THEPRAYERMAGAZINEINCLUDESVARIOUS EVENTS,ARTICLESANDJOINTMISSION PROJECTSDESIGNEDTOBRINGPASTORSAND MINISTRYLEADERSTOGETHERINLIFEGIVING COMMUNITYTOWORSHIP,LEARN,ANDGROW TOGETHER
UNITEDPRAYERFORDECATUR PHONE:1-217-855-8006
WWW.UNITEDPRAYERFORDECATUR.COM
VISION FOR UNITED PRAYER FOR DECATUR AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS
by David and Kathy Andrade
The Vision
To inspire and equip Pastors and Christian Leaders to transform their cities for Christ, through the power of united prayer, evangelism, and Spirit-led living
The Purpose
To share stories of city-wide evangelism efforts, and intercessory prayer initiatives that inspire pastors and Christian leaders to pursue similar corporate endeavors in their own cities throughout Illinois.
To Equip believers withpractical tools, strategies, and resources to help pastors and Christian leaders effectively reach their cities for Christ
To offer practical resources, such as book reviews, conference announcements, and ministry spotlights, to help pastors and Christian leaders in their ministry endeavors.
To unite the church to focus on common ground to foster a sense of unity and cooperation among pastors and Christian leaders across denominational and geographical lines, to promote city-wide evangelism and intercessory prayer efforts
The intent is to highlight the work of pastors and Christian leaders who are making a significant impact in their cities through evangelism, intercessory prayer, and other forms of ministry.
To provide informative articles, interviews, and testimonies on topics such as city-wide evangelism, intercessory prayer, worship, and Christ-centered living
To motivate pastors and Christian leaders to take action in their own cities, to pursue a unified vision for city-wide transformation.
Some of the topics will include City-wide Evangelism Strategies and stories of city-wide evangelism efforts, including outreach initiatives, crusades, and other forms of evangelism.
How to raise up intercessory prayer in city-wide transformation, including testimonies, strategies, and other resources
Articles that are about inviting the Holy Spirit into Decatur and central Illinois like worship, leadership, songwriting, and other related areas.
Practical articles and testimonies on living a Christ-centered life, including topics such as discipleship, spiritual growth, and leadership development.
Target Readers
Pastors and church leaders who are passionate about city-wide transformation
THE GLOBAL MISSIONS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
by Bill Erickson – Area Director for International Friendships Inc. – Champaign, IL
Ministry leaders, evangelists, and other Christian leaders who are passionate about city-wide evangelism and intercessory prayer efforts
Intercessors and the people of prayer that believe that God answers prayer and will do what we can't if we will ask Him.
The magazine will be published quarterly, with each issue focusing on a specific theme or topic related to city-wide transformation
The magazine will be available in both digital and print formats, with the digital version being available online and the print version distributed at churches.
The Global Missions Significance of the University of Illinois
The University of Illinois was established by the State of Illinois as a land-grant institution in 1867. At that time, it was known as the Illinois Industrial University The University opened its doors in 1868, with a main focus on engineering, agriculture and military training, along with an openness for other opportunities for learning as well Its mission carried with it a philosophy that it would welcome all, regardless of social status. The initial spark that brought the University into being was a private company’s effort to build a seminary in downstate Illinois called the Urbana and Champaign Institute
In 1859, a development company that had built a seminary in northern Illinois began plans for the construction of a similar seminary building in the open farmland
between Urbana and West Urbana (later renamed Champaign). The plans for a very largeseminarybuildingbegantotakeshape, but with it, thoughts of an even larger academic undertaking, the Illinois Industrial University, began to be realized by the local community The Civil War and funding challenges slowed the momentum of these local intentions. The concrete foundation for the seminary building was put in place, but further construction of the building was delayed due to lack of funds. Its construction remained dormant and the seminary developers started looking for a buyer to rescue them from their financial predicament.
In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, which awarded several states grants of land parcels for the creation of public universities. With federal provision for land now available, new life was breathed into the hopes of local residents for academic development.Othercommunitiesin
downstateIllinoisalsobegantocompetefor this land-grant prize. Seeing an advantage, Champaign County decided to purchase the unfinished seminary building in 1864 and quickly completed its construction Their offertotheStateofasitethatalreadyhada usableuniversitystructureonitbecameone of the major deciding components in the selection of the Urbana location for Illinois’ first public university With a name change in 1885 to the University of Illinois – UrbanaChampaign, and with one of the best agricultural soils in the world under its feet, the U of I quickly sprung into global recognitionandsignificance(1).
