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Dear People of the Northstate Vision:
When Jesus sends the Twelve into the towns and villages he has not yet visited, in Matthew 10, He gives them many instructions – salute no one on the way, heal the sick, depend on Him alone, share the good news and so forth. In only one case does He repeat Himself: Four times He calls on them to expect to be provided for as they obey His word. And just last week one of our intercessors called to tell us that the Lord had told her in prayer that so long as Diana and I followed His call we would be provided for.
Why open a newsletter in the middle of Easter Season with this revelation? Because only last month I sent a special insert calling you all to pray for our mission and especially for the upcoming mission to Fiji – for funds and protection for the whole team. I know you prayed hard because this afternoon I was informed that the grant for which our team applied had come in – guaranteeing the building and medical supplies we need – and the medical pro who was canceling because of daily migraines had been healed and was back on board for the trip. I’ve been given medicines worth $9000.00 for Fiji and one third of the funds Diana and I need for travel this year – and we haven’t even seriously asked yet!
I don’t mean to sound cavalier about God meeting our needs through the people who pray with and for us. In fact, at this time I am asking each of you to prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to sow into our travels this year with a special donation to PrayNorthstate. (We still need $10,000.00 for Fiji, Scotland and the Philippines – and in my flesh I find that overwhelming.) I am asking you to pray harder than ever about the issues we cover in Paah-ho-ammi, and I am asking you to come out for the Bible reading marathon whether or not you are assigned a place to read – because Redding needs this event soaked in your prayers and presence if it is to be more than an exercise in recitation – even of God’s Word. I am asking you to volunteer your time to help bless the schools, churches and businesses we visit with Prayer Vanguard – which is now more and more a statewide ministry albeit centered and focused in the Northstate. I ask even more prayer.
Yet Jesus Himself commands us to expect to be provided for – Diana and me – you and yours. There is a catch: the provision is tied to obedience and the worship of God above all things – because only then do we open arms and lives to the abundance He seeks to pour out on us. But the catch is easy and healthful to incorporate. He is risen! That’s all.
CURRENTPrayNorthstateEVENTS
The Bible: Up Close and Personal will be presented for the fourth year in the breezeway of the Redding City Hall. More than three hundred people from forty plus churches participate in this round-the-clock speaking of the whole Word of God over the City of Redding. We begin at 6:00 AM on Monday, May 1, and finish at Noon on Thursday, May 4 – just in time for the city’s observance of the National Day of Prayer about forty feet away – on the plaza. This event is made possible by the dedication of twenty-six men and women who serve as site captains for a three-hour shift over the three and a half days of the reading. We have the full cooperation of the city and we give special thanks for the congregation of Redding Christian Fellowship who supplies us with snacks and equipment for the marathon. We also give thanks for the city workers who are so vocal with their appreciation – and above all to the Spirit of the Living God who is so palpably present during the event. We urge everyone reading this newsletter and in or close to Reddingto come down during the week – whether or not you are one of the readers – and help us to soak the city in prayer as we proclaim God’s Word.
Paah-ho-ammi comes to a close – for this outing – on Thursday, May 4, with the worship service to be held at Simpson University at 7:00 PM. The project has been underway since February 1 and has included more than two hundred Christians of alldenominational types and styles who are committed to daily prayer as members of one of three prayer teams. In addition, more than a dozen local churches have spent a portion of their Sunday services praying the Paah-ho-ammi prayer topics. One team has prayed for reductions in crime and suicide; another has prayed for fewer traffic fatalities and cancer admissions to local hospitals; still another has asked God to reduce unemployment at the same time He is bringing out new indications of economic renaissance in Shasta County. All of the teams have prayed for protection of young people against sudden or violent death. Preliminary results are very exciting, although what God has done in response to the prayers will not be known until the service and – in some cases – the statistics will not be available until late in May or even early June. Everyone is invited to come and worship with us – and celebrate what we know of God’s intervention in our community through Paah-ho-ammi on May 4 at 7 PM in Modular Room 82 at Simpson. Paah-ho-ammi is Hebrew for “Cry alas, my people.”
Jim and Diana will be making three overseas mission trips in 2006. They return to minister in the Vatawaqa ghetto of Fiji’s capitol city – Suva– from July 6-18. The goal is to see 1000 come to Christ this year and again there will be prayer, medical and construction teams serving. They go to Scotland to pray for the promised revival and to minister in churches and communities from August 1-21 – as members of a team and on their own. And they travel to the Philippinesfrom September 8-24 – to again participate in the World Christian Gathering of Indigenous Peoples and to stay over for a week of teaching and ministering to pastors and congregations on Mindanao. Chef Cal DeMercurio will again provide a benefit dinner to support PrayNorthstate on Sunday, May 21, at 6:00 PM. A donation of $50.00 per plate is asked and 80% of the funds will go into a special travel fund to pay for these trips. All are invited, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Please call 530-941-3470 or e-mail us to reserve space. The dinner will be held at DeMercurio’s on Hartnell in Redding.
