A growing prayer movement stirs excitement about what is to come

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

“Anything is possible, when the spiritual leaders of a city begin to grow together in deep relational unity.”

Richard Long and many other city leaders say that growth is happening, and it’s largely happening through unified prayer.

Last fall, many local pastors and leaders gathered at Woodvale Pentecostal to pray together and discern what God is saying over the city. Pastor Mark Scarr, of Woodvale, says it was exciting, but they felt driven to do it again. They gathered with renewed urgency on January 18, 2023.

“If we want to impact our city together, we have to start by praying together,” Scarr states. “Let it birth out of prayer, let the walls come down between us. There’s an urgency, coming out of COVID, just to better impact our city, to trust and love each other, and to lean on the Holy Spirit.”

“The simple answer is that it seems to be a sovereign thing.”

While the unified prayer move among pastors is significant, it’s not an isolated event. Richard Long, of One Way Ministries, says there is something bigger going on in Ottawa.

“The simple answer is that it seems to be a sovereign thing. There is a growing hunger and thirst for spending time in God’s presence among spiritual leaders in every corner of the city. I also note that there were always a few churches who began each year with fasting and prayer. This year there are several more congregations who have begun the year with 21 days of fasting and prayer.”

At the morning prayer gathering, both Scarr and Long marked the words of Pastor Ken Roth, of Chapel Ridge Free Methodist Church. He said, “Historically, the Spirit of God brings a revival of prayer before He sends a revival of power.”

Sarah Jackson, of Pray Ottawa, noted those words, too. She also feels something significant is happening. Every Year, Pray Ottawa organizes “City on our Knees” (COOK)—a week of prayer for the Church to seek God at the beginning of the year. This year, COOK runs from January 15 to 21, and the pastor’s prayer gathering is part of it.

“We know that God answers prayers, He’s done that over and over.”

“It seems that leading into 2023, more group prayer was rising, and more people were adding fasting with their prayers. It humbles us. The Holy Spirit is shepherding us in the way forward,” she says. “I’m especially moved by the prayers for youth. We need to make the success of those coming after us more important than our own (I’m preaching to myself). And if this prayer rises, what might God be prepared to do to make them thrive?”

Another area seeing increased prayer is among Ottawa’s marketplace believers. As part of COOK, Johann van der Merwe (co-leader of One Way Ministries’ Workplace Network) organized a noon-hour Zoom prayer meeting with nearly 50 local marketplace believers. They had 20 representatives, each pray for two minutes for a different sector of business.

“There was no agenda, just to come together and pray for the different sectors we represent,” he says. “We know that God answers prayers, He’s done that over and over. This is the gift we received from God, to communicate with Him, to talk with Him directly. I think people are definitely seeing importance in it.”

van der Merwe says as believers increase their level of prayer it encourages and humbles them, and it builds their reliance on God.

“I believe that God is about to do something great. I just can’t shake what God wants to do in this city.”

While the growth in prayer is clearly organic, Long also sees another factor fueling the fire. “It’s spurred on by the arrival of new Canadians. Christians who come from places like South Korea, the Philippines, Latin America, and the nations of Africa, have a much ‘hotter’ culture when it comes to prayer. Daily prayer is normal to them and it is starting to rub off on the more lackadaisical Western Christianity.”

Long adds that he sensed a new energy propelling them forward at the two recent prayer gatherings. He believes it is a mark of the call God has for Ottawa.

“People of all denominations, national backgrounds, men and women, were quick to step into the prayer current. As pastors, we believe God is calling us—as a city-wide church—to become a ‘city of prayer,’ rather than being known for politics.”

“I think it’s the catalyst,” Scarr states. “I believe that God is about to do something great. I just can’t shake what God wants to do in this city. I believe he’s looking for His Church to lean in and be open to what he desires. I believe prayer is going to align our hearts with His blueprint, His plan, and I can’t wait to see what He says.”