Transformation Thurrock : Frank talk at Rock Thurrock Prayer

Frank talk at Rock Thurrock Prayer

Last Friday's Rock Thurrock Prayer meeting was hosted by Destiny Chapel at held in the Culver Centre in South Ockendon.

There were nearly 40 people present including children, who were encouraged by Pastor Frank Gaisie (right, addressing the meeting) to join in the prayers.

After Frank had welcomed everyone, Tim Harrold gave a brief encouragement by giving a run-down of the first week of Christian Life & Witness Course statistics. A vigorous and deep time of worship was then led by Neil Frost and his band.

This was followed by Tim declaring the verses of Ezra 3:10-13 which had been given at the previous Friday's Rock Thurrock Prayer.

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:
“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.

Vera Harrold (left and below right) was then invited to the front to give her testimony. Vera came to faith on 28 June 1989 at the live satellite transmission of a Billy Graham Mission England crusade shown at the State Cinema in Grays. She testified about her life as a divorced mother of two up to that point and tearfully read out Isaiah 54:1-8, about which she said, "God wrote this just for me!".

Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labour; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says the LORD.
Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.
The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected, says your God.
For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.

Vera went on to stress that her conversion was all because people prayed for her - and our prayers, now, are essential for the salvation of many young people across our borough.

You can read a fuller account of Vera's story here:
http://www.billygraham.org.uk/page.asp?pageID=134&dm_i=KW1,E5ZD,3RPUH3,14LZ2,1

Frank came to the front and gave directions for everyone present. Five prayer stations had been set up around the hall covering aspects of Rock Thurrock:

The CLWCs this month
The Community Action Projects in July
The FM419 course for young people on 9/10 September
The main Rock Thurrock events on 24/25 September
Unity among the churches and local political governance

While prayer was going on, Frank led some background worship with the band.

At the end of this section, Pastor Sam Sao of Open Doors (left, with Frank) - who are hosting the next Rock Thurrock prayer night this Friday (17 June) - came to the front and declared Isaiah 60:1-5 over the borough:

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm.
Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.

Sam followed this with a passionate prayer for Rock Thurrock and the borough.

Matthew Hughes gave a word in song about 'salvation coming like a wildfire', and Edwin Hughes brought Isaiah 49:8, telling everyone that while on holiday that week he, his wife and Matthew had been to see HMS Victory in Portsmouth. God's promise for Rock Thurrock is just that, nothing short of victory!

This scripture is all about individual salvation, church revival, community restoration, societal transformation and land healing, all of which Rock Thurrock is out to achieve, in the name of Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and to the glory of God.

God also says:
"When the time's ripe, I answer you.
When victory's due, I help you.
I form you and use you to reconnect the people with me,
To put the land in order,
to resettle families on the ruined properties.
(from The Message)

The evening closed with more worship.

ROCK THURROCK PRAYER THIS FRIDAY 17 JUNE NIGHT
The next Rock Thurrock Prayer is hosted by Pastor Sam Sao and the Open Door Christian Centre,
it will be at the Belmont Village Hall, Parker Road, Grays RM17 5YN (off the London Road, adjacent to Stifford Primary School).

Other Rock Thurrock Prayer gatherings are...

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 - remaining dates

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

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

Tim Harrold, 13/06/2011