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Dear People of the Northstate Vision:
We are home and what a story we must share about favor in the Lord, the unleashing of His glory all over the world, and His strategy for the present emergency in our land! They do all go together under one banner, for He says in Jeremiah 29:11-13, “I know the plans I have for you – plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
If the worldwide Transformation movement has taught us anything (confirmed by multiple prophetic words) it is that God’s plans to prosper His world begin with the indigenous peoples. Nearly all of the some three hundred sites of community transformation to date have been in indigenous communities, regions, and even nations. If the Word of God teaches us anything it is that we cannot fail to find Him when we seek Him with whole hearts – as Jeremiah says above – and that is called repentance. It means that people – in the majority churches and the indigenous churches – share in the human legacy of sin from the practice of shamanism to the displacement and abuse of tribes and nations we all encounter in our history. No one is innocent and all are called upon to remove the log from our own eye before attempting surgery on the eye of our brother. If my message (see PrayNorthstate Envoyage insert) delivered at the World Christian Gathering on Indigenous Peoples can be summed up quickly it is this: We cannot fulfill our destiny through identification with our history – but we can fulfill our history – our original call from God – through devotion to our destiny – the resurrected call of God. This applies to my tribe and your tribe and every tribe without exception.
What has that to do with flooding in the Gulf states and people crying out for relief? We knew nothing of Katrina until we landed in Chicago. But we know this then and now: There is sin in New Orleans that evades God’s presence and protection – from refusing to repair levees to the orgies of Mardi Gras – and those same sins permeate our homes – from our own unrepaired levees to our harboring of porn and abortion mills and alternatives to authentic families. There is also a Lord who died and rose for us. We saw great favor and great glory in Europe as we – and those who partnered with us – prayed and stepped out in faith when God answered, whether in commandment or provision. His ways do not change. Pray daily, respond radically to His response, and pray some more.
CURRENTPrayNorthstateEVENTS
PrayNorthstate partners with Regent Broadcasting, Good News Rescue Mission, Shasta County Jail Chaplaincy, and the Deputy Sheriff’s Association in the 2005 September 11 Commemoration from the steps of the Shasta County Courthouse. The event will be from Noon to 1:00 PM on Thursday, September 8; it features Donna White’s music and a sharing of both faith and patriotism from speakers Jim Wilson, Chaplain Dave Honey, Supervisor Linda Hartman, Anderson Mayor Les Baugh and a speaker TBA as we go to press. Please join us to praise God and bless our nation.
Jim and Diana 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 spiritual highways, and warfareby honor. They gain practice in the ministries of Prayer Vanguard and Lighthouses of Prayer as they learn abouthow God has left His fingerprints on many peoples so that Jesus can be recognized when He comes. It is a short course in spiritual warfare with heads in the clouds and feet planted firmly on the ground. Registration is $20.00 per person and includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Call 530-223-0454 for information or to register.
PRAYNORTHSTATE RADIO and TV FOR SEPTEMBER
PrayNorthstate Radio begins the Fall season with Allegra Weaver and Katrina Eliante of Child Evangelism Fellowship on September 3. Just out of high school themselves, they share fire to reach children with Jesus. September 10 we remember 911 as we feature Vietnam vet and local pastor Wendell McGowan. Sharre Littrell and Rain Mahan – directors of Carenet Pregnancy Center and Lifelight respectively – will join us on September 17 to share their plans for partnering in their efforts to fund their ministries over the coming year – this kind of partnering is both a blessing and a witness for the Body. In the same spirit we welcome Holly Parks and Sabrina Charleson on September 24 – VISTA volunteers who are serving at Carenet Pregnancy Center.
PrayNorthstate TV spends September with a best-of series – another word for re-runs, but they are programs we are most proud of – getting a second look because the trip to Europe precluded taping for the month. On September 5 AdamProveaux and Chelsea Sinclair will share plans for a youth evangelism event run entirely by youth. On September 12 the Rev. Peter Hansen will tell of his ministry at the Chico abortion clinic – a ministry of prayer and blessing (only) through which God has cut the abortion rate in that city by more than 60%!Greg and Shelley Dawson reveal what it is like to be an intercessor couple of totally different styles and giftings and a totally united calling on September 19, and Loni McIntosh – who trains and leads a street ministry in both Chico and Redding at the ripe age of 22 – joins us on September 26.
