Transformation Thurrock : Foundations laid at Rock Thurrock Prayer

Foundations laid at Rock Thurrock Prayer

Elle Rew, one of the leaders of ACCESS, an interchurch grouping of young adults, who is also heading up the Rock Thurrock Prayer youth stream, tells the story of the evening.

On Friday 3 June, young adults took the lead in a prayer event for Rock Thurrock at Grays Methodist Church (right). Members from Access took on various roles during the event, from hosting to worship leading, from sharing testimonies to... praying! There were around 25 people at the event with half being ‘young’ people.

PICT1857

Steve Blakey and Rosemary Pritchard (left) introduced the evening before the two Jameses (Godward and Gensberg - below right) took a lead in worship at the beginning of the evening before Emma Wakefield and Graham Knight took a lead in explaining the ‘Bring a Friend’ initiative which encouraged everyone, young, or not so young to pray for their friends. Upon realising that some times, praying for your friends is difficult, Graham and Emma shared two very touching testimonies.

Emma shared her personal story of becoming a Christian, where it all started with her friends, praying for her, taking her to events and spending time with her – the three bring a friend action points.

Following that, Graham Knight shared about what can happen when we pray for colleagues, and how one of his friends has had a real God experience recently which has lead his colleague to have a new interest in Christianity.

PICT1856

With a new sense of expectation in the room, everyone was encouraged to pray for their friends, and write their names on wall posters; these will be displayed at four sessions of 24-hour continuous prayer around the borough before the big Rock Thurrock event in September. The first one of these is at the end of June at Grays Baptist Church. Keep an eye out for more information!

Ahead of the Christian Life and Witness Courses that have started this week, Elle Rew led the group in praying specifically for this – the teacher, the attendees, their friends, the host churches. Everyone split off into groups to pray together and ask God to be in the classes, and equip his Bride in Thurrock for evangelism and discipleship.

PICT1859

Following that, the group were invited to pray in topic specific corners - one for FM419; fundraising; the main Rock Thurrock event and Schools work; and Community Action Projects, which were all introduced by member of the Core Team.

Lastly, Steve lead us into praying for the host Church, Grays Methodist and using the members that were present as representatives. With that, the night came to a close, but not before a word was brought (which we believe is prophetic) by Vera Harrold, from Ezra 3:10-14...

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD:

PICT1858

“He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.”

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

>>> Elle and the Access team are running a Rock Thurrock 24-1 starting 6pm Friday 24 June and ending 6pm Saturday 25 June at Grays Baptist Church

>>> other Rock Thurrock 24-1s are in the pipeline

The next Rock Thurrock Prayer is on Friday 10 June. Hosted by Destiny Chapel, it will be at the Culver Centre in Daiglan Drive, South Ockendon.

Other Rock Thurrock Prayer gatherings are...

Friday 10 June - to pray for the following week's CLWC courses - at Destiny Chapel, Culver Centre, South Ockendon
Friday 17 June - to pray for the following week's CLWC courses at Open Door Christian Centre at the Belmont Village Hall, Parker Road, Grays RM17 5YN (off the London Road, adjacent to Stifford Primary School).
NEW! Rock Thurrock 24-1 starting 6pm Friday 24 June and ending 6pm Saturday 25 June at Grays Baptist Church - run by Access team
NEW! 6.30pm Sunday 17 July - Rock Thurrock joins with the East Thurrock United Service for an evening of prayer at St Maragret's, Stanford-le-Hope
Friday 22 July - to pray for Rock Thurrock (last before summer) at Aveley Christian Centre
Friday 2 Sept - to pray for Rock Thurrock and FM419 course (half-night of prayer) - to be led by young people at Grays Baptist Church
Friday 23 Sept - to pray for Rock Thurrock Civic Hall Events (this comes at the end of a week of prayer & fasting) - to be led by young people VENUE REQUIRED!
Friday 30 Sept - thanksgiving event for Civic Hall events (inc. celebration) VENUE REQUIRED!
Friday 7 Oct - to pray for the following week's Velocity courses - to be led by young people at Aveley Christian Centre
Friday 14 Oct - to pray for the following week's Velocity courses VENUE REQUIRED!
Friday 21 Oct - to pray for the following week's Velocity courses at Linford Methodist Church
Friday 28 Oct - to pray for the following week's Velocity courses VENUE REQUIRED!
Friday 4 Nov - to pray for the following week's Velocity courses VENUE REQUIRED!
Friday 11 Nov - to pray for the following week's Velocity courses at Aveley Christian Centre
Friday 18 Nov - to pray for the following week's Velocity courses VENUE REQUIRED!
Friday 25 Nov - thanksgiving event for end of Rock Thurrock project (inc. celebration) VENUE REQUIRED!

Christian Life & Witness Courses

Mondays 6, 13, 20 June at Gates of Praise, Grays
Tuesdays 7, 14, 21 June at Fruitful Land, Tilbury
Wednesdays 8, 15, 22 June at Aveley Christian Centre
Thursdays 9, 16, 23 June at Gateway People's Centre, Stanford

To sign up to do a CLWC and find location details of these venues, please follow this link... http://www.billygraham.org.uk/page.asp?pageID=125 or see the article on the left of the screen.

>>> ROCK THURROCK YOUTH ON FACEBOOK! www.facebook.com/rockthurrock

Elle Rew, 08/06/2011