Over time, the spiritual significance of the University of Illinois in God’s agenda also began to emerge as well. In 1948, the U of I became the permanent site of Intervarsity’s Urbana Missions Conference for the next 55 years. The conference regularly instilled a compelling vision for world missions in the hearts of believers who came from across theUSandfrommanyothernations.It
THE GLOBAL MISSIONS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
by Bill Erickson – Area Director for International Friendships Inc. – Champaign, IL
At its peak, as many as 19,000 attendees gathered in the U of I’s basketball arena to consider God’s world mission call. Local churches embraced this global vision, and a multitude of local volunteers came together in unity of purpose to clean campus rooms, provide guest rooms in their own homes, and transport attendees and speakers around the campus Globally known missionaries, pastors and evangelists came to share their heart for the world to know of Jesus Christ. Though no longer held in Urbana after 2003, the conference has continued in various cities in the US and still goes by its Urbana Missions Conference title (3)
In 2025, the academic evaluator, EduRank.org, which assesses over 14,000 universities from 183 countries in a wide spectrum of research areas, has placed the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at 19 among US universities, 24 globally, and in the top 10 in 51 out of about 250 research topics that they consider (2) The U of I’s student enrollment this year is reported to be at around 56,000 Over 135 nations have students and visiting scholars attending the U of I with upwards of 15,000 internationals enrolled in this 2024-2025 school year (4) Spouses and children who come here with them add hundreds more to that number.
th th
The world truly is right at our doorstep! Sadly though, it is estimated that 70% of these international visitors on our US campuses never experience the genuine friendship of an American from the local community or get invited into an American’s home. As the Body of Christ, we can do much to change this! We are commissioned by the Lord to make disciples of all nations. The Lord is giving us a tremendous opportunity to fulfill His global directive through His bringing the nations right here to us!
As local believers become willing to extend welcoming friendship and sincere care to them, the apprehensions and barriers that arise, in reaching out cross-culturally, will quickly diminish as we experience their appreciation. As trusted friendship is built, hearts can open up, permitting us to explain the hope we have in Christ and to offer prayer for their personal needs and then see those prayers answered! Holy Spirit’s enabling gifts can be employed to quicken the revelation of who God truly is and to bring an understanding of His great love for this world in the atoning gift of His only begotten Son.
His manifest presence will speed this sending process dramatically!
The nations are the reward that will be given to our Lord Jesus Christ for His suffering – a great inheritance for Him and one that we will treasure as well for all eternity! May we be praying into and acting upon God’s great harvest agenda for our American campuses! We especially pray for a mighty move of Your Spirit, Lord, at the University of Illinois!
In times past, You expressed Your global purposes here through the Urbana Mission Conference. May that global vision now be revived and expressed in the lives of the thousands of internationals who You have gathered here on this campus. May Your waves of awakening and redemptive power move upon the University of Illinois and its surrounding communities and ripple out in waves, from here in Central Illinois, into the nations for Your glory!
One in four of those walking the U of I’s sidewalks is from another country of the world! This offers us a globally-impacting potential in reach out to these international guests with the truth of the gospel while they are here They arrive here continuously in the rural harvest fields of Central Illinois to come within reach of the Lord’s Great Harvest intentions!
As God pours His Spirit out on campuses across our nation many American students will find that their degrees will give them access to Kingdom-advancing international involvement Others will hear the call to go by becoming missionaries abroad Many of the internationals that we impact here will find that the Lord will be calling them to become global evangelists, disciple makers and mountain-influencers in their own nation and other nations where their degrees take them! As revival breaks out among God’s people, the demonstration of
4.Illinois Division of Management Informationhttps://dmi.illinois.edu/stuenr/index.htm
HOLY SPIRIT SUPERNATURAL SCHOOL OF MINISTRY
Equipping the Saints for the Work of Ministry
The Apostle Paul said that the Kingdom of God is not in Word only but in the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. Our God is a Supernatural God. Our Bible is a Supernatural Book concerning who our God is and His Kingdom. Everything that pertains to Jesus is Supernatural. Our identity and authority in Jesus Christ are supernatural. We are a supernatural spirit in a body The academic aspect of scripture is not to prove that we are just flesh and blood but that our God is supernatural and that we need to activate and demonstrate who He is to a world in desperate need of Him. Christian Ministry education should be about transformation.
The school is about equipping students for ministry and service in everyday life Our Christian Studies Programs offer a comprehensive approach to education, combining academic rigor with spiritual formation and supernatural application
Transforming Minds and Hearts
The Supernatural School of Ministry is designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of God's Word and how it applies to their lives With the variety of courses and experiences, students can expect to grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally Our faculty and mentors are experienced and dedicated to student success, providing guidance and support every step of the way.
