October 2005

Dear People of the Northstate Vision:

As you read this the Pray California School of Prayer 2005 will have concluded, but the process set in motion during the school will have just begun. Pray Cal is calling on the praying people of the state to enter into a forty-day period of prayer and fasting for the Kingdom of God in our state. The time of prayer is to be daily – for as long and as many repetitions as possible for each one; the type of fasting is at the discretion of each pray-er – subject to health concerns and the leading of the Lord. But why call to intensive prayer for the state at this time?

The good news about California is that God has blessed us and named us blessed from the beginning. The first immigrant settlers came solely to bring the Gospel with them and the founding of twenty-one missions was and is the fruit. The best known river in the state is named Sacramento – as is our capitol – in honor of the Baptism and Supper of the Lord; major cities are named for saints like Francis, Joseph (Jose), and James (Diego). Most of the major American revivals of the past century – including Azusa Street, the Jesus People, the charismatic renewals of the sixties and eighties, and the Call Movement – originated in California. But the challenge we face in California is that we also host twenty-five per cent of the abortions performed nationally, eighty per cent of the pornography, and the leading edge of both legislation and practice that seeks to dismantle the family and ban all reference to God from public education. A crisis equals danger plus opportunity; by that definition we face multiple crises in California.

In Scripture God never destroys a city for excessive evil. Only insufficient righteousness can doom a community. California faces difficult issues in a special election but the biggest issue is whether a slumbering church will rise up to repent, intercede, and bless the state. There have been many prophetic words forecasting both judgment through natural and terror-driven channels. There have been just as many speaking blessing and calling on us to avert judgment through consistent and focused prayer. The words are posted on the Pray Cal web site and the proposed framework for prayer is posted on ours – www.praynorthstate.org – but all that really matters is that the people of God dedicate themselves to being the people of God for the next forty days – beginning on the Jewish Feast of Rosh Hashanah on October 2 – and that means remembering, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” And be sure to include Jerusalem in the prayers.

CURRENTPrayNorthstateEVENTS

PrayNorthstate has begun the annual round of prayerwalks in public schools in the past month. God moves in response to prayer and people who serve as faculty and staff find much greater fruit in fields prepared in prayer. In the past year two of the schools we regularly walk were named California distinguished schools and another saw test results rise by fifty points in one year. In several schools the principal moved on to another campus and was replaced by another believer – potentially opening new doors for our ministry. All who have completed an intercessors’ summit or its equivalent are encouraged to participate in these walks. Schools scheduled in October include:

Sunday – Oct. 2, 3:00 – Meadowlane Elementary, Balls Ferry Rd, Anderson

Saturday – Oct. 8, 9:30 – Enterprise High School, Churn Creek, Redding

Saturday – Oct. 8, 2:00 – Anderson High School, Ferry Road, Anderson

Saturday, Nov. 5, 10:00 – West Valley High School, Happy Valley Rd, Cottonwood

Jim will be traveling to Southern California for a flurry of activities late in the month. On October 27 he leads an interdenominational team from Pray California to bless two churches in San Diego who are at risk from denominational authorities for their stand in faith for the authority of Scripture. Prayer must be as potent as the Word says it is: the first church blessed by this team was recently upheld in an unprecedented ruling issued by an Orange County Court. More importantly, the pastors report their people ministering in a freedom and an authority they have not known before. Following the blessing visits Jim will lead meetings of the Pray Cal Listening Team.

During the last weekend in October PrayNorthstate conducts a men’s retreat in San Diego County– at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Carlsbad. The retreat is titled, “Building a House of Prayer: Some Assembly Required,” and takes its theme from Jesus’ declaration, “My Father’s house shall be called a house of prayer.” Men from several congregations will participate all day on Saturday, October 30, and will consist of five sessions teaching and practicing prayer so that the power of the Holy Spirit is released in our assemblies – regardless of whether we belong to a charismatic, evangelical or liturgical stream of the River of God. Jim believes that individualized prayer is the riverbed of relation to the Living God, but he also notes that all prayer as depicted in Scripture leads to the assembly of the People of God – or as C. S. Lewis said, “It is what we do with our solitude that makes us fit for company.” Call us or e-mail to schedule a retreat for men, women, or a mixed group.

