GC 2003 Prayer Update
by Jim Elzerman

The 2003 Free Methodist General Conference is about to begin in Seattle, Washington. Prayer has been an important part of the preparation for the conference and will be an important part of the conference as well with Doug and Margie Newton serving as Prayer Coordinators. Every Free Methodist has an opportunity to participate in this General Conference as we join our hearts in prayer.

Many of you are participating in the "40 Day True Fast for the Free Methodist Church." Continue to fast and pray that the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon the church as delegates gather in Seattle. Pray for the safety of each delegate as they travel. Pray for wisdom for leaders and delegates as issues are debated and decisions are made that will shape the Free Methodist Church of the future.

Newton shares the following update regarding the 40 Day Fast:

• We are still getting word about more churches and people signing on for the 40-day True Fast.
• To date we have about 175 churches. Even though we have no accurate count of the total number of people, we believe it is safe to assume that an average of 15-20 people are involved per church. That means we guesstimate in round numbers that there are between 2500 and 3500 participants.
• We have heard from many sources that people are using the daily True Fast guides. These guides, written by Margie, are rich in meditative content and very practical issues about confession, repentance and spiritual preparation for God's blessing. The weekly foci include things like the examination of attitudes and words and the centrality of the Word of God.
• We have received word that there have been some very creative approaches to fasting going on. For example, some people are fasting video games, computer use, superfluous spending, besides many variations on food fasting.
• One new Christian man is fasting for the first time ever and remarked how amazing it was to discover how his burden for prayer was increasing as he experienced physical hunger.
• We hope to leave the True Fast prayer guides on line even after General Conference, because they will be very useful even without focusing on GC.

Be sure to check out the GC Prayer Section for daily prayer updates starting on June 28th. And as Paul admonished in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "pray without ceasing."