KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Nazarene Missions International (NMI) and the Nazarene board of general superintendents have announced they will co-sponsor a Million Hours of Prayer from January through June 2005. According to a news release, the quadrennial prayer initiative encourages Nazarenes worldwide to intercede for the upcoming general assembly and conventions to be held in Indianapolis, Ind., in June.
General NMI Director Nina Gunter said, "Nazarenes worldwide are challenged to pray a total of two hours for the general assembly and conventions during that six-month time period. Million Hours of Prayer has become an event to which the church looks forward. Prayer is something in which everyone can be involved  those who will attend the Assembly and Conventions and those who will be unable to attend."
Resources were sent to churches in the October/November/December 2004 Mission Connection mailing. These included a poster, implementation ideas for the church, a prayer calendar and logo slicks. These items are also available on the NMI Web site, www.nazarenemissions.org/mhp.
The theme for this quadrennium's Million Hours of Prayer is "Prayer … Partnering in the Gospel." It is based on Philippians 1:4-6, NIV, "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
"The Bible promises that the effective prayer of one righteous person makes a significant Kingdom impact (James 5:16)," said General Superintendent Paul G. Cunningham. "Imagine then, the potential of thousands of Nazarenes joining for a Million Hours of Prayer in behalf of our upcoming General Assembly and Conventions. Such a holy explosion of prayer could anoint our meetings with a spirit of revival and renewal that would positively alter the future of our church."