Equipping for Ministry and Service
Whether you're called to ministry, service, or simply living out your faith in everyday life, our programs provide the training and equipping you need to make a difference From biblical studies to practical ministry
experiences, our courses are designed to help you develop the skills and confidence you need to serve God and others
Academic Excellence
Our programs are built on a foundation of academic excellence, with courses that are both challenging and engaging Our faculty are experts in their fields, and our curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Christian theology, biblical studies, and ministry practices
Spiritual Formation
In the Holy Spirit Supernatural School of Ministry, we believe that spiritual formation is an essential part of Christian education The programs include opportunities for spiritual growth and development along with opportunities for mission trips. We encourage students to deepen their relationship with God and to seek His guidance and direction in their lives.
Mentorship Educational
We believe that community and mentorship are essential components of Christian studies Our programs provide opportunities for students to connect with others around the world who share their passions and
by David and Kathy Andrade
interests They are given guidance and support from experienced faculty and mentors.
Activation and Demonstration
Our programs include hands-on experiences and practical applications that help students put their knowledge into practice. From ministry projects to internships, we provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their skills and to make a difference in their communities
Join Us
If you're looking for a transforming Christian education, we invite you to explore our programs further at prayusa.org/school. Contact us today to learn more about how you can unlock your supernatural potential and make a difference in the world
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN OUR CHRISTIAN JOURNEY
by Jill Kerby
There must be a profound recognition of spiritual gifts in our Christian journey Spiritual gifts are the preparation for fulfilling our callings and their contributions to the church are edifying and revitalizing. When we recognize and operate in our talents, we partner with God to accomplish His plans for Creation.
Understand that each of us were blessed with gifts which serve as conduits for Divine power and with those gifts comes understanding of God’s Will Transformation of mankind begins with us 1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of God’s many-sided grace ” Using the gifts we were given isn’t merely a responsibility, it is a Divine mandate if we are to serve others and glorify God.
Why has this subject come up now? What was my purpose in writing it? War we have been at war and right now it is intensifying If the church doesn’t get it together, how many more chances does humanity have left to survive. I wrote this because the outcome of war will be glorious if we pick up our armor and bring our gifts to the battlefield.
It is easy to forget we are in a war, some have missed it all together The truth is that this war, like none ever experienced before, is raging all around us The battle we are in is raging in the unseen realm but it has intensified so much that we are seeing it now. Eph 6:12 “For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm ” Good is at war with evil
But we are not without defenses! We have
armor (put it on) and we have talents (invest them in the war) The one we fight against is no slouch he is cunning, he is relentless and he is strategic
He is not going to stop until he has devoured those who are unprepared or … unaware. That is not who we were created to be… we have access to supernatural Help that is more powerful than anything our enemy has in his arsenal - IF we are prepared and use it Spiritual battles are not fought with natural means 2 Cor 10:4 says that our intelligence, physical strength or human resources will not win this war. The enemy of God’s people fights in a realm that will absolutely require a level of power and authority that only God possesses. We are vulnerable… He is not, but with God, we are more than conquerors.
ever think He has left us defenseless
The Armor of God has been spelled out for us in Eph 6. Each and every piece of armor protects us and empowers us in battle… not just right now, the world is and has always been a battle.
Let’s consider the types of Supernatural gifts God provides in spiritual warfare Don’t
We have angelic assistance, and we can see it all through God’s Word Angels struck
.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN OUR CHRISTIAN JOURNEY
down the Assyrian army to protect Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35)
Angelic armies surrounded Elisha (2 Kings 6:17) as well. God is still deploying angel armies to fight the war we ARE IN today. God will not stop protecting and empowering us in the battles of the world.
Prayer and fasting are power sources, and in fact, it is one of the most powerful weapons in our arsenal Through prayer and fasting, we are intimately connected to the throne room that Divine place where we receive strategy, strength and… breakthrough. Fasting is like the fuel that intensifies the fire of prayer. You could fast every day (in a way) if you were to engage with God before your feet ever touch the floor. How is that? Coffee, breakfast, phone or t.v. is not touched until you have touched God in prayer I see it on FB all the time where coffee and everything is gathered up so folks can have ‘quiet’ time none of that is necessary and (I think) it’s all better left until after morning prayers. Besides, time spent with God in prayer is rarely ‘quiet’ time… He is ready to start the day with you and has a lot to share!
The Blood the blood of Jesus was shed for us, and it is the ultimate weapon of victory The blood cleanses us from our sins and protects us from the enemy’s accusations and attacks Is it in your arsenal?
The gifts that we receive from the Holy Spirit of God are empowering, and so to not recognize or use them, we are incredibly vulnerable. Ignoring our gifts robs us of discernment, wisdom, prophecy and makes it impossible to see what the enemy is doing, and we have no way of using the strategies that God has given us That is
ultimately our demise, because without the incredible gifts we were given, we are unable to navigate the twists and turns of warfare
Let’s look at the ‘how-tos’ of applying our gifts to warfare. We must be intentional, proactive, and I think… unconventional. ‘Unconventional’ doesn’t mean changing anything God offers us, it means to use our gifts in ways we have not before. We are not in a war of guns, tanks and military on our streets This war is spiritual, and while history will repeat itself, we must be able to ‘see’ beyond what has occurred in the past What is the enemy doing now? What is God doing now?
