International House of Prayer

Dear Friends of Pacificministries,

Last week, Carlene and I returned from a leaders summit at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri. Needless to say, these 5 days were both affirming and life changing. Increasing numbers of pastors and leaders throughout America desire authentic city transformation. Kansas City has pioneered an expression of nonstop night and day prayer for nearly seven years. They sponsor schools of ministry, conferences, and internships for young and old alike. While they would not recommend replicating an exact "Kansas City" model, the values and convictions can be absorbed and implemented in communities, churches and nations,

Not only did we enjoy "soaking" times in the House of Prayer, but we cultivated new friendships with leaders such as Dr. Wes Adams and Rhonda Hughey, the directors of Fusion Ministries (www.fusionministry.com) and sponsors of the summit. This is a quote from her recent book Desperate For His Presence:

The critical component to revival in the church and transformation in the community is the manifest Presence of Jesus. In transformed communities, the presence of God is a valued and critical component of the well-being of the community at every level of society. Participants in transformation in these communities include Presidents, Prime Ministers, Mayors, businessman, law enforcement officers, clergy and laypeople. People from all over the world are gathering to cry out to God and labor together to seek His presence and the transformation of their communities.

Sunday morning at the final summit meeting at the House of Prayer, representatives from 30 or so cities and nations were privileged to intercede on behalf of their region. As I approached the front of the auditorium to pray, I noticed one of the intercessors had a beautiful, fragrant, fresh cut rose. I asked her if I might borrow it for a moment, and I brought it with me as I prayed. Following is my best recollection of the prayer:

Lord, you have created our city... Portland, Oregon for intimacy and creative worship. We are known as the City Of Roses. As we seek Your Face and humble ourselves, may you continue to refine... and even crush us, so that there will come a sweet fragrance of Your Presence rise from our city. May this fragrance of worship be acceptable to You, Lord.

The writer in the Song Of Songs records :

I am a Rose of Sharon...Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread abroad. (2:1...4:16)

We believe the Holy Spirit is moving as a fresh wind spreading the fragrance of heart felt worship all over the world. Believers everywhere are responding to His call for renewed and extravagant, "first love" expressions of worship. This is also our heart's cry. We have been encouraged by many throughout the Northwest and Pacific Rim nations who share this common heart.

Bless you in your "desperate" pursuit of His presence.

Darrell and Carlene