PRAYER ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES CANADIAN CHURCH 

WINNIPEG - A crowd of more than 6,500 Christians from across the country
gathered for the Canadian Prayer Assembly on May 19, 2001. Like the
first national prayer gathering held last May in Ottawa, the event
brought Christians of all denominations together for collective prayer
and praise. The theme for the 2001 gathering was "Celebrating The
Church."

Before leading the crowd in communion and prayer, Gary Walsh, President
of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, asked everyone in attendance to
take a moment to ask themselves the following:

"Do I hold my brothers and sisters in high esteem? Do I fully respect
others regardless of the diversity we represent? Am I willing to do all
in my power to keep peace and unity within the fellowship of Christian
believers? Am I willing to mutually submit to others as we all submit to
Christ? Let us take these real challenges to God in prayer."

In response to what Walsh called these daily challenges for all
Christians, the crowd made "A Commitment To Canada" (a prayer found at
the end of this note). 

Dorcas Sawatsky, co-chair of the event, says that that the people with
whom she spoke were most moved by the moments when the crowd prayed
collectively.

"The spirit of unity was evident when all of the participants gathered
for prayer beforehand," she said. "All of us agreed that this act was
phenomenal. It would never have happened five years ago." 

Sawatsky said that another highlight from the prayer gathering was the
time of reconciliation between First Nations, English and French
peoples. She affirmed in the words of Ray Aldred, who chairs the EFC's
Aboriginal Task Force that "the healing has begun."

The chair for the Canadian Prayer Assembly, Brian Warren, agreed: "The
take-home value of the Prayer Assembly was in people recognizing the
unity of the Church. We asked the question, 'What does "Church" really
mean?' My prayer going into this event was that we would understand the
symbolism of ourselves as Christ's Body, Christ's Building and Christ's
Bride. This event was about celebrating who we are."

During the afternoon leading up to the gathering a special rally was
held for the younger members of the crowd. It drew 1,500. 

Of this portion of the event, Linda Milke, Director of Ministry
Advancement for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) says: "I was
very impressed with the vibrancy and enthusiasm of the worship, as well
as the respect that the young people showed as the message was
presented. The call for commitment and re-commitment to Christ near the
end of the youth session was overwhelming as several hundred made their
way down the aisles to declare their desire to follow Christ."


A Commitment To Canada:

We, who are citizens of Canada, humbly ask You, O God, to look upon us
with mercy and grace. From Your Word in Psalm 72, our founding fathers
took this motto, "He shall have Dominion also from sea to sea and from
the river to the ends of the earth."

We thank you, O God, that they recognized that You are over us as a
people. We thank you that their descendants aware of our need of Your
assistance, ask You to govern in the affairs of men, including in our
National Anthem these words, "God keep our land."

Sometimes, we are tempted to lose faith in our leaders and institutions.
And so we pray, as Paul directed in his first letter to Timothy, for
"all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all goodness and reverence." God keep our leaders.

We acknowledge, O God, that the family was the first institution You
created. That institution is now sorely beset, and we need Your help.
Intervene in strained marriages. Turn hearts of parents to their
children, and children to their parents. And save all family members
from abuse of any kind, that our homes might be safe places of refuge
and Christian love. God keep our families.

In these uncertain and perilous times, there are so many temptations to
be fearful. Recall to our minds, O God, all the nations who turned to
You in great need. You preserved and delivered them. Give wisdom and
courage and patience to all. God grant us wisdom.

We pray for peace between the peoples of Canada. Give each of us mercy
and compassion in our hearts, that we might love our neighbours as
ourselves. God grant us peace.

O God, for those of us who pray these prayers, pour out Your Spirit upon
us, that we may turn from our own way and go Your way more faithful than
ever before. God keep us true to You.

And finally, O Lord, grant that we as Christians may have the courage to
proclaim and act upon the Word of God, that our nation may be reached
for You and that You might truly have Dominion from sea to sea. God keep
our land.