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.
“Faces of Transformation”
The 2005 California School of Prayer
Where and When: Neighborhood Church of Chico is located at 2801 Notre Dame Boulevard in Chico. The conference will be held from Thursday, September 29 through Saturday, October 1. Call or e-mail Karen Vercruse at 530-895-8542 or headquartershous@aol.com for information.
What: Workshop presenters from around California will discuss real life experiences with community transformation; what it looks like, how it happens, practical applications, how to pray effectively, and updates from around the world. Keynote speakers Dr. Alistair Petrie and the Rev. Bill Johnson are internationally acclaimed experts on Community Transformation and Building a Revival Culture respectively.
Registration: On-line at www.praycal.org , by mail, or at the door. The cost is $30.00 per person or $50.00 per married couple. (Add late fee of $10 at the door.)
Accommodations: A discount rate of $79/per room/2 queen beds has been arranged with Best Western Heritage Inn (530) 894-8600, ask for Group Block #180563. Other lodging: Marriott Courtyard (530) 894-6699, Oxford Suites (530) 899-9090, and a Christian B&B: Music Express Inn (530) 893-9833.
THURSDAY Sept 29, 2005
5 PM Registration
6 PM Worship and Prayer
7 PM Welcome and General Session #1
FRIDAY Sept 30, 2005 & Saturday Oct 1, 2005
8 AM Registration 8 AM Registration
9 AM General Session #2 9 AM General Session #4
10:45 AM Workshop A 10:30 AM Concert of Prayer & Praise
12 noon Lunch 12 noon Lunch with your region
1:30 and 3:00 Pastors’ Tracks
and Workshop B
6 PM Worship and Prayer
7 PM General Session #3
If you wish to register by mail please send this page to Pray California, 10010 Jones Ave. Durham, CA 95938 and mark “Conference” on the check memo.
Name(s)____________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________
Phone (day)____________________(evening)___________________________
Check off Single Person_____Married Couple______
Buying Box Lunch(es) for Saturday (add $7.00 per person)
PRAYNORTHSTATE ENVOYAGE
Many of you prayed for us and for our conviction that Jim was to deliver a message of both promise and challenge to the World Christian Gathering on Indigenous Peoples despite the fact that he is not a recognized leader in this worldwide fellowship. Some know that three weeks prior to our departure we received an e-mail from the organizers asking us if the Holy Spirit had given us a message for the group. This was a major league miracle given by word of knowledge. (We were the only conference participants asked that question.) Jim was assigned a place on the last full day of the conference.
We arrived in Kiruna, Sweden, on Saturday, August 6 after an all-night flight from San Francisco. From the Grand Entry that opened the conference on Sunday Afternoon to the closing service that included Holy Communion on the following Sunday we saw God’s grace poured out in a cascade of praise to Him, loving Christian community, and the hard work of reconciliation and forgiveness where it was needed. At early morning prayer meeting on opening day Diana shared her vision that the Lord was orchestrating a great old fashioned barn raising through the gathered peoples; it was received by the leadership and we saw God fulfilling it throughout the conference time. At least three speakers – who knew nothing of what God had laid on Jim – were obviously convicted in the same way by the Lord we share, as their addresses paved the road for his message.
Following Jim’s address calling for repentance from all of us a cross was set in the middle of our meeting place. People were then invited to repent and give and receive forgiveness through the shared tying of knots in a Sami reindeer lasso that was draped over the cross. People responded to that opportunity over several hours. That lasso – holding forty to fifty knots – was given to the next conference organizers as a passing of the baton and a promise that this process will continue. A fire was kindled to symbolize our mutual renunciation of shamanism on behalf of all of the peoples we represent.
