Methodist Church Launches 14-Month Non-Stop Prayer to Revive Spirit

The Methodist Church of Great Britain has begun the 14-months non-stop "Pray Without Ceasing" during the Methodist Conference on Tuesday. Churches across Britain will be knitted together by rotation of prayers to keep the country breathing in the Holy Spirit.

During the Methodist Conference at the Riviera Centre, Torquay, a website for "Pray Without Ceasing" campaign was launched. The website contains useful prayer resources to assist churches to participant. It also serves as a platform for exchanging ideas and sharing prayer topics. Conference representatives have received special "Pray Without Ceasing" packs and are being encouraged to make prayer bracelets.

The "Pray Without Ceasing" Programme was first suggested in the Methodist Youth Conference last year. One of the main purposes for the prayer initiative is to affirm and encourage established methods of prayer, giving people the opportunity to learn from one another’s spiritual experience.

Methodists are asked to consider what opportunities there are for prayer in their own churches, who they pray for and how, as well as the difficulties of making space for prayer in a modern, busy world.

The Revd Michaela Youngson (Methodist Secretary for Pastoral Care and Spirituality) says, "the Pray Without Ceasing programme aims to celebrate prayer as a gift from God, affirm prayer that is already taking place and resource prayer by providing ideas and inspiration".

Continuous prayer in the Methodist Church is to be maintained until 1st September 2006. Methodist districts are being encouraged to organise continuous prayer events for a week or a fortnight as part of the non-stop prayer period.

Some national and local events are scheduled. For instance, "Prayer on the Edge" is a weekend for students and young Christians to explore prayers through music, workshops and activities. There will also be an opportunity to explore prayer in a multi- faith context at the "People of Faith at Prayer" conference in Birmingham.

In fact, many Methodist Churches in the UK have already been inspired by the non-denominational 24-7 Prayer movement, which encourages churches to pray for 24 hours a day for seven days.

Rev Youngson said in previous press release, "The priorities of the Methodist Church urge us to take seriously the need for God-centred worship and prayer. We have a rich tradition of liturgical and free prayer in which we express our devotion to God and bring before God the concerns of our churches and communities."

Earlier this week, the incoming President Revd Tom Stuckey of the Methodist Conference 2005, has also reemphasised the priorities of the Church. He encouraged Methodists to "listen more carefully to the Holy Spirit who is speaking to us both within and beyond the Church."

Rev Youngson said, "Pray Without Ceasing is a gift to the whole church from the young people of Methodism. Their vision and enthusiasm for a year of non-stop prayer has been infectious and has created an opportunity for all of us to look afresh at our understanding of prayer and our commitment to a deeper, more fulfilled relationship with God."