This message is being sent at one time to everyone who joined in praying in January "for our Father to send revival to the Church and spiritual awakening to our nation so that Christ’s Great commission might be fulfilled worldwide in our generation."

The last two days have gone by rather quickly and the goal of sending individual e-messages today (1/31/2000) to each one of you remains elusive.

There have been so many things that have happened this month in the group that is praying; some hard, some good -- Pam diagnosed with cancer, Don with chronic back problems, spontaneous group sharing about Jesus Christ in a public setting right after noon time prayer (incidentally, not initiated by the prayer person), a men's group that wanted to see the video that started this prayer time, many of you who shared prayer needs with me that I brought before the Lord each day from January 2 - 31st (today).

Last fall we attended a leadership conference called "Equip '99" (presented by Vision New England) and out of that came a teaching to spend time with the Lord in prayer each day in a so called "prayer closet" in accordance with Matthew 6:6 (NIV):

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

It's odd but I had been unable to start this intentional time until January 2nd. Thank you!

Beside the two primary prayer requests mentioned above, two additional prayer concerns seemed to come to the forefront this month: praying for those who are in physical pain or sick and those who do not know the Lord. In the first category, please hold up Don and Pam. In the latter, there are so many who have not claimed the free promise of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus that it is a little overwhelming for me at times. I can only say that if this grieves my heart so much, it must be a huge sadness for God because He knows all the ones living in disobedience to His Word and rejecting His great love. I only know a few hundred . . .

I will continue this noon time of prayer in February. If you would like to continue to pray with us please let me know and I will also bring before Him your requests. If noon time is a difficulty for any of you then vow to pray daily during February at a regular time of your own choosing. I'll send out another "mass" e-mail in a short time for the month of February 2000.

My prayer as January closes out is that . . . the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus and that each of us might, in our generation, have an "Acts 2" Church. If that were true, I believe revival would begin in our nation. Let it begin at the House of God as 2 Chronicles 7:14 directs.

We now prepare to go to Congress 2000 and join the Church of New England (5000 churches, 80 denominations) in Praising the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is, indeed, the same yesterday and today and forever.

-Ray