June - August 2005

Dear People of the Northstate Vision:

Paul tells us that we are a new creation in Christ Jesus in 2 Cor. 5:16-20. But he also exhorts us to walk the walk of new creation by imitating our Lord – by becoming ambassadors of the reconciliation won for us on the Cross. That is why Diana and I are going to Sweden – but it is much more the reason why PrayNorthstate exists today.

We are a ministry that seeks to facilitate consistent, concerted and focused prayer for the Holy Spirit transformation of Northern California into a province of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is described in Matthew 11:2-6 as a place in which the dead are raised, the blind and the deaf and the sick restored, the poor hear good news and no one takes offense at the Risen Lord Jesus as He is revealed in Scripture, the History of the Body, and reasoned reception of His current activities. But we live in a region – and nation – polarized in many dimensions. Where Transformation has broken out in nearly three hundred locations in the world it has always been preceded by the coming together of former enemies united by a common and desperate hunger for God. It is furthered – after it has begun – by specific acts of reconciliation between ethnic communities, regions, denominations, generations and the like. It is completed by an ongoing commitment and understanding that God’s vision for the larger community comes ahead of parochial concerns of any kind. This is the pattern God has established and there is no other.

Yet when people – including some leaders of the Body – question our activities it is always in terms of, “Why can’t you just content yourself with organizing prayer; why all of this reconciliation stuff?” The answer is clear and simple. In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus says, “Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar and go – be reconciled to your brother – then come and offer your gift.” Therefore means “what you are there for.”

Are the people who have anything against us more holy, more beloved than we are? Of course not – all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and we are quite vocal about that wherever we go. But God makes it clear that we are to remove the log from our own eye before attempting eye surgery on our neighbors. He is clear that He means to transform indigenous communities first – but as first fruits only. We go to Sweden embracing this reality and hoping to bring the seed of transformation home with us.

CURRENTPrayNorthstateEVENTS

Internationally acclaimed Chef Cal DeMercurio will host a benefit dinner for PrayNorthstate at DeMercurio’s Restaurant on Hartnell in Reddingon Monday, July 18, at 6:00PM. Tickets are $40.00 per person and must be reserved through PrayNorthstate – send reservations and checks to the address on the masthead. The dinner will be a five-course feast of Swedish dishes and would cost $50.00 on any other occasion at this world-class restaurant. Three quarters of the cost is tax deductible and all who come will be helping us to attend the WorldChristian Gathering on Indigenous Peoples in Kiruna, Sweden. Jim will speak about how God has moved through our ministry and our hopes and visions for the future. There is seating for one hundred and twenty people and reservations should be made ASAP. We thank Cal DeMercurio more than we can say for his generous support. Checks should be marked “Benefit Dinner” or “Special Travel Fund” and the names of those who will attend should be included – receipts for tax purposes will be given at the dinner – or by return mail for those who make a donation but cannot attend. We thank those who participate for your help and your love. Call us at 530-941-3470 for info.

PRAYNORTHSTATE RADIO and TV FOR SUMMER

PrayNorthstate Radio kicks off the summer season on July 2 with a return visit from Mike and Kim Harman of The Gathering to discuss disciplining the heart. On July 9 Diana Wilson – hardly a guest – will talk about Sweden and ministry in our region. July 16 features Dr. Todd Royce, Denise Young and faith-based chiropractic care. On July 23 Bob Newell and Mike Logan share their experiences in short-term missions. July 30 features Tehama County Vanguard leadersFrancis and Ida Avoriye. August 6 launches with Christine Lewin, Enterprise High School Administrator. EnterpriseClub Ignite founder Owen Reinhardt will join the president of Foothill High School’s Christian Club – Adam Proveaux – for our August 13 broadcast. Deborah Stevens and Megan Hornbuckle share their multi-national mission experiences on August 20, and we wrap up the month – and the summer – with Chaplain Dave Honey of Shasta CountyJail and the upcoming 911 commemoration – on the August 27 broadcast.

PrayNorthstate TV begins July with missionaries to Ireland Erin and Wendy O’Neil on July 4. Bonnie Acosta and Roberta Wright of Child Evangelism Fellowship will guest on July 11, followed by The Rev. Peter Hanson – leader of prayer for life in Butte County – on July 18. We round out the month on July 25 with Laurie Damoth and Roxanne Korte Rukmar of Operation Saturation. August 1 finds youth pastors Banning Liebscher and Lance Jacobs in the studio, followed by business leader GlennWhite on August 8. YWAM leaders Dale and Shirley Harrison will join us for Part II on August 15 and Pastor Adrian Hills will guest on August 22. Carenet Pregnancy Center’s Sharre Littrell completes the summer on August 29.

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/Cable 2 at 6:30 AM.

