That's 500 people praying, arms outstretched, for our city. And, they're praying (not from the comfort of a sanctuary or the confines of a home) from the streets...
The city looks different when you walk through it- not when you glance it at from the highway while looking in, not while you look from a distance from your home... not while you peer through the television screen while the "latest breaking news" buzzes the screen.
Almost two weeks ago we prayer-walked the downtown area with about 500 others- of different colors, different socio-economic backgrounds, different denominations (and varying theological stripes) and ways of worshiping the same Jesus. And the city looked different.
Many people believe that the biggest stronghold over Birmingham is racial division. I don't.
The biggest grip, I believe, is religion- or, at least, the "system" of it that we have created. Some of us have created systems that look traditional; others of us have created molds that look more contemporary; others of us have gotten creative and created even other structures and labeled them something clever. But, they are molds, containers, and boxes... many times.
* "Worship" has become a genre of music (i.e., Gospel, Modern, Contemporary, Worship) instead of a way of life.
* The talk on "community" in the last few years has moved the church from the sanctuary to the homes- but not to the streets.
* The talk on "missional" has... well... created talk. And more talk. And more talk.
But it's not worship unless it engages all of life and hits the streets; the purpose of community was to invite outsiders in (not to let insiders simply do life together only); the purpose of mission... was to walk among the people.
Next prayer walk is Saturday, March 20, in the Princeton neighborhood- near Princeton Hospital. More details on the Prayer Force United site.
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