So, how do we apply our gifts? STAY in the Word of God. His Word is our ‘war’ manual. In it, we find God’s promises, His strategies, and authority! The authority we have in Jesus His Word will regularly refresh and renew our spirits
LIVE IN PRAYER… the lifeline to God. Prayer must be a daily priority, it honors Him to seek His guidance, His protection and His power not to mention favor and provision
WALK OBEDIENTLY…
positions us to be under God’s covering. Submitting to His Will aligns us with His purpose and opens wide a door for His supernatural help to flow in our lives
by Jill Kerby
FASTING will sharpen our senses and increase sensitivity to God’s Holy Spirit It can enable us to break through barriers that once seemed immoveable
DECLARE the shed blood of Jesus over your life, your family and your challenges. The enemy cannot overcome anything God ordains… and you win.
ACTIVATING faith is the key that opens the supernatural for you
BELIEVE that God delivers on His promises, speak them out loud and stand firmly in the face of adversity… knowing that you know God will deliver.
You and I are not alone in this war. He has given us everything we will need to stand, to fight and to win “You, children, are from God and have overcome the false prophets, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world ”
MUSIC AS WORSHIP: THE SACRED CONNECTION
by Wes Brooks
There is nothing quite like stepping into a room where worship is taking place, filled with prayer and Presence I wonder how many pass by a church unaware of the very thing they need within its walls. Worship brings life, bringing a transformative and Godly posture for the course of life. Worship is often expressed in music, as music has a place in every heart. Music is the creation of God, a living language we naturally inherit as creative beings What is a language for?
Connection How then does music connect to worship as worship connects us to God?
Worship celebrates It adores It contends It champions. It connects. Worship fills us with what sustains life. Jesus spoke of a food “you know not of.” Worship is communion. It is reception and transmission, the inlet and outflow of the “living water” Christ came to make The Way for
The content of music dramatizes and draws up the expression of life’s emotions and events, and musical worship is no exception, but for the anointing to empower it with the manifest presence of God. Godless music, even if technically excellent, cannot compete. No other artform so boldly and effortlessly translates heavenly things into sensory things like music does. Soundwaves confirm that light has life
As tongues are a language of the spirit, so is music “Better to have a heart without words than words without a heart,” said John Bunyan (on the subject of prayer). Music embodies the sanctity of beauty, the order and aliveness of God in His creation, His aliveness in our breaths renewed every day, the substance of honor and praise all things have to hold in their Creator-Redeemer
Music is an essential part of the created order, taking part in what it is to worship The heart of music comes to us from our Maker and can return to Him from us Musical worship recognizes what a song can really be, participating in the God-given communication spanning Heaven and Earth
Worship is an act of lively communion with the Living God, the Creator who gives each person a voice in His championing song of life unto everlasting life. “The move of God is evident today by the joy in our hearts, the melody that is within us,” said Lester Sumrall about the Holy Spirit in believers. As notes of music are to be found and played, so it is with man and God. A cosmic duet ensues
while worship on Earth speaks into that whichhangsinthebalance
MUSIC AS WORSHIP: THE SACRED CONNECTION
Worship can arise as a crescendo for Heaven and Earth in the battlefield for life, rising as a bond of the church to accomplish spiritual goals even for a whole region, mounting as a heart-cry for the world. Worship seeks prophetic commensuration to God’s will, and thus cries for all things to belong to God and His Kingdom, belonging in full to the song-breathed beings of God made right in Him. Worship can cry out to God for His goodness, waiting in His weighty presence, pleading for righteousness to prevail Worship can hold the kind of desperation that cuts through to the core of being Worship says, “I am here, and so, here I am, as You are who You are, the great ‘I Am.’”
Lyrics poetically transmit the meaning of musical worship through words to make plain their holy intent, while sheer melody, timbre, and sonic qualities stand as holy and significant parts of the expressed, created order also revealing God’s nature Music can clarify the heart of God in ways otherwise “lost in translation” by stale religion or unlearned interest, able to bypass barriers of the intellect while an active intelligence no less governs the reception and creation of music as they affect the heart and soul.
