On 16 January 2003, the "Rebuilding the City" prayer campaign under the "Do This" Million-Hour All Nations Prayer Movement began! This was the third million-hour prayer and our revelation was from Nehemiah 2:17: "Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem." As we looked back at the past year, our city was devastated in many ways – SARS, economic recession, high unemployment, tense relationship between government and citizens, deflation, viruses, etc. People were seized by fear and were in need of help and consolation. There were difficulties and frustration everywhere. Different responses were generated from people in different walks of life. The Lord's people would proclaim the glorious kingdom of God, look upon the Lord for His salvation and cry out to God in unity. This spirit of confidence rebuilt and strengthened Christians' trust in the Lord. During some unusual situations, we were given opportunities to meditate and explore what the Lord was saying to us.
On July 1, half a million people took to the streets of Hong Kong. It was expected that this event would frighten many investors away from Hong Kong. However, the event brought Hong Kong the name of "the safest area in Asia Pacific" as the demonstration was in good order, without accidents or disorders between the police and the citizens. Why was it so? It was because the Lord commanded His people to start a 24-hour prayer at 7p.m. on June 30 for the purpose of "Seeking Peace". Hallelujah! God's work was truly amazing!
2003 was a year of hardship for the people of Hong Kong. There were SARS, high unemployment, etc. Last November, a survey indicated that the citizens of Hong Kong and Kosovo had the highest rate of confidence for 2004 out of the 60 regions where the survey was conducted. Although our city was like walking through fire, there was renewal in the midst of adversity and faith in the midst of recession. Where did this power of life over death come from? Was it not the amazing work of God? His mighty work was truly more than we could ask or imagine. Praise the Lord!
Before 1997, many churches worried about the loss of religious freedom and everyone therefore started to launch cell group churches in order that family style worship services might be conducted in the event that public worship services were prohibited. But the July 1 demonstration in 2003 brought half a million people to the streets. There were no interventions from the Chinese government, and no one worried about retaliation. God enabled us to see that we were granted more freedom compared to the time before 1997. Why? It is because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. This was quite amazing and seemed irrelevant to Christians at first glance. However, the Christian community had already put in several million hours of prayer during the process.
Although there are still unbelievers today who do not understand about prayer, we will take the opportunity to make prayer known among these people. It is as if we are showing light before these people. Whenever words like "prayer" have difficulty getting past the media, we would use "blessings". We needed to use the word of God to bless Hong Kong until mankind said, "How good would it be if I can talk like them!" "How good would it be if I can experience God like them!" On the surface, this did not seem to be an easy task but the Lord could work through different situations, enabling us to experience that there was nothing too hard for Him.
During the outbreak of SARS, the Lord opened a path for us by providing us with an opportunity to cooperate with "Operation UNITE" to arrange broadcast of five brief videos on television, introducing the messages about "one heart one mind" and "blessing Hong Kong". Due to SARS, on 7 April 2003 we placed a prayer ad on the local newspaper for a 52-day period, and prayed for the epidemic, patients, medical staff and various needs of the society. On one hand, we sought to recruit more intercessors to plead God in unity. More importantly, we wanted to spread the word of God in the media, reviving the hearts of mankind, and turning their eyes to look upon Jesus. In October 2003, the Lord again moved my heart and commanded me to write prayers for the city in order to thwart the outbreak of SARS and the contagious disease beginning November 1. This would last for half a year until this day (6 February 2004). There was epidemic everywhere but our city was kept in a state of calmness. This was truly the amazing work of the Lord.
As we look at the city today, the economy now awaits revival, growth, disappearance of deflation, decrease in unemployment... We desire that Hong Kong would continue to be situated at a strategic location in Asia and be valued for its existence. More importantly, may its political system, governing structure and government officials, be in accord with the Lord's will and to make His praise glorious. This way we can live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. In this way, everyone will rise up and plead the Lord to raise us up, so that we can pray and keep watch for the city.
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." (Isa. 60:1)
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob." (Isa. 2:3)
"For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." (Isa. 56:7)
In early December, we learned about these verses and they helped guide us into the fourth phase of the All Nations Prayer Movement. The "Do This" All Nations Prayer Movement Decision Committee scheduled to hold the fourth million-hour prayer campaign at the Hong Kong Coliseum at Hung Hom. The prayer movement was to be named "Rise up for the City" and would last 12 months. God's people are to rise up and keep watch for the city until it is rebuilt, enabling mankind to witness God walking in the land of the living. God is truly in the midst of us!
When it comes to praying for the city, first and foremost is to plead the Lord "to raise up intercessors" among His people in the church. The ultimate purpose of the "Do This" prayer movement is to raise up intercessors and enable everyone to pray. This is like someone on a journey when everyone is running toward the same goal. The truthfulness and glory of God are to be revealed in this generation. How can we begin to "raise up intercessors"? We will prepare a series of prayer handbooks which will include prayers for the church as well as prayers for the various areas of one's personal life. This is followed by praying for various groups, cities, countries and nations. Every member of the body of Christ who participates in the journey of keeping watch will allocate half an hour to pray everyday. They could also pray in accord with their hearts as the Spirit leads them. This journey will last for one year. We will prepare different prayer handbooks to be used by participants.
We hope that these prayer handbooks will provide the prayer resources for the intercessors as they continue in the journey of prayer. At the same time, we will be glad to visit different churches and share the message or hold seminars on the topic of prayer. May God raise up more intercessors in our city to pray for the revelation of power in the Lord's kingdom. May the glory of the Lord be revealed in the world. Thank the Lord!
"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem (Hong Kong); they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest,
and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem (Hong Kong) and makes her (Hong Kong) the praise of the earth." (Isa. 62:6-7)
Mrs. Fan Chan
General Secretary, Jireh Fund
"Do This" Million-Hour All Nations Prayer Movement
Central Decisions Committee Chairperson