The way we tell the story sounds as though this were all about us and what the Lord did with us, because we are reporting to our supporters in this necessarily abbreviated form. Actually, this is about so much more, as the gathering included more than three hundred people from many tribes and nations spanning the world. The leadership – Hakon and Marie, Arild and Bronhild, and a steering committee that met and prayed daily – displayed humble and spirit-filled hearts seeking God’s Kingdom with no thought of agendas. They displayed both faith and courage every step. Each speaker and every worshipper displayed that same heart; we were overwhelmed by the love we received and the Spirit we shared in those eight wonderful days. We heard great teaching from people like Terry LeBlanc (Micmac), passion and vision mingled with sorrow from Rod Wilson (Cheyenne); the sacrifice of Phil (Australian Aboriginal adoptee) as he gave his most prized possession to a new brother, and a magnificent story of mutual repentance leading to peace from Sam Pithka (Athabascan). Many testified of miraculously received gifts that enabled them to come to Sweden. We will never forget the friendship kindled with folks as disparate as the Sami leaders Hakon and Marie, Pio Arce and his family and team (the Philippines) and the whole crew from Australia. We saw and can testify that God is on His horse and on His way – promised and deposited in Kiruna.
WHAT’S UP IN THE NORTHSTATE
Many churches and ministries in Northern California are moving to give aid and prayer to the people impacted by Hurricane Katrina. In PrayNorthstate we are asking everyone to pray – every day – for the meeting of immediate needs and for a spirit of peace and compassion to overwhelm those who have been already been overwhelmed by the disaster. Pray also for the teams from our region who are ministering on the ground in the gulf states as you read this. (We recommend gifts of money through your local church or Salvation Army.) Pray Luke 10:1-9 and give as you are led.
On our return from Europe we read that AB 849 passed the state senate. This measure will – if it becomes law – legalize same-sex marriage in California and have a destructive impact on all of us – hetero and homosexual alike. It will be voted upon in the assembly within days. Please pray that God’s will is done and that the atmosphere over the legislature will be spirit-filled. Please be in repentance for the failings of the Church that have enabled this crisis to grow and fester. Please give thanks to God that only His Word is final and only His love is ultimate whatever others may say.
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 Northern California RenewalFellowship. Workshops will feature practical dimensions of supernatural strategies – titles include Transformation of the Entertainment Industry; Prophetic Acts with Impact; and Transformation on a High School Campus. (Jim teaches the Impact offering.)
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 revival culture; he leads 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. (Everywhere we went in Europe we saw people reading Bill’s books and wanting to know if we knew him.) This event is a not-to-be-missed opportunity.
In Shasta County Bethel Church will hold a conference titled simply Outpouring. The event is designed for youth and young adult pastors and their leaders and seeks to bring these folks together from across the nation for three purposes: to help in the building of a revival culture in their home communities; to honor those who have dedicated their lives to ministering to the young; and to build a network of supportive relationships for this ministry. The event will be held from September 8-10 and features Pastors KrisVallotton, Danny Silk, and Banning Liebscher. Go to www.ibethel.org or call 530-246-6000 for information or to register.
Redding Transformation will host a week-long event called Inundate from Saturday, September 18 through Saturday, September 24. Like last Spring’s Operation Saturation the week will feature prayer tents set up around the city, a night of worship, and training in the principles of transformation. The last day will feature a concert of praise and a ministry fair at the Redding Convention Center from 5-8 PM. PrayNorthstate will provide some of the teaching and we will host a booth at the convention center. For information call 530-222-9371 or access their web site at www.reddingtransformation.com.
In Humboldt County Arcata’s First Baptist Church will host a conference titled Signs and Wonders and the Coming Revival from September 29 through October 1. The hosting congregation represents ten churches who have planned this event together. Speakers are Pastor Kris Vallotton and Hamilton Filmalter – both homegrown leaders from Northern California. Vallotton founded and oversees the School of SupernaturalMinistry in Redding and Filmalter is now an itinerant evangelist with a potent healing ministry. Healing Rooms of Humboldt County is a co-sponsor of the event. Call 707-822-0367 for information or to register. The church is at 1700 Union Street in Arcata.
