BridgeBuilders: AZ Prayer Alert

I. 21 Days of Prayer for Awakening - January 1 - 21
II. 24/7 Passing the Torch continues through 2009 - January 1 - December 31
III. New Arizona Legislative Session begins, Monday, January 12 with Prayer at the State Capitol
IV. Arizona Governor Transition
V. Start the Year Off Right Conference with Dutch Sheets and Chuck Pierce, January 16-17
VI. 26 Hours of Prayer, January 19-20, Living Streams Church in Phoenix
VII. Presidential Inauguration Prayer, January 20
VIII. Mexico-USA Border Prayer Initiative
IX. Prayer Journey plans for 2009
X. Senior Pastors' Retreat

I. 21 Days of Prayer for Awakening - January 1 - 21. Arizona Call to Prayer (ACP) is joining with a national initiative calling for 21 days of prayer to start off 2009. We ask you to join us in prayer for personal revival and spiritual awakening in our state and nation. Click here to read more. Download your 21-Day Prayer Guide here.

II. 24/7 Torch will continue through 2009, January 1 - December 31. ACP joins in support of Lite the Fire Ministries in facilitating non-stop prayer at locations throughout Arizona, with each location taking one week and then passing the torch of prayer. See www.litethefire.org for more information about signing up for a prayer time or hosting a week in 2009. May the torch burn brightly in Arizona and beyond!

III. New Arizona Legislative Session begins Monday, January 12. ACP continues our annual tradition of leading an hour "prayer walk" at the State Capitol, 1700 West Washington, downtown Phoenix, on the morning of the opening of the new legislative session. Meet at the Capitol Mall main flagpole at 7:00am sharp. We have received special permission to go onto the floors of the House of Representatives and State Senate. We will conclude at 8:00am. Free parking is available immediately across the street at the NE corner of Washington and 17th Avenue.

For those better able to go to the Capitol on the weekend just prior to Opening Day, the Center for Arizona Policy is hosting a prayer walk on the grounds at the State Capitol on Saturday at Noon on January 10. Same free parking and meeting place at the flagpole. In addition, Guy Chadwick of ACP and Arizona Legislative Chaplain Jon McHatton again are partnering to host weekly prayer at the Old Senate Chamber, 3rd floor, in the original Capitol building in the center of the Capitol Mall every Thursday, 11:00am - 1:00pm, beginning January 15.

IV. Arizona Governor Transition. Pray for a smooth transition as Governor Napolitano is set to assume the federal role of Director of Homeland Security in President-elect Obama's administration. Pray for Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer as she will then become the next Governor of Arizona. This may not be formalized until after the Presidential Inauguration, however many plans and staff appointments for the new administration are already under consideration.

V. Start the Year Off Right Conference with Dutch Sheets and Chuck Pierce, January 16-17. Please consider joining 2,000 or more pastors and intercessors from throughout the Southwest for this impacting annual conference of prayer and the prophetic word for Arizona and our nation. Click here for more information and to register (free) if you haven't already.

VI. Special 26 Hours of Prayer, January 19-20. ACP and Daniel Brymer are coordinating 26 hours of non-stop worship and prayer from 7:00pm, Monday, January 19 through 9:00pm on Tuesday, January 20 in the chapel at Living Streams Christian Church, 7000 N Central Avenue in Phoenix. Click here for more information.

VII. Presidential Inauguration Prayer, January 20, Noon Hour. We invite everyone wherever you are to take the Noon hour on January 20 to intercede for the Presidential Inauguration, outgoing President Bush, and President-elect Obama and the new administration.

Pray for a wise, godly, just and righteous new government regarding the economy, life and marriage issues, and matters of national safety. Pray for Pastor Rick Warren who will be leading prayer over President Obama at the inauguration. We will also be setting aside this Noon hour at the 26-hour prayer event at Living Streams (see VI above) to pray for the inauguration and our nation.

VIII. Mexico-USA Border Prayer Initiative. BridgeBuilders and ACP will continue to lead in establishing the Mexico-USA Border Prayer Alliance and prayer-watchmen posts on the border in 2009. Pray that beginning with Mountaintop Prayer, which this New Year includes border prayer, we will continue to expand relationships and sites of prayer all along the border from the Pacific at Tijuana/San Diego to the Gulf of Mexico at Matamoros/Brownsville. The many life and death issues surrounding the nearly 2,000 mile border continue to increase in intensity with all out war occurring between the drug lords and Mexican government. There is also a constant threat of terrorist breech through the border.

Pray for God's mercy and protection over our state and nation, especially over our border patrols and the people living in the border lands. Pray for understanding, wisdom, and justice for our state and federal government officials. Pray for integrity, courage and safety for Mexican government officials, military and police forces. Pray that they will win the war against corruption and illegal drug production. Pray that there will be breakthroughs of peace and cooperation in our relationship with Mexico.

IX. ACP Prayer Journey plans for 2009. Recent years have seen the Lord leading us on prayer journeys throughout Arizona focused on historically and culturally significant locations. We have literally covered thousands of miles of ground and seen amazing answers to prayer in locations we have journeyed. Through this process we have developed valuable relationships and greatly gained in our understanding of the land. We believe that the Lord is leading us in our next series of prayer journeys especially to locations along our national border with Mexico and to Native American tribal lands in various parts of Arizona. Pray with us for wisdom in the knowing the timing, place, and manner of each specific journey we are to take in 2009. We will be sending out ACP alerts as the details are confirmed.

X. Senior Pastors Retreat. Proposition 102 generated more cooperation and unity among pastors than has been seen in many years. As a result, a number of pastors from the Greater Phoenix area will attend a retreat on February 18-20. The purpose of the gathering is to develop deeper and more strategic relationships through extended times of focused prayer, discussions on serving God in our city together and recreation. In view of our nation's unprecedented financial crisis, it is more important than ever for our pastors to lead in serving the needs of our communities. Pray for Gary Kinnaman as he serves as convener of the retreat. Pray for the fullness of God's presence and that He would do a deep work among the pastors.

For a printable copy of the January 2009 Arizona Call to Prayer Alert click here.