Pastor Says Prayer Summit Highlighted Power of Christ’s Love

At the 2015 Prayer Summit, God penetrated my soul through the prayers of so many people, from so many different races and places, in the sanctuary of All Nations Church outside Los Angeles.

But it was a passing comment made by David Crump, a religion professor at Calvin College, that really hit home.

It was on Wednesday, April 15, before the closing session. Jul Medenblik, president of Calvin Theological Seminary, was hosting a roundtable discussion before the closing general session.

The discussion was almost over when Crump cried out to say one other thing: “Have you noticed that in the early chapters of the Book of Acts, the disciples did incredible works ‘in the Name of Jesus?’”

Have you noticed? Have you noticed that the disciples did not just work hard but they prayed hard and did God’s work in Jesus’ name and in his power?

I began to do a quick cursory reading of the Book of Acts to review how many times “in the Name of Jesus” was listed. I also began to reflect on what I had heard at the Prayer Summit, what we experienced in the breakout sessions and the power of his love during the many, many times we prayed together.

I reflected on what Ruth Veltkamp shared about her work among the Muslims in Nigeria. She said there is quite a bit of persecution in Nigeria and throughout the church today. She asked, “What can stop something like that?” She told the story of Ali and how he forgave those who persecuted him, and how that forgiveness in Christ healed the Muslim terrorists who persecuted him. It is only through the Power of His Love that they were able to forgive others that was multiplied throughout West Africa, North Africa and the Middle East.

I heard Reverend Al VanderGriend teach on Prayer Evangelism during a breakout session. I was challenged to pray for my unsaved friends, and to trust that through the Power of His Love, God would draw our unsaved friends to Christ. VanderGriend shared a story on how a denomination initiated a denomination-wide emphasis to pray for yet-to-be followers of Christ. One year later the denomination reported 11,600 decisions for Christ, or 1l new faith commitments for every 100 members.

I heard Dawn Michelson, a missionary with her husband, Gene, in West Africa, working with Fulani people since 1988, tell many stories of their work with the Fulani Muslims.

How can you reach Muslims, who want nothing to do with Jesus Christ? How do you reach Muslims — by the Power of His Love, she said. She told us about the amazing conversion story of a literate Muslim woman who became interested in Jesus Christ by reading the book of Matthew with Dawn. Dawn invited her to a conference and on their journey they drove through a river embankment in a white car. The Lord reminded her of a dream she had as a child when he spoke to her of this very moment. Through the Power of His Love, the Fulani woman decided to become a follower of Jesus.

We heard the story of how God used one man, Jeremiah Calvin Lanphier, to initiate a daily prayer meeting in September of 1857 in New York City. The Lord began a revival at the Fulton Street Noontime Prayer Meeting and that revival spread By the Power  of His Love throughout the country. Historians estimate that as many as one million people may have come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as a result of this prayer revival.

I heard Barbara Schutt teach a breakout session on Sustaining a Prayer Culture in your church. She shared the difference between a church that is Prayer Lite and a church that is Prayer Full.

I began to ask the question:  “Is my church Prayer Lite or Prayer Full? Am I Prayer Lite or Prayer Full?” Someone once said:  “When we work, we work; but when we pray, God works.”

The Christian work is prayer! The power of his ministry in us is in his name and The Power of His Love.

The Lord abruptly reminded me of this simple but profound truth through David Crump’s off-the-cuff statement that was illustrated throughout the 2015 National Prayer Summit: It is the Name of Jesus and the Power of His Love that lives are changed, hearts are drawn, sins are repented of, dreams are given, and the world is won for the glory of God.

The work back home in Fort Wayne now begins-the continuous work of prayer in the Power of His Love.