As a musician at conferences, services, and special events, something takes over when I play the cajon I pray to the Holy Spirit to guide me, and like any musician should, I listen to the room and to the musicians I am accompanying most often while playing with my mom and dad, who were led by the Lord to found THREE O’CLOCK SESSION. My hands become airborne, and I know that the Spirit is helping me, ushering me into what is needed, into whatever the moment calls for It is gratifying to apply musicianship in a
directedly spiritual way, as if to uncover what music has always been
Spirit-led worship is much like the interconnectivity enjoyed by Heaven Each instrument affirming the other, creating the soundwave for the Lord through the unity of the Body. Every sound is produced by the body but is grown and achieved in the spirit. Musicianship is a momentous exchange of feedback and giving, of attentive inlet and outflow. Worship comes from unity and from the God who makes the music we discover.
The transformational power of music, when paired with the Spirit, is union It is inner and corporate renewal Jesus heals and so does music when it rests on “spirit and truth ”
by
Wes Brooks
We have seen and heard many stories of lives changed by music ministry I recently overheard my dad, Dave, say to my mom, Donna, that songwriting is an “experiential apologetic There are few experiential apologists If it’s just talk, it’s an incomplete message ”
What my dad means by this is that musical worship can serve to reveal the validity of God’s presence at work in our lives. If a picture is worth a thousand words, music is worth a thousand pictures. Godly, worshipful music is then a creative arm of The Word, of His Heart in motion with ours in the panoply of sound and spirit on earth as it is in heaven
THE HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
by David and Kathy Andrade
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land
The National Day of Prayer has its roots in early American history Here are key milestones in its establishment and reestablishment
1775: The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer, asking the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation
1841: William Harrison's Death: President John Tyler issued a Day of Prayer and Fasting after Harrison's death, emphasizing the need for national humility
1849 Zachary Taylor's Proclamation: During a cholera epidemic, Taylor proclaimed a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer, encouraging Americans to seek God's mercy
1863: President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer" during the Civil War stating that the nation's sins had led to the war and that Americans needed to humble themselves before God
1988: The law was amended and signed by President Ronald Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May
1918 World War I: President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a Day of Public Humiliation, Prayer, and Fasting asking Americans to pray for God's forgiveness and protection
1944 World War II: Franklin D Roosevelt prayed for God's guidance and protection during the D-Day invasion of Normandy
1952: Congress established the National Day of Prayer as an annual event through a joint resolution signed into law by President Harry S Truman And has been observed annually, through a joint resolution signed into law by President Harry S Truman with each president signing a proclamation to encourage Americans to pray on this day
1988: The law was amended and signed by President Ronald Reagan, designating the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May
Annual Observance: Each year, the President signs a proclamation encouraging Americans to pray on this day, promoting unity and reflection
From the earliest days of our Nation’s journey, America has been guided by the grace of Almighty God Beginning with the opening prayer at the First Continental Congress in 1774, our faith has perpetually stood as the summit of our strength, the source of our unity, and the fount of our greatness. This National Day of Prayer, we thank God for His endless blessings ‐- and we ask Him to grant us fortitude, wisdom, and a renewed spirit of justice as we continue the work to save our country and restore our national promise
Across every chapter of our grand American story from General George Washington’s humble prayer at Valley Forge to Reverend Billy Graham’s legendary rallies in the heart of Manhattan to the somber National Prayer Service in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, our greatest leaders have always recognized the necessity of faith, prayer, and devotion to God. As President Washington famously stated in his seminal Farewell Address, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports ”
2025 PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
by Trisha Koestler
For these reasons, my Administration is fighting to defend America’s longstanding legacy of prayer, faith, and trust in God As President, I proudly established Task Forces to eradicate religious bias by combatting anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and additional forms of anti-religious bias They are charged with the mandate to identify and eliminate all anti‐religious policies,
practices, and conduct in executive departments and agencies In addition, I established the White House Faith Office in order to strengthen our families and to protect our religious freedom I will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty and protecting God in our public square
2025 PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
by Trisha Koestler
Nine months ago on July 13, 2024, my faith took on new meaning An assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of ending my life In that instant, as Secret Service crowded around and knocked me to the ground, I felt what seemed to be the supernatural hand of God. I believe that God spared my life for a reason to save our country and restore America to greatness. It serves as a sacred reminder of our Creator’s infinite goodness, guidance, and grace
Through America’s victories and defeats, triumphs and setbacks, and periods of peace and times of war, the divine force of prayer has unfailingly sustained our people, our culture, and our beloved Nation It was faith that guided our ancestors across turbulent waters to Plymouth Rock. It was faith that inspired our Founding Fathers to put in writing those immortal words, “All men are created equal.” It is faith that freed our Nation from the clutches of tyranny nearly 250 years ago, and it is faith that has rescued our freedom from forces of evil time and time again
This National Day of Prayer, we recognize that the true strength of the American spirit has always been found in churches, chapels, pews, parishes and synagogues, and the hearts and souls of our citizens of faith. Today and every day, we bow our heads in prayer to thank God for His countless gifts and to ask for His divine protection Above all, we acknowledge that prayer is the foundation of our past, the guiding hand of ourpresent,andthelightofourfuture
In 1988, the Congress, by Public Law 100307, as amended, called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer, “on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”
2025 PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
by Trisha Koestler
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2025, as a National Day of Prayer. I encourage all Americans to observe this day, reflecting on the blessings our Nation has received and the importance of prayer, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities in their houses of worship, communities, and places of work, schools, and homes.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth
DONALD
J. TRUMP
PRAYER AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN URBANA - APRIL 12, 2025
by Bill and Donna Erickson
We are very thankful for the group of 9 who prayed at the Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana on Passover, April 12, 2025! It was wonderful to join with all 102 counties in Illinois in this Body of Christ effort to close the doors of evil in our State and open the doors for the Kingdom of God to enter in and reign here - on Earth as it is in Heaven!