PrayNorthstate – The Video will be completed in early October and will be available for showing in churches and to any group that desires it. The purpose is to present our ministry to those who might wish to participate in a more intentional way and to pave the path for Paah-ho-ammi Phase II. The Paah-ho-ammi prayer project was an awesome testimony to the power and the faithfulness of God and people have been waiting for its next phase for many months. Call or e-mail us for information on PHA2or the video.

WHAT’S UP IN THE NORTHSTATE

Pray California is calling the entire state to a forty-day period of prayer and fasting for the state of California. The call went out from the School of Prayer held in Chico September 29-October 1 and the time of prayer begins Sunday – October 2 – at Sundown and continues through November 11 at Sundown. October 2 begins the ancient Jewish day of Rosh Hashanah – when the Jews call upon the Lord their God for the sake of Israel. It is also a national day of prayer for Jerusalem. Participation can only be good.

The Pray Cal call is in response to a plethora of prophetic words released in our state and throughout the nation in recent months that divide into three roughly equal groups: those that forecast extreme judgment on the state for leading the nation in abortions, suicides, drug addictions, pornography production, and attempts to re-define the family; those that forecast that same judgment but promise mercy if sufficient prayer is offered up; and those that promise God is coming solely to bless the state. It has proved impossible for me – speaking for PrayNorthstate – to even know how to pray beyond the most generic calling upon the Name of the Lord for the sake of California. We are promised in Jeremiah 29, Joel 2, and Acts 2 that such a prayer brings salvation.

There are specific weekly prayer and scripture points available at www.praynorthstate.org for those who want them. The collection of prophetic words is available at www.praycal.org for those who desire to see them. But our call is for the people of our network to set aside some time each day to pray Matthew 11:2-6 over the state and fast as the Lord leads, remembering that judgment from the Lord never falls in the face of much evil but only in the absence of much righteousness.

It is happening in Southern California but our prayer teams had a hand in bringing this about and we are proud to announce it. St. James Anglican Church in Newport Beach will host Missions Mobilization Day in concert with Anglican Global Mission Partners on Saturday, October 8, from 8:30 to 5:00. Keynote Speaker Bishop RobertDuncan will be joined by an international panel from such ministries as the South American Missionary Society; Global Teams, Cambodia; Uganda Christian University; and New Wineskins Missionary Network. E-mail rmenees@stjamesnb.org or call 949-675-0210 for information or to register. Please attend if you can and pray for certain.

In Shasta County two pro-life ministries that devote themselves solely to caring for women and men in crisis pregnancies are holding their principal fundraisers for the year on Saturday, October 15. When Carenet Pregnancy Center of Tri Counties and LifeLight Pregnancy Center of Redding discovered what seemed like an error their first impulse was to re-schedule. After prayer and reflection on how often both had prospered when they blessed each other they decided to leave things as they were. Carenet will host the annual Walk for Life and the grand opening of their Tehama County Office in Red Bluff beginning at 10:00. LifeLight will host the annual banquet and auction at 5:00 at Redding Christian Fellowship on Victor Avenue in Redding. Call 530-246-7075 for Carenet and 530-246-2229 for LifeLight. Please support both in Him.

Redding First Nazarene Church and Imago Dei Ministries host Sy Rogers and a conference titled Redeeming the Sexual Generation on Saturday, October 22, from 9:00 to 4:30. Rogers is an internationally known speaker on liberation from sexual bondages of all kinds and breakfast and lunch will be provided along with the registration of $35.00 per person and $50.00 per couple. Topics will include Major Categories of Sexual Problems; Why Christians Will Have Struggles; and Powerful Principles for Redeeming Sexuality. Call 530-223-0454 for information or to register.

Redding’s Bethel Church will host Open Heaven with prophetic leaders Bobby Conner, Stacey Campbell, and Denise Goulet on October 26-28 at the church on College View Drive. Connor is well known in the region – and nation – for his ministry of razor sharp prophetic accuracy and the release of signs and wonders when he ministers. Campbell often ministers with her husband, Wesley, and the two are known for the ministry known as BE A HERO based in Kelowna, British Columbia – an outreach to the poor and downtrodden all over the world. Goulet is executive pastor of the International Church of Las Vegas and specializes in releasing the gifts of women over the Body of Christ. Early Registration of $65.00 per person is available through October 13 and rises to $75.00 thereafter. Information or registration is available online at www.ibethel.org or by calling 530-246-6000.