In Trinity County a number of local churches gathered from Noon to 8:00 PM for the Trinity Event ’05. The event was held on Saturday, August 13, at the fairgrounds in Hayfork and was all about reaching out to young people with music, food, and the Gospel. Civic organizations joined with the churches of many rural communities to come together in the Name of Jesus for the sake of His young ones.
The International School of Reconciliation Studies is again underway and preparing for an October 2005 week in residency at the Ventura based campus. The school is overseen by John Dawson and led by Fawn and Joey Parish. Faculty for the online program includes such luminaries as John Dawson, President of YWAM; Dr. Suuqinnaand Qaumaniq, Inuit Ministries International; Daniel Kikawa, Aloha Ke Akua; Monte Ohia, founder of World Christian Gathering on Indigenous Peoples; Rev. Mike Flynn, Fuller Theological Seminary; Monsignor Peter Hocken, Toward Jerusalem; Dr. Chris Rice, Duke University; and Rev. Fawn Parish of Reignbridge – as a sample. Contact the school at www.gracebridge.com for information or to register.
In Sacramento County the partnership of the Sacramento International House of Prayer (SIHOP) and National Day of Prayer continue their visits to the state capitol on Saturday, September 17. They go to praise God and pray for a Godly atmosphere over the capitol that will enable wholesome legislation. In August they joined Lou Engle and some fifty prayer warriors from across the nation to pray an end to abortion in California – where 25% of the abortions performed nationwide occur.
Coming October 21-23 is the annual training for coordinators of National Day of Prayer at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. (Jim is a presenter this year.) Dr. Richard Blackaby will keynote; he co-authored Hearing God’s Voice and Called to beGod’s Leader and is president of Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary. Call 800-444-8828 or log onto www.nationaldayofprayer.org for information or to register.
UPCOMING PrayNorthstate EVENTS
Jim will lead a men’s retreat for St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and several partnering congregations on Saturday, October 29, at the church in Carlsbad, California. The theme is Building A House of Prayer: Some Assembly Required. The timeframe is 8:00 AM to 5:30 and the retreat is followed by the Lord’s Supper. Jim will also preach at St. Michael’s on Sunday, October 30.
Jim will also be in San Diego for meetings of the Pray California Listening Team and to address the Uniting Our Hearts in Prayer ministry in that city from October 27th to 28 th. He leads an interdenominational team to bless a pair of churches into the bargain!
WHAT THE COORDINATORS ARE UP TO
During the trip to Europe Jim and Diana also spent two weeks in Scotland vacationing and getting in touch with ancestral lands and such. During that time Jim preached at New Life Community Church in Castle Douglas (August 21) and led prayer for the City of Glasgow at a celebration for the city (August 28). He also led a Bible study when the designated leader was taken ill – and yes, they really did rest and recreate too – a lot! Diana – when she was not vision casting and praying with folks – saw God heal another of her food allergies in Scotland. Now she can eat lamb.
In September Jim preaches at Redding First Nazarene Church on Sunday, September 4. He joins intercessors on a strategic Butte County site for prayer and Holy Communion on Saturday, September 10, and he will share in the teaching duties for Inundate on Saturday, September 24. (We continue to receive astounding reports of land being healed – identifiable in the behavioral changes of people on the land – after prayer and Communion.) Jim and Diana host a booth on the convention center lawn that evening. Jim will offer a workshop titled Prophetic Acts With Impact at the Pray California School of Prayer on Friday, September 30.
PRAISE REPORT OF PRAYER RESULTS
One of the missionaries for whom we pray regularly in these pages has recently returned home. Because of the dangers associated with where this person works we are not mentioning the name or the location. But only God could create what we report.
During the time on site there were numerous healing miracles including one from seizures that then was projected back home and the missionary’s brother also was released from a seizure disorder. The missionary – as staunch a Christian as we know – was invited to teach at a Muslim Training Institute for clerics. When the missionary removed his shoes and declared the Holy Land for the Lord many Muslims began to receive Jesus as their savior. He also found the opportunity to strengthen and encourage three churches and to release healing ministries in them. Finally, he taught seminars at a boys’high school in which students came from multiple Muslim lands. Welcome home.
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 Prayercoming 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.
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