“All of a sudden we had over 15 young adults singing praises to God and crying out for our city.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Returning home after six months immersed in discipleship and missions, Jessica Martin thought she was alone. Her time in Vietnam, where the communist regime prevents almost any overt ministry, had taught Martin the necessity and profound impact of prayer, but would anyone in Ottawa relate? Little did she realize God was starting a new prayer movement among Ottawa’s youth.

“One by one I met with my close friends and surprisingly they were feeling the same way,” Martin explains. “They were talking about how prayer is essential. We decided we would meet up, three or four of us, to pray for our city.”

The day they gathered at Martin’s house, 15 young people showed up. There was no advertisement and no fancy event, the young adults were driven by a passion for worship and prayer.

“The only common denominator is that they are usually between the ages of 18 and 30.”

“All of a sudden we had over 15 young adults singing praises to God and crying out for our city. It was absolutely mind-blowing for me. This was back in May. We decided to do it again in June and we had almost 30 people come to that one.”

The group continued meeting and by September they decided to gather twice a month. Despite university and job schedules picking up, they consistently had around 15 people, from different churches and denominations.

“We have people from Ottawa Valley Vineyard, the MET, the Lifecentre, and Chapel Ridge (which is my church). Some come from a Pentecostal church in Cornwall and someone from a Baptist church in Brockville. The only common denominator is that they are usually between the ages of 18 and 30.”

The group hasn’t adopted a name—they want everyone who comes to know exactly what they are signing up for: worship and prayer. Although they have facilities available, the group prefers the informal setting of a simple living room.

“Every week is something different. I have a friend who is a nurse, so we have prayed for the healthcare system. We have prayed for the government, the pro-life movement, human trafficking issues, and leaders in our city. Really any different category, but often it circles back to the government and leadership.”

“This group opens an opportunity for interdenominational unity, which is an essential first step towards positive change in our city.”

The group’s most recent gathering, January 30, they were joined by the whole young adults group from Ottawa Valley Vineyard, so they decided on a special focus: revival. They invited Israel Gimba, founder of a grass-roots evangelistic and discipleship organization called Dunamis Army.

“The [prayer] group is an awesome opportunity to pray, worship, and meet other young adults passionate about the same thing,” Gimba says. Yet, what struck him most was the group’s unity.

“I think it’s significant in view of the growing need for unity within Ottawa’s young adult population. Many go to different churches and attend different Christian groups, but this group opens an opportunity for interdenominational unity, which is an essential first step towards positive change in our city.”

While many Christians worry about the future of the Church, this group is raising the bar as they seek the heart of God for Ottawa and Canada. Looking ahead, Martin says God is stirring in her a vision to take their group even further.

“I want to see our group not grow in numbers necessarily, but to grow in passion. I want us to get to a places where we are taking the things we are praying for and seeing how we can put them to action in our daily lives.”