In Butte County the Feather River Aglow Area Board will host Unveiling KingdomUnity on Saturday, October 15, from 9:00 to 1:00 at Neighborhood Church of Chico. The conference will focus on reconciliation of races, cultures, and the foundational relationships between men and women. Men and women are encouraged to attend together. Valerie Jackson, President of God Area Aglow will keynote. Admission is free although a love offering will be taken. Call 530-534-8864 or 370-7419 or email peggypraise@juno.com for information or to register.

Also at Neighborhood Church in Chico will be the inaugural meeting of a new ministry called PBJ – Parents Believing Jesus. The ministry is the vision of a mother named Bonnie Reimers who has had a heart for re-uniting prodigals of all kinds with the Body and with their families for many years. Reimers defines prodigals – from the Greek – as those who have wasted or lost their gifts or inheritance. She says that the point of the parable is God’s determination to restore these things if we will give Him any chance. The meeting will be held on Sunday, October 23, at 6:30 PM. Call 530-345-8356 or 895-1052 for information.

Praise Report: There must be something to all of the praying offered at the State Capitol over the past year. Although the attempted re-definition of marriage passed the legislature after three failed attempts, assisted suicide is now history – despite expectations it would pass – and the legislature has adopted or defeated a number of measures seen as encouraging the climate for business in the state. Political writer for the Sacramento Bee, Dan Walters, commented on the “atmospheric change” and the partnership between Democrats and Republicans on issues that had previously been decided along party lines. We understand atmospheric change – it comes from prayer.

PRAYNORTHSTATE RADIO and TV FOR OCTOBER

PrayNorthstate Radio begins the month on Saturday, October 1, with teachers TimBrace and Karen Bird – Christians with a vision for a public charter school that takes the unlovable and loves them in Christ. On October 8 we are joined by retiring Shasta County Sheriff Jim Pope. Pastor Lane Zachary of Redding First Nazarene Church and Sy Rogers of Sy Rogers’ Ministries will guest on October 15 to share God’s promise for the sexually broken and the ministry of Imago Dei. We complete a double-barreled program on October 22 when we feature Imago Dei’s founder, Ken Davies, and the newly installed coordinator for Northern California, Laverna Nixon. We finish the month on October 30 with actress, intercessor and Hollywood insider Jaime Lyn Bauer who comes to the program through her association with Pray California.

PrayNorthstate TV kicks off on October 3 with a visit from Vicki Fitch, a volunteer and board member for LifeLight Pregnancy Center of Redding, who will discuss her own journey as one who intervenes in crisis pregnancies in the Name of the Lord. Sabrina Charleson and Holly Parks of Carenet Pregnancy Center are featured on October 10 – Carenet and LifeLight will host major events the following week in partnership. On October 17 we are joined in-studio by Glenn White and Geoff Slade, coordinators of Businesstry Concepts in Redding and Melbourne, Australia, respectively, and mentors of business people who want to ground their business in vision. Pastors Adrian Hills and Michael Tomlinson – a black man and a white man – share how they minister in the racially charged atmosphere of a state penitentiary on October 24. October 31 is Halloween and Pastor Larry Lane and Police Chief Mike Efford share how prayer has brought peace to Chico on this occasion of violence.

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 THE COORDINATORS ARE UP TO

Jim and Diana present a proclamation to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors declaring October Culture of Life Month at their meeting on Tuesday, October 4, at 9:00 AM. Ministries that promote a culture of life in the state will be represented at this meeting and will stand and be recognized by the supervisors at our request.

Jim will preach at New Song Ministries on Sunday Evening, October 9, at 6 PM. Jim and Diana participate in the Walk for Life of Carenet Pregnancy Center and the grand opening of the Red Bluff office on Saturday, October 15. That same evening they attend the annual banquet/auction for LifeLight Pregnancy Center at Redding ChristianFellowship on Victor Avenue in Redding. Jim will present a workshop on The Bible: Up Close and Personal to the national coordinators’ training event for National Day of Prayer in Colorado Springs on Friday, October 21, and he will preach in Colorado Springs on Sunday, October 23. He addresses the Diamond Fellowship of Bethel Church, Redding, on October 25 at 9:00 AM and he preaches at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Carlsbad, Californiaon Sunday, October 31.

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 11:2-6 over 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.