We also prayed for revival and awakening to break forth on the University of Illinois campus!
Near the end of the prayer time one of our participants had a picture of Jesus coming and covering us with His big cloak, like a hen covering her chicks How interesting thatthis unified 102 county prayer effort on Passover, April 12th, also happened to be held on the 102nd day of the year! Praise the Lord!
Blessings to all of the participants who gathered and to all who prayed from other locations!
A TABLE FOR MY BELOVED
The table is set and there is a seat for you, Refreshing, restoring, a place to renew
All the passions burning deep inside
The place where My purpose for you abides.
The past, the missteps have all been a part, Of the story you’ll tell…the restoration of your heart
The purpose you have is intertwined in My hand
It gives you strength when it is too difficult to stand
So, will you come and take your seat at My table?
Will you sit with me when you feel weak and unable?
I want to show you, A Father’s love and compassion, Wash you with My Word, give you a life that’s everlasting Embrace the journey and let your heart’s song sing
Come away with Me as I reveal to you my heart, the heart of the King.
-Your loving Father
by Amy Sargeant
WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY - NUMBERS 23:19
by Anita Mason
Early one morning reading my journal, I read a scripture from John 17:17 that seemed to jump off the page at me “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth ” Christ is asking the Father to sanctify the disciples by His Word.
The way I understand this statement of Christ’s, is that there is sanctification that occurs when we read God's word. Christ stated in His word that we would do greater things than He did Does this mean our words are sanctified when we speak His Word? This is hard to imagine, but again His Word is truth “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor son of a man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19. This insightful declaration reveals God's Word Power.
God's word is quick, alive and sharper than any two-edged sword It divides spirit from soul and bone from marrow Isn't this what truth does when it comes from God's Word In turn, when we speak, quote, declare, or degree God's Word something profoundly spiritual and supernatural happens. That Word shoots like an arrow into whatever we speak into.
Selah! – Pause and think about that In many instances, God put words in man’s mouth, whether they were for him or against Him One example in Numbers 23, “the Lord put a sword in Balaam’s mouth ’ The Word did its work. If God wants something done, He will use whosoever or whatsoever He chooses to get the job done.
The point I want to emphasize is Christ said we will be able to do what He did and even more
He said in John 15:3, “you are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you ” As we use God's Word there is a cleansing that occurs in us In turn, as we speak God’s to others there is a cleansing impartation that occurs in them The way that I interpret all that is that we have the same “word quickening power” when we speak Christ and the Father’s word to those He directs us to. Remember we cannot bear this kind of fruit unless we are abiding in Christ. (John 15:4)
God gives us authority; however, He also gives us instructions how and where to use our delegated authority The truth and meditative thought that I am soaking in, is the power of God’s Word when Imparted to us Just think about the impact that words have on us They have the same impact on others when we speak His Word What I am sensing id that every word we release has a spirit power attached to it Does it build up or tear down? Does it bring life or death? (Proverbs 18:21) Any word spoken that has this kind of power must have a spirit propelling it.
Spirit Power
Back to my point, because of Christ and what He imparted to us, as His disciples, we have Spiritual Word Power in the natural and the Spirit It is our responsibility to search
out the depth of this profound truth. The Word says, “My people perish for lack of knowledge; you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” What is freedom? It is total liberty in whom you are and who the Holy Spirit is forming you to be As I interpret God’s Word, it is my responsibility to study to show myself approved rightly dividing His Word (Spirit form Soul and Bone from Marrow) How? Forever learning and searching the depth of truth that God spoke to us through Christ. Also, to understand and examine what Christ spoke to His disciples about the Supernatural Power of His Words.
Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? Because they have not
Jun. 19th 11:30 am Jul. 24th 11:30 am Aug. 21st 11:30 am Jun.19th11:30am Jul. 24th11:30am Aug.21st11:30am
MARANATHA CHURCH DECATUR
DECREES AND DECLARATIONS FOR DECATUR AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS
by Sandy Hiser
continued
received Christ to allow Him to impart His Word into us to sanctify us. When the truth is revealed to us the power of the Word truly becomes a two-edged sword that divides truth from error, spirit from soul and truly cleanses us and sanctifies us
It is my responsibility to know what my authority is, that Christ has imparted to me. Thank you, Christ, for revealing the Father to me. Lord, make your Words like fire in my mouth (Jeremiah 5:14) and a fire in my bones. (Jeremiah 20:9-10)
1 We decree the gates of Decatur, and this region are open so the King of Glory can come in We declare Jesus is Lord over Decatur and our region Psalms 140:1-4
Deliver me, OLord, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men, Who plan evil things intheirhearts; They continually gather togetherforwar. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; Thepoison of aspsisunder their lips.Selah Keep me, OLord, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men, Who have purposed to make my steps stumble
1 Deliver our communities from evil men and preserve our region from violent men and from the hand of the wicked
2. We decree and declare our governmental leadership would make correct decisions based on God’s purposes for our communities.
3. We decree God would raise up righteous and moral leaders.
4. We decree that Holy Spirit would shift our citizens from indifference to the gospel but put a thirst and hunger in them for truth.
5. We decree life over our young people that they would no longer be listless but would become a generation with purpose and destiny
6 We decree just as Decatur feeds the world in the natural, it will begin to feed the world spiritually
7 The power of life and death are in the tongue. We decree life over our region and life more abundantly.
8. We decree no more death over Decatur and Central Illinois.
9. We release comfort to every grieving family from gang and gun violence.
CONTEXT IS KING
by Dave Fitch
Our culture, and even our American Christian Church, doesn’t do a good job of explaining the context of the Bible, but let’s explore that now The Bible is a documentary that starts with the beginning of the world and ends with the end of our world. Since we’re living somewhere in between those two points in time, it’s relevant to our lives and we’re part of this story. We’re just not specifically mentioned.
But it’s not a fiction It’s all one big, interrelated, true story – which means that we either have to accept it in whole or reject it in whole That’s not the way the vast majority of pastors present it each Sunday. The Bible claims to be the truth – the one and only truth of our universe. Jesus told us in John 14:6 that he is the truth. His very nature and essence, and his word about Him, the Bible, is the one and only truth that exists in the universe
I’ve come to realize that this is true - and therefore I accept the Bible in whole – from the very first verse – to the very last verse
This conundrum was probably best described by C S Lewis, when he said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance The only thing it cannot be is moderately important ” Since Christianity is true, it is of infinite importance It explains the beginning of everything and the end of everything. And it can explain everything that is happening in between.
By definition, everything that happens between the beginning of the earth and the end of the earth is part of God’s plan. Therefore, everything that happens is explainable and, to some extent, predictable
There are some serious implications to our lives since that is true By definition then, every other book, or set of rules, that doesn’t align with God’s word, is not true The majority of what we hear from our culture - is not truth
There’s a key brick in the foundation of God’s truth that is often overlooked by even our Christian churches because it’s politically incorrect today.
If you do your homework, the truth is available. We’re not going to hear it on the nightly news, or in our universities, or Hollywood movies or even our local elementary school.
It’s documented for us in Matthew chapter 7 as Jesus tells us to “Enter through the narrow gate For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it ”
Jesus himself tells us that the majority of people are living their lives on the wide road It’s wide because so many are on it The narrow path is narrow because so few ever “find it.”
This passage lays out a dichotomous theme that is foundational to understanding the Bible but I almost never hear pastors mention it. It’s a common theme throughout the Bible that is revealed in a wide variety of ways:
Pleasing God or pleasing man
The wheat and the tares
· Sheep and goats
· Heaven or hell
· One immutable truth from God, or relative truth determined by man
· Five wise virgins who were allowed to enter and five foolish ones that weren’t Good fruit or bad fruit
Spiritually dead or spiritually alive
Blessing or cursing
Rebellion or submission
God’s kingdom or the world
I could go on and on and on There are hundreds and hundreds of examples of this dichotomous choice we all face, based on a dichotomous truth – meaning there are only two options to choose from - either we accept God as who He says he is or we reject Him as who He says He is. If we accept Him as who He says He is, we have to accept His word, and accept that it is the truth from the very first verse to the very last verse. That’s a very blunt perspective that is not politically correct in today’s culture But that’s the choice we face, whether we want to admit it or not We don’t make the truth go away by ignoring it True faith in the one true God is countercultural.
by Dave Fitch
Can you consider that something might be true even if the majority of the people around you don’t believe it’s true? If we’re unable to consider something as possibly true when it IS true, we’re stuck in a rut of believing things even when they are objectively not true – just because it’s the popular thing to believe at the time. That forces us to evaluate all new information through a lens that is lying to us.