WHAT’S UP IN THE NORTHSTATE
Thursday, May 4, is the National Day of Prayer. Cities and communities all over the nation will take time to honor God and pray for our country and the places in which our citizens live and work. The difference this year is in the theme and focus that the national headquarters is promoting. This year’s theme is America honor God – based on 1 Samuel 2:30. The focus is that the entire yearshould be a day of calling the American house to be a house of prayer for all nations. To that end many communities are introducing extended activities such as the Bible reading marathon – The Bible: Up Close and Personal – we have undertaken in Redding for the past four years. This year, for example, Sohlnet of Roseville is doing a marathon called The Washing – Pouring the Word Over Roseville. The reading will span April 30 through May 4. (Prayer Vanguard of Orange County plans a marathon in September and the gathered churches of Humboldt County – under the guidance of the Healing Rooms – is planning an event of their own.) The Roseville event will occur at Salvation Army in Roseville at 100 Lincoln Street.
The Sacramento International House of Prayer – SIHOP – hosts a first Saturday opportunity to pray for governmental leaders each month. In the Sacramento area these gatherings are held at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville, Capitol ChristianCenter in Sacramento, and First Baptist Church in Elk Grove. SIHOP – and PrayNorthstate agree – in asking all Christians to pray for passage of a parental notification statute regarding underage abortions and to pray that God would stay the legislative hand in the matter of assisted suicides and compulsory homosexuality friendly curricula in public schools. The abortion statute is in process of qualifying for the ballot and the other two bills are pending in the legislature now. The assisted suicide bill is supported by some 70% of Californians; its defeat would be a major move of God.
Since the founding of PrayNorthstate – a ministry of prayer for community transformation and reconciliation of all types – God has impressed on Jim that he is to make a pilgrimage to the Little Bighorn Battlefield and spend time in prayer on the site. 2006 marks the 130 th anniversary of the battle that is a pivot point for White and Indian people. On May 5 – the day following the National Day of Prayer – Jim and Pete Bowers, a friend with a similar heart for reconciliation of peoples and tribes and our son, Chris Wilson – will begin a drive to the Montana site, returning on May 12. Once there we will pray, worship, and seek God’s healing for all of the peoples who are wrapped up in the American flag and nation. We will protocol and honor any Native people we meet who share the heritage of the battle. We go with no agenda other than to seek God in a place where the blood of two peoples has been soaked into the ground. We know that God will be there and we look forward to sharing with you what He chooses to do.
In Shasta County – Bethel Church in Redding hosts Leadership Advance from May 1-3. Pastors and lay leaders from California, the nation, and many nations have been coming for these semi annual gatherings since 1997. The purpose is solely to bask in the presence of the Lord and one another and return to ministry refueled and refreshed. The agenda is worship and fellowship. The venue is full, but call 530-246-6000 for info on future gatherings.
Christ the Rock is a small non-denominational fellowship that fields not one but two softball teams to play in the secular leagues headquartered at Big League Dreams in Redding. They play for love of the game and to witness. They were laughed at initially but have made their play in the league. Any church can do this.
There will be a community-wideHealth and Safety Fair held on the campus of Faith Assembly Church, located at 8595 Airport Road in Reddingon Saturday, May 6, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Health screenings, information booths and free massages will be provided for all comers. Car seat and seatbelt checks will be done by the California Highway Patrol. Health puppets, a smokeless dragon, and games for children are included, along with hearing and vision screenings provided by Mercy Medical Centerand Shasta Regional Medical Center. Contact Cynthia Ogrey at 530-221-3055 for info.
Gatehouse Ministries partners with Christian Motorcycle Association in the Gatehouse 300 Benefit Ride. This is a benefit bike ride to support missionary families of all denominations within the Body of Christ. There is a registration cost of $25.00 per rider and $40.00 per couple for the June 10 ride and the cost rises after May 31 for late registrants. Contact Dave Kronbach at 530-229-0900 for info or to register. The ride begins at Neighborhood Church of Redding at 9:00 AM and registration begins at 7:30 AM. This is just another example of bikers who have given their hearts to Christ and now give their bodies to benefit the Body – thanks, Guys and Gals!
Redding Transformation will again place tents in various locations around the city of Redding for people needing prayer. The tents are placed on private and city property – with the permission of landowners – and staffed by volunteers who pray for passersby as they express needs – for healing, for peace, for a job – or whatever. PrayNorthstate has had the privilege of training many of these volunteers and it is a great blessing to have them out there showering the city with prayer.