WHAT’S UP IN THE NORTHSTATE

The second annual Pray California School of Prayer will be held at Neighborhood Church of Chico from Thursday, September 29 through Saturday, October 1. Keynote speakers will be Dr. Alistair Petrie of Partnership Ministries and Pastor BillJohnson of Bethel Church, Redding, and president of Northern California RenewalFellowship. The theme of this year’s event is Faces of Transformation. Workshops will feature practical dimensions of supernatural strategies – titles will include Transformation of the Entertainment Industry; Prophetic Activities with Impact; and Transformation on a High School Campus. Presenters will be from multiple regions of the state; all will have practical and pragmatic fruit to share. Registration is $30.00 per person and participants can call Neighborhood Church at 530-343-6006 or register on the Pray Cal web site at www.praycal.org.

Keynote Speaker Alistair Petrie has worked with George Otis Jr. for many years and is a world renowned authority on Holy Spirit Transformation of cities. He is a prolific author best known for Transformed! and Releasing Heaven on Earth. Keynoter BillJohnson is a world class authority on building a revival culture in a city; he is the senior facilitator of a network of more than three hundred churches seeking revival that crosses denominational lines and is a fellowship of mutual love and respect. His published works include When Heaven Invades Earth and The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind.

The Journey of the Cross is underway under the auspices of Pray California. This journey of people of prayer and a nine-foot cross mounted on the back of a truck is part of the concerts of prayer being conducted county by county throughout the state. The cross is visiting each of the twenty-one missions, where it is displayed during prayer and praise – and acts of protocol and reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants, Immigrant and Native Peoples – and as a symbol of unity in the Gathered people of Christ in these strategic locations at the foundations of California. This journey will be completed at Sonoma’s mission on July 14-17, having begun at San Diego’s mission.

The Sacramento Healing Rooms will visit the state capitol to pray on the grounds on the third Saturday in July – July 16 – to pray for God to bless the minds and hearts of all legislators and state officials. PrayNorthstate made a visit on June 30 as the guests of Senator William Morrow – we prayed inside a senate hearing room as we do bi-monthly. It is of crucial importance that we pray for the legislators now as a new same sex marriage bill has been re-introduced into the legislature. The bill is AB 849 and senate hearings are scheduled for the July 12. Prayers should be in thegrace of our Lord – blessing and healing for those involved – and not combative or belligerent.

In Shasta County – The Jesus Culture event will take place at Redding’s Bethel Church from July 20-22. The annual event seeks to encourage what organizers call a revival culture in youth leaders – those who work with youth and those who are youth – from across the nation. This culture is simply a lifestyle in which the power of God is expected and normative – on earth as it is in heaven. Participants will attend general sessions and workshops punctuated by trips to the streets of Redding to practice the presence of God in the people they encounter. Speakers include Todd Bentley, Jennifer Toledo, and Banning Liebscher. For information or to register call the church at 530-246-6000 or go online at www.ibethel.org.

The Christian Music Night at the Shasta County Fair was a great success – despite a below par turnout due to the rain that pelted the fair for three of its four days. Rebecca St. James shared her music and testimony with several hundred people – about thirty of whom gave their hearts to Jesus that night. It was announced that the Butte CountyFair will be the third NorCal county to feature a Christian music night next year – as organizers have seen the benefit to their attendance of having these nights in Shasta and Tehama Counties. On top of everything the Lord made a little miracle when – in response to intercession – He stopped the rain ten minutes before Rebecca went on and began it again twenty minutes after she finished. She mentioned the fact during her performance but only those people who were willing to come out in the rain for Jesus saw Abba’s provision for them – and that is worth remembering.

In Siskiyou County – the annual A Day In the Son festival is scheduled for Saturday, July 2, in Mt. Shasta. The featured musical performer for 2005 is Randy Stonehill – at 6:00 PM – and local and regional Christian bands will perform and witness their faith all day long. The event is free although there is a charge for food. Organizers are from the gathered churches of Mt. Shasta and the Coffee Connection and the event is held at the municipal park next to Mt. Shasta High School.

Also in the northernmost county – Sixties folk icon Barry Maguire (The Eve ofDestruction) appeared at Yreka’s Community Theatre on June 4 to share his music and testimony to the goodness of God. Maguire rode the crest of sixties iconoclasm into sexual and other addictions and received healing only when he met the Lord of Life. Today he is in full-time ministry. The Continentals – a troupe of young people from all over the country – also will appear at the Community Theatre on July 7 at 7:00PM. They are actually eighteen different ministry groups who minister, pray, and call attention to various missions around the world, choosing one for their annual focus. This year their project is the ongoing scourge of leprosy – and God’s answer to it.