As I was driving west in the early morning on a sunny November day, I saw something in the southwest sky that I thought looked like a flock of birds
Then I thought, “It might be a cloud ” Then I looked around the horizon to the south and
CONTEXT IS KING
by Dave Fitch
saw another similar shape in the south sky
When I looked around to the northwest and north, I noticed a lot of similar looking shapes but these were whiter in color (because the sun was shining on the side I was looking at) and they were definitely clouds.
Now when I looked back at the original shape, and looked at it again in context, knowing there were a number of other similar shaped objects that were definitely clouds, it looked obviously like a cloud. I could interpret it in the proper perspective and I was quick to identify it as definitely a cloud and not a flock of birds
We do this daily with all new information we process We evaluate new information in a context, the context of what we know and have experienced If we’ve been mostly exposed to the world’s interpretation, we’re going to interpret the new information in THAT context. We have to make sure we fully understand the full, true context of our world.
For example, if we don’t know we have an opponent, we’re not going to be looking for it If we don’t know that there is one and only one truth in the world, we’re not going to know there is only one measuring stick to use to compare all new information to If we think there’s a continuum on which we can all find our spot that we’re comfortable with, we won’t know that there’s a common theme throughout the Bible of a DICHOTOMOUS choice that we will all make whether we realize it or not There’s no gray area in between
Does an inch in life equal an inch or can we all make up our own tape measures and pretend that we can build something together that will fit just fine – when one person’s so-called “inch” really equals 1 1/8” and someone else’s “inch” really equals 7/8ths of an inch Are you going to hire a builder that employs a team where everybody can make up their own inch? If we so easily recognize the stupidity of that in real life, why are we so willing to make truth relative in our society when it comes to character, family, and right and wrong?
Make sure you and your family know that thereisoneandonlyonetruetapemeasure to use and that is the nature of God and His word Then use that tape measure, or that lens, to interpret the world around us and properly interpret all new information Whenweunderstandthetruecontextofthe worldinwhichwelive,we’reabletousethe one and only truth to understand current events.
In the next issue, we’ll use that foundation and that context to look at how we can use that foundational concept of our dichotomous choice to interpret current events – everything that’s happening in between the beginning of the earth and the endoftheearth. Godbless.
HAVE YOU TOLD SOMEONE TODAY ABOUT JESUS?
People without Jesus are on their way to hell and we can be used by God to change that! We can tell them that Jesus died for them and that they can have eternal life with Him They must repent (surrender) and turn their lives around to live for Him This week let us give someone the opportunity to accept Jesus into they life. If we do not tell them about Him who will? If you need help in sharing your faith with others here is a suggestion on how to do this …
ALVATION SCRIPTURES
Who has sinned?
Romans 3:23 –“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ”
The price for sin
Romans 6:12 - – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord ”
How much does God love us?
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life ”
Who paid the price?
Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us ”
The only way to be saved
Acts 3:19 – “Repent, then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, then times of refreshing may come from the Lord ”
John 14:6 – I am the way, the truth, and the life No one comes to the Father except through me ”
Romans 10:9 - ”if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved ”
Claim God’s promise for your salvation
Romans 10:13 – “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Sample Prayer
God, I know that I have sinned against You and my sins have separated me from You.I am sorry and ask you to forgive me.I want to turn away from my past and live my life for You I believe that Jesus died for my sins and was resurrected from the dead and hears my prayer right now I invite Jesus to rule in my heart as I give my life to Him Amen
EVENT CALENDAR
THESE MEETINGS ARE HELD AT THE GUIDING LIGHT HEALING ROOMS
237 E MARYLAND HEIGHTS RD
ILLINOIS 62526
Guiding Light Ministries Healing Rooms
Tuesday evenings- 6:30 PM Director: Larry Duncan
Gathering of Intercessors
2nd Saturday monthly-10 AM - 1 PM
Hosted by Advancing the Troops, Director: Sandy Hiser
Power Surge
3rd Saturday monthly-9:30 AM - 11 AM
Hosted by Joshua Company Ministries, Director: Anita Mason
Round Table Discussion
4th Thursday monthly-1 PM - 3 PM
Hosted by Advancing the Troops, Director: Sandy Hiser
EVENT CALENDAR
MONTHY MINISTRY MEETINGS IN DECATUR
United Prayer For Decatur and Central Illinois
Pastors and Leaders Luncheon
3rd Thursday monthly – 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Marantha Church, 555 W. Imboden Dr, Decatur Illinois 62521
All are invited to come to pray for our pastors, leaders, city and region