In Nevada County – The Healing Rooms has sponsored another training session for would-be volunteers in this ministry that has swept the nation. Nevada County rooms now record an average of a healing a day. They are staffed by trained volunteers from all streams and styles of spirit of the Church. There are some 900 healing rooms around the nation and some 300 in California alone. The center of the ministry is in Spokane, Washington, and the rooms are in the tradition of the healing ministry of John G. Lake. Call Sierra Ministries International at 530-478-1478 for information.
In Sacramento County – Prophetic Leaders Stacey Campbell and Patricia King ministered and trained in prophetic ministry at Family Christian Center in Orangevalefrom April 27-29. There were both general and special sessions; other speakers included Eureka’s Linda Abercrombie, Redding’s Mary Anderson, and Orangevale’sLindy Oliver. This women’s conference was by and for the region’s women!
UPCOMING PrayNorthstate EVENTS
Prophetic Acts with Impact will be offered on the Yurok Reservation in Weitchpec on Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3. Jim will be preaching at the community church in Weitchpec as well on Sunday, June 4. The conference teaches the concepts of prophetic acts as walking out the words God speaks in scripture and in our lives – and we stress that authentic prophecy has a demonstrable impact where we can live and see that impact. The conference is held from 7:00 to 9:30 PM on the Friday and from 8:30 to 5:00 on the Saturday. Participants will be prepared to organize a reading of the Word of God over their community, to conduct Paah-ho-ammi type prayer projects, to hold their own Prayer Vanguards, and to seek God’s healing for their land in the context of the Lord’s Supper celebrated on that land. Call 530-784-8228 for information.
PRAYNORTHSTATE RADIO and TV FOR MAY
PrayNorthstate Radio launches May with Youth Pastors Jessica Sutton and Bill Copus on May 6. The Rev. Jim Dahl comes from Good News Rescue Mission with a TBA graduate of their program on May 13. Concert Promoters – they brought us Jars of Clay earlier in the Spring – David and Cyndi Pringle – will be our guests on May 20. We will close the month with Christian Massage TherapistsJenifer Cash and Monett Pierce on May 27.
PrayNorthstate TV devotes the entire month of May to celebrating the independence of the Nation of Israel. We will be doing a couple of double-barrelled programs with various Messianic Jewish leaders and close the month out with a pair of Gentile Christians who so committed to honoring our Jewish elder brethren that they named their praise band Wild Branches – after the passage in Romans 11. On May 1 we feature Rabbi Richard Rubenstein and Evi Hall and on May 8 Rabbi Ru – as he is known – returns with his wife, Sharon Rubenstein. On May 15 and 22 our guests are Messianic Jewish couple Mark Koltun and Beverly Ann Samuel Koltun. On May 29 we are joined by Randy Neal and Victor Styrsky of Wild Branches.
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.
WHAT THE COORDINATORS ARE UP TO
Jim preached at Redding’s Family of Faith Christian Center in Palo Cedro on Sunday, April 30, at 10:00 AM. We made another prayer visit to the state capitol on Thursday, April 20, and participated in the Azusa Street Centenary – stopping to bless two churches while we were there. Jim preaches at Redding’sFirst Baptist Church on Eureka Way on Sunday, May 14, at 8:45 and 11:00, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Marysville, on Sunday, May 28, and MCs the Carenet Pregnancy Center Banquet in Red Bluff on Tuesday, May 23. Diana moves from re-modeling the kitchen to refurbishing a guest bedroom. That’s all!
PrayNorthstate PRAYER LIST
Please pray for the Board of PrayNorthstate: Jim and Diana Wilson, Dr. Andre VanMol, Supervisor Mollie Wilson, Charles Davidson, Charlie Harper, Bob Newell, and Frank DiSalvo. Please pray for PrayNorthstate and the radio and TV sponsors: Taylor Motors, Hue and Cry Security, Dr. Andre Van Mol, B& T Satellite, New Song Music, Nicolet Glass, Western Business Products, Ron Largent and KellerWilliams Realtors, Carl Van Dyke Allstate Insurance, Fox 30/Cable 2 TV, Crown Motors, Dove Acres, David Charlsonand Summit Funding, Children First Foster Family Agency, Carenet Pregnancy Centers of the Tri Counties, Mercy Medical Center and Dr. Todd Royse. Pray for Imago Dei Ministries, and Charis Arts Consortium.
Pray for Emmaus Way Ministries and for Israel, for missionaries Bill & Lori Gardner (Kenya), Doug & Dianne Phillips (Mexico), Ken Greenlee (Fiji), Eljon &Jennifer Ago (Albania), Bob & Lorelei Newell and Jeff & Julie Watson (Philippines), Ron and Christine Hamstad (Brazil), and Tugsuu & Gantuul (Mongolia and China). Pray for KingdomInstitute School of Business,Businesstry Concepts, Hignell Group, Anne Kalvestrand, Clint & Annette Emry, LifeLight Pregnancy Center, Uniting Our Hearts In Prayer and San Diego Prayer Coalition.
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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