We include these kinds of notices in the newsletter – even when they have already taken place – as an encouragement to leaders all over the region who may wonder if it is possible – and cost effective – to bring in iconal figures like Rebecca St. James and Barry Maguire to venues like Redding and Yreka for the promotion of the Kingdom. The answer is an obvious and resounding YES in Him who strengthens us in all things.

In Butte County – regional pastors are gathering on the third Thursday of each month at the YWAM base (Youth With a Mission) at Richardson Springs to pray for God to overwhelm Californiawith His grace, His love, and His vision for our state. Pastors are coming from as far away as Grass Valley and Reddingto simply come before the Father on behalf of California. The gathering is called out by Pastor Don Moore of Grass Valley and he says they will keep showing up until God shows off His power.

UPCOMING PrayNorthstate EVENTS

Jim and Diana will lead an intercessors’ summit at First Nazarene Church of Redding on Friday and Saturday, September 16 and 17. The summit – fully titled Worship and Warfare: A Summit for Intercessors – is held from 7:00 to 9:30 on Friday Evening and from 8:30 to 5:00 on Saturday. Participants learn the concepts of sacramental outbursts, making a spiritual highway in the desert, and warfareby honor in a manner that is understandable regardless of which stream in the Church one calls home. They gain hands-on experience in the ministries of Prayer Vanguard and Lighthouses of Prayer and they learn about protocol and how God has left His fingerprints on many cultures and clans so that Jesus can be recognized when He comes. They are commissioned for these ministries in the course of the Lord’s Supper – celebrated with any pastors present co-presiding. Registration is $20.00 per person and includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Call 530-223-0454 for information or to register.

As in all of the summits the training will be offered from 7:00 to 9:30 PMon the Friday Evening and from 8:30 to 5:00 on the Saturday. Breakfast and lunch for Saturday are included in the $20.00 registration cost and participants will be trained and practiced in the ministries of Prayer Vanguard and Lighthouses of Prayer. Call the church at 530-223-0454 for information or to register.

WHAT THE COORDINATORS ARE UP TO

Jim will preach at the Gathering on Sunday, July 3, at 6:00 PM. He travels to Etna/Scotts Valley on July 17 to preach at the Etna Berean Church for their Sunday Morning services at 10:00 AM. He will be speaking at the benefit dinner at DeMercurio’s Restaurant on Hartnell in Reddingat 6:00 PM on Monday, July 18, and he preaches at RiverValley Foursquare on Saturday, July 23 at 5 and 7 PM. Jim and Diana will lead special Prayer Vanguards at Mountain Chapel in Weaverville on Sunday, July 10, at the location for Camp Eagle Flight near Shingletown on Saturday, July 23, and at the Salvation Army in Red Bluff – site of the soon-to-be opened satellite office of Carenet Pregnancy Center on Sunday July 24. They take a much needed 10-day vacation break prior to leaving for Swedenon August 4.

Jim and Diana will attend the 6 th World Christian Gathering on Indigenous Peoples from August 7 through 14. They will remain in Europe an extra two weeks at their own expense – because we consider this vacation – to visit the border country of Scotland, which is Jim’s ancestral homeland. While there they will meet with Pastor StevenAnderson, who leads a ministry similar to that of PrayNorthstate and who arranged their stay after they were put in touch by mutual friend Dr. Alistair Petrie. They have been invited to attend a city-wide festival in Glasgow on August 28-29 and Jim has been asked to pray over the city of Glasgow as part of that festival. They return home on August 31 and will take a few days to recover from jet lag and “all that vacation” before launching the Fall ministry season for PrayNorthstate.

PrayNorthstate PRAYER LIST

Please pray forPrayNorthstate Radio and TV, for revival in the whole Body of Christ, for Genesis Generation TV Project, and for Pray California to become the catalyst for unity that it is called to become, for the leaders of California in government, education, business, the arts, and in the Church to become filled with God’s vision for the state – and please pray Matthew 11:2-6over California. Pray for your county as Concert of Prayer arrives – and for the School of Prayer coming to Chico.

Please pray financial stability for PrayNorthstate and for the funding for Sweden. Pray also for Anderson-Cottonwood Christian Leadership, Northern California Renewal Fellowship, the Weed Prayer Association, the Northern and Southern Siskiyou County MinisterialAssociations, the Tehama County Ministerium, Pray Chico, Happy Camp, Live Oak and Gridley pastors, and the Prayer Vanguard ministries now operating in fifteen communities. Pray for Capitol Prayer Net and Pray California, the youth pastors networks, for Outreach America, and for the school chaplaincy program of Youth for Christ. Pray for Enterprise High School’sParenting Program, the Northern California Burn Foundation, and God’s vision to raise ten thousand intercessors across Northern California to pray for His Kingdom.

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.