National ministries gather in Ottawa for prayer and a call to unity
“This is a statement, spiritually, that we commit ourselves to stand together as one body.”
Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer
With Canada in a pivotal season, local and national leaders are calling for a prayer gathering on a level unseen in Ottawa for the past 10 years.
“Our nation is poised for change. There is such an urgency to respond and restore righteousness. This can only be accomplished together in unity,” says Mark Redner who, with his wife Kiwanda, pastored for years in the Ottawa Valley and led prayer gatherings in Ottawa and across Canada. “This is a time where each voice is needed to shift our nation.”
A large group of national and regional ministries, including Watchmen for the Nations Canada, V-Kol Media, and the National House of Prayer are collaborating to host “As One” from August 7 to 10, at the Shaw Centre, in the heart of Ottawa.
“So many national ministries are choosing to walk together,” Redner says, “laying down their agendas and answering Jesus’ prayer in John 17.”
“We lean on Psalm 133, with the promised blessing that comes out of the unity of the brethren.”
Organizers are clear that As One is not about politics. There will be prayer for the upcoming election, but this is not about praying for a political or denominational agenda.
“Ultimately, it’s just seeking the face of the Lord for this nation and how we, as one body, stand together in the name of the Lord,” explains Fran Parker, of the National House of Prayer.
In addition to corporate prayer, the event will feature French and English worship teams, and some teaching. Organizers say they hope the diversity of believers represented reflects the diversity of Canadian society.
“We lean on Psalm 133, with the promised blessing that comes out of the unity of the brethren,” says Hany Boghossian, Chair of Mission GTA, which helps build unity among churches in the Toronto area. “We expect that those who are gathered, being a representation of the broader Body of Christ across the nation, would enter into a higher level of unity in their Christian experience and that that would be a seed for more unity in the broader body of Christ.”
“There are certain non-negotiables, as believers, that we stand for. That is what we come together on.”
Parker says there has been a growing wave of regional prayer gatherings across Canada in the last few years. As One grew out of those, but this growing trend is also part of a global movement of prayer and unity in the Body of Christ.
“I think there is a sense that has grown that we can’t go it alone,” says Parker. “It’s not just unity for the sake of ‘it looks good’ or to have a nice time. This is more a statement, spiritually, that we commit ourselves to stand together as one body, for God’s purposes.
“How can we fulfill His purposes if we are not willing to come together as one? I’m not talking about compromising biblical truth, it is the opposite. There are certain non-negotiables, as believers, that we stand for. That is what we come together on. All I can say is you will come away [from the As One event] knowing that God is in our midst.”
Similar Articles
Prosper celebrates 10 years of ministry with Synergy
Prosper and GPM are holding a concert to celebrate their 10th anniversary of music ministry. The “Synergy” concert, coming up on May 14 at Carleton University, also includes two-time Grammy nominee Fresh I.E., as well as Jermain […]
Ministries team up for free online benefit concert
Three leading Christian international development organizations have come together to stream a two-hour free benefit concert that they are calling Unite to Fight Poverty. The event features 21 major Christian artists, including Michael W. Smith, Toby Mac, and Hillsong […]
Hope for Afghanistan
Afghanistan. Despite boasting a population larger than Canada’s, Afghanistan has fewer Christians than the entire population of The Glebe. Yet, Pamir Ministries (a Canada-based Afghan ministry to Afghans) believes the nation could soon have one of the growing churches in the world. “Afghanistan is one of the least reached and hardest places […]
Reviving Counsell
John Counsell is back on the air. Counsell’s show “Late Night Counsell” airs live, exclusively online, weeknights from 9 until 11 p.m. “What? You thought I was just going to ride off into the sunset and […]
At-risk youth drawn into a better life at Ottawa Innercity Ministries
For more than a decade, Ottawa Innercity Ministries has been supplying at-risk and street-engaged youth artists with a safe place to express themselves. They call it the Innercity Arts Program. Every Wednesday and Thursday evening, marginalized […]
Lifecentre forms online discipleship community
Lifecentre has developed an online membership program to help disciple believers through COVID. The church’s Heartstrong Discipleship Initiative launches April 1 and will provide members with access to learning resources, support groups, and tools to help participants mature […]