill and Shasta High School students Adam Proveaux and Chelsea Sullivan and their effort – with a few of their friends – to bring revival to teens who already know Christ and transformation to those who do not on May2. Pete and Lynda Bowers of Clearsound – a ministry of inner healing – will guest on May 9. Sergeant Scott Mayberry and Chaplain Cyndee Thomas of the Redding Police Department will describe the special difficulties of pasturing police officers on May 16. On May 23 the focus shifts to pure worship as Brian Johnson – musicaldirector for Genesis Generation – comes on the program. We complete the month on May 30 with Skip and Penny Tyler – executive and program director respectively – of RRR Boys’ Ranch.

PrayNorthstate Radio is heard every Saturday Morning at 8:00 on AM 1400 KQMS. Jim is also a periodic contributor to KVIP’s Saturday Magazine, heard at 1:00 PM on FM 98.1 and AM 540 KVIP. PrayNorthstate TV can be seen each Monday Morning at 6:30 AM on Fox Channel 30/Cable 2.

PrayNorthstate PRAYER LIST

Please pray for the Board of PrayNorthstate: Jim and Diana Wilson, Dr. Andre VanMol, Supervisor Mollie Wilson, Charles Davidson, Charlie Harper, and Frank DiSalvo. Please pray for the television ministry of PrayNorthstate and for the radio and TV sponsors: Taylor Motors, OpenSystem Imaging, Hue and Cry Security, Dr. Andre Van Mol, B& T Satellite, New Song Music, Nicolette Glass, Carl Van Dyke Allstate Insurance, Destiny Christian Fellowship, FIT Therapy Center, Children First Foster Family Agency, Tac(o) the Town Tacqueria and Nor-Cal LeavittInsurance. Pray for Imago Dei Ministries and for Pray California.

Please pray for Emmaus Way Ministries of Tel Aviv, Israel, and for Israel. Pray for missionaries Bill and Lori Gardner (Kenya), Colleen Schafer (Mexico), David and Tovah Potter (Mozambique), Teresa Hancock (Middle East), Eric and Linda Zane (New Guinea), Jennifer Ago (Albania), Bob Newell (Philippines), Erin and WendyO’Neil (Northern Ireland), and Tugsuu and Gantuul (Mongolia and China). Pray for the KingdomInstitute School of Business, and the Hignell Group.

HOUSEKEEPING DEPARTMENT

Correspondence – and donations – may be addressed to PrayNorthstate, P. O. Box 493743, Redding, CA 96049-3743. Call us at 530-941-3470. Our web site is www.praynorthstate.org; our e-mail is praynorthstate@charter.net.