'I encountered Jesus at the age of 10 and he gave me the gift of joy': The Archbishop of York prays for the Kingdom

Christians are being urged to write their own prayers to celebrate God's love during the Thy Kingdom Come global prayer event.

They are then being asked to post them on social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has described how his own conversion as a child inspires him even now to write prayers.

'I encountered Jesus Christ at the age of 10 and he gave me one of his greatest gifts, the gift of joy,' he says in a video.

'That joy has made me the sort of person I am, constantly wanting to tell other people about his love, his forgiveness and his greatest gift of life. Why not try the same thing? Ask him to give you the gift of joy. You will be so bubbling with his love that you can't help but tell others about him.'

Speaking in his chapel at Bishopthorpe, York he says: 'I wrote this special prayer at Holy Island, Lindisfarne, preparing for my pilgrimage of walking around the diocese of York, for six months.'

A prayer in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it reads:

Father in heaven, 
mould me into Christlikeness;
and stir up in me,
the fire of your love.
Holy Spirit,
fill me with your power;
and help me to tell of the love
and salvation in Jesus of Nazareth.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Father,
renew my friendship in you;
and help me to serve you
with a quiet mind and a burning spirit.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
please keep me
In the joy, simplicity,
and compassion
of your holy gospel. Amen 

Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement in which Christians around the world are invited to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. It started out as an invitation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in 2016 to the Church of England and has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.

Churches and pastors worldwide are running prayer events, such as 24-7 prayer, prayer stations and prayer walks across the UK and in other parts of the world;

The hope is that people will be 'empowered through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ,' organisers say.

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
A three day journey by canoe to receive life-saving treatment from Mercy Ships
A three day journey by canoe to receive life-saving treatment from Mercy Ships

Most Madagascans cannot afford surgery, even on the rare occasions its available.

Drought insurance helps Nepal families survive food crisis
Drought insurance helps Nepal families survive food crisis

An innovative drought insurance scheme has provided emergency support to hundreds of vulnerable farming families in western Nepal

Britain has become ‘dangerously complacent’ over family breakdown
Britain has become ‘dangerously complacent’ over family breakdown

Dr Harry Benson, Research Director at the Marriage Foundation, said the latest official data on families and households pointed to a “profound social change” that had received little public attention despite long-term consequences for family stability and child wellbeing.

Church of Scotland issues slavery apology
Church of Scotland issues slavery apology

The Church of Scotland General Assembly said it was “grieved beyond telling” for the suffering inflicted.