Praise God! The news from Topeka is, at last, positive. God has started some major works here in Topeka once again, and He has done it entirely without my assistance! In the past, I have issued frequent calls for unified effort here (see Plan for Unified Topeka Evangelism for an entry point to these, if you are curious), all of which were apparently ignored. But while my initiatives were being ignored, God was using circumstances and other leaders to launch at least two very positive efforts. The first is a unified men's prayer initiative, started in May 2008 by a group of local pastors. The second effort, entirely separate from the first, is a restorative fellowship sponsored by a local church for the last three years at which real people with real hurts, habits and hangups are welcome (and don't have to hide their problems). These initiatives are:
Spurred by recent violence in Topeka, a group of eleven churches from several denominations has inaugurated a series of Tuesday night prayer meetings open to men from all Christian denominations. The purpose of these prayer meetings is to pray together for widespread repentance and responsiveness to the Gospel in Topeka, for a change in the atmosphere of the city, and for an end to the recent increase in violence here. The meetings are not intended to promote sheep stealing, and no opportunity is presented for this activity. I personally had no involvement in the initiation or organization of these meetings, which were started entirely at the initiative of the pastors of the host churches, and I have no role in the leadership. But I do attend the meetings and support the effort. (I understand that the full participation of additional host churches not already included in the list is welcome). The organizers believe, as I do, that one of the major causes of violence in our society is the racial and denominational barriers that divide the Church, and that the negative effects of these barriers may be overcome by unified prayer. The organizers also believe that the present impotence of the church in the face of the evils in our city (and world) results in part from the fact that the MEN in the Church have abdicated their leadership, and that bringing the MEN together is the key to great effectiveness.
November 4, 7 p.m., El Shaddai
November 11, 7 p.m., Northland Christian
November 18, 7 p.m., Antioch Baptist
November 25, 7 p.m., Open Way
Answer the Call:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will 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." II Chronicles 7:14
God is looking for 300 men of faith who will cross denominational, religious and cultural barriers to pray for the city of Topeka and her people. We will pray for approximately 1 hour at different locations throughout the city in the upcoming weeks. We are more powerful together than we are apart. So join us as we stand united and take back what has been stolen from us.
First Assembly of God, Antioch Baptist Church, El Shaddai Ministries COGIC, Fairlawn Church of the Nazarene, Fellowship Bible Church, Light of the World Christian Center, New Mt. Zion Baptist Church, St. John AME Church, Temple of Deliverance COGIC, Topeka Bible Church and Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene.
Pastor E.T. Watson, III, El Shaddai Ministries, 920 S.E. Sherman Ave., Topeka, KS 66607, (785) 232-5754 or (785) 845-9851.
I will post schedules of meeting times and places on this page weekly, as they are announced.
Men Hope Prayer Will Help, Topeka Capital Journal, May 17, 2008.
Topeka Men Gather to Pray About Recent Violence, WIBW-TV news story, July 8, 2008.
This group was pioneered nationally by Saddleback Church in California and is sponsored locally by First Southern Baptist Church, with one other church (Fellowship Bible Church) scheduled to launch a second group in October. Its great virtue is that it openly deals with hurts, habits and other life problems instead of expecting its participants to "hide" them for the benefit of the group's public image. Complete information may be obtained through the group's local website (Celebrate Recovery-Topeka) and links to the national website found on it.
If there are other, similar groups or initiatives I've missed, I'd be glad to add them to this page. Please send the information to be posted to me at ian4christ41@yahoo.com.