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A CALL TO PRAYER

By Hope Beale
The early Church began when individuals, following Christ's instruction, spent 10 days praying together for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They searched deep within their hearts, feeling their need of God, and claiming His
power. They also sought - through prayer - for fitness to do a greater work for Him. The Spirit of God descended
upon that waiting group without measure… thousands would join the Church.
With this in mind, each year Seventh-day Adventists around the world are invited, from January 6 through
January 16, to gather in large and small groups to pray together for 10 days. This year Sacramento Central
responded to this invitation and for eleven days, we met for one hour each evening in the Chapel to pray. We
sang hymns, praised God, and confessed our sins to a loving Savior. We read scriptures and passages from
Ellen White’s messages; we made our supplication and intercession for others, and always ended with giving
thanksgiving to God.
There were some that met in their homes, uniting their voices and hearts, praying for the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit. Not one who participated was disappointed.
The Spirit of God was clearly felt during those 10 days of prayer. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, people
who had never before attended prayer services came, others who had not attended for years returned. Too soon,
our 10-days together came to an end. During our last evening together, time was set aside for us to share how
we had been blessed during our 10 days of prayer.
If you were not able to participate in this wonderful event, don’t lose heart; come join us each Tuesday night
for Prayer Meeting, where we continue to pray, praise, and worship together. It is truly an extension of those 10
days of prayer, and I promise that you will be mightily blessed.

THEY SHARED:

“ I was blessed to “ I could not
attend the 10 days
of prayer being
be gathering daily
with my sisters and held at the church
brothers in the faith, because I no “ The experience
expressing our longer feel brought me a better
praise, confession, comfortable driving understanding of
gratitude, and at night. However, how to pray and
requests before our a group of us met how to worship, “ The prayers
Lord. It made me together at my plus the importance brought one of
think of apostolic home to pray. and power of my sisters to the
”
days as we prayed What a blessing! intercessory prayer. sanctuary and my
for the outpouring Each night that we older brother asked
” power of God with within ten days. The presence
of the Holy Spirit. met, we felt the - Christine for baptism, and all
” “
- Silvia us. Prayers were - of God was so real
answered and - Francisco each night as we
although the 10 met together to
days of prayer have pray.
”
come and gone, we
still meet together – Hope
on Friday nights to
”
pray.

- Verica
C March/April 2016 4