June 17, 2011 – Miami, Florida, United States…Libna Stevens/IAD
Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist families across Inter-America opened their homes to pray for the families, neighbors, friends and community leaders during a territory-wide spiritual revival activity held last weekend. The activity took place June 10 and became the fourth major focus of the church’s “Constant in Prayer” revival program launched earlier this year which stresses the need for constant prayer for a renewed committed life with Jesus.
With more than a 3.4 million membership in some 10,000 churches and congregations in the territory, top leaders planned for the activity to strengthen church families and to reach out to their neighbors.
“The simple plan was to mobilize thousands of church members to open their homes to pray and speak of the power of God through prayer,” said Pastor Roberto Herrera, revival and reformation coordinator for the church in Inter-America.
“It was a joy to visit seven homes during the activity,” said Herrera who traveled to San Pedro de Macoris, in the Dominican Republic. Herrera was among nearly two dozen leaders who traveled to different church regions in Inter-America to participate in the prayer initiative focused on families.
“It is very clear that the greatest need our members have is spiritual nourishment and any congregation that wants to fulfill this need should go beyond the walls of the church building,” he said. “There are many members who need prayer, encouragement and comfort so the church must continue to pray for their families.”
It’s about strengthening the family which is vulnerable to all kinds of attacks from the devil, said Pastor Pedro Iglesias, family ministries director for the church in Inter-America and coordinator of the activity.
“The devil looks to penetrate that sacred [family] link in more and more subtle ways to destroy the family so parents must be in constant prayer to remain connected with that fountain of power which is God,” he said.
In South Veracruz, in Mexico, Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, along with Pastor Iglesias, spoke to dozens of church ministers and leaders before visiting several homes in the City of Minatitlan.
“We want the church to be known for a people who is in constant in prayer,” said Pastor Leito. “We trust in our God and we want the Adventist homes to be known as prayer centers, centers that can offer comfort.”
Pastor Leito visited the home of Radames Cruz Gonzalez where he spoke and prayed with the family and neighbors. Then he headed to the Martinez Torres home.
“I was so blessed to be in these two homes,” said Pastor Leito, “to hear and feel the joy of the members, to know that regardless of the condition of the home, we sat with them, prayed with them, and ate with them, brought tears to the eyes.”
In North Colombia, more than 15,000 homes joined to pray, fellowship, and worship during the activity, said Gustavo Perez, family ministries director for the church in North Colombia.
“I am so glad for this initiative,” said Sandra Espinel, a church member who opened her home to neighbors and friends. “Prayer is the foundation where we can strengthen our families. This program was held at such a needed time when families are being so attacked by the enemy.”
Homes like Espinel’s represent a potential for small groups which can be formed and expand in an already growing ministry throughout the territory, said Pastor Melchor Ferreyra, personal ministries director in charge of small group ministry for the church in Inter-America. Pastor Ferreyra visited eight Adventist homes in Santa Marta in North Colombia.
“Every home which has opened its doors to pray can be converted into a small group,” said Ferreyra. “The IAD has more than 80,000 small groups and I am certain that most of these groups met especially to focus on families and their neighbors as well.”
It’s as simple as just welcoming your friends and neighbors to your home to pray, study the Bible, share testimonies, and worship together during the weekday, said Ferreyra of the small groups much like the activity.
El Salvador saw more than 25,000 Adventists homes as part of prayer initiative focused on families.
In Grenada Justice Clare Henry, an Adventist high court judge for the eastern Caribbean, joined in the home of members to pray for neighbors and community leaders.
Special decals with the words “This House is called a House of Prayer” have been distributed to the membership throughout Inter-America.
Honduras also had over 2,000 homes throughout the Central American country inviting their neighbors to pray and share bible truths with them.
In Guatemala, more than 10,000 homes became houses of prayer throughout the country. The activity was part of the initiative that has leaders thankful for the spiritual revival. “Nearly 7,000 people have been baptized since we began with the Constant in Prayer initiative,” said Guenther Garcia, president of the church in Guatemala. “We continue to see so many blessings and our families have been so blessed.”
Hundreds of churches held worship services focused on prayer and special baptisms took place throughout the territory on June 11.
It’s all connected, reflected Pastor Leito, who hopes that more community involvement and more evangelism activities come out through the prayer initiative. Top leaders are already setting the first weekend in June of 2012 to encourage Adventist families to open their homes as prayer centers.
Since February, the “Constant in Prayer” initiative has focused on children and youth, students across schools and universities, and pastors and their families.
The church in Inter-America will continue their focus on constant prayer and submerge into additionally focus on studying the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy books-a collection of books written by Ellen G. White-a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The new emphasis will be called “Heeding the Word” and will be launched on July 23 during a special live program from El Salvador.
To find out more about Inter-America’s Constant in Prayer initiative, visit us at
www.praying4revival.org and www.estamosorando.org
For news updates on Constant in Prayer initiative throughout the IAD, visit us at www.interamerica.org
To view Inter-America’s photo gallery, click here
Resources
Constant in Prayer: http://praying4revival.org
Facebook – click here
Spanish Resources
Constantes en la Oracion: http://estamosorando.org
Facebook click here
