Prayer & Fasting | March
This Prayer and Fasting comes at a key time in our adventure together as we reshape and refocus for the future.
It was so great to all be in the room, and the sense of joy and excitement at being once again together in God's presence was evident from the very beginning
Having a Heart for God’s Kingdom
James Lee (City Church Bristol) started the day with a personal encouragement, urging us to examine our hearts. He shared from Joel 2:12-13:
“12 ‘Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
James reminded us that our hearts are incredibly fertile soil—whatever we plant in them will grow, and this will bear fruit. When we take time to reflect, confess, and express our need for God, He plants the things of His Kingdom in our hearts.
He encouraged us to “rend our hearts” — to come before a gracious God who reveals His character through Jesus Christ: a life of sacrifice, service, grace, and truth. This is the God we approach. When we allow Him to plant His Kingdom in our hearts, we begin to see transformation—not only in ourselves but in our homes, churches, and beyond.
James ended with a quote from George Muller, who served God in Bristol:
“I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.”
James Lee (City Church Bristol)
Prophetic Encouragements
Following a short break, Joe Leach introduced the next session, where we had time for worship, with multiple prophetic words shared, which will be weighed and tested in the days ahead:
Temple of His Presence
Craig Gale
Craig Gale (Billingshurst Family Church) shared a picture of a fire coming down from heaven and consuming the sacrifice, the glory of the Lord on the temple, which reminded him of Pentecost. We are the temple of His presence!
The Potter is at Work
Tony Lynch
Tony Lynch shared a picture of a potter working with clay on a wheel. Tony noticed that his fingerprints were all over the clay. Sometimes, the clay became brittle and dry, so the potter would apply water, making it pliable again. Around the wheel were smaller pieces of clay. Tony asked God what this meant and felt God say, “I am the potter, you are the clay.”
It’s His work. He is coming to shape us and change us into something beautiful together. He wants to touch our hearts with the Holy Spirit. For those in dry areas, He makes us pliable again. Some of the smaller pieces represent churches that feel detached, and God is gathering us together for a bigger vision—uniting as a family of churches. Others represent established churches joining the Commission, while some pieces symbolize churches that have not been birthed yet. As we become pliable, the Potter is building something only the hand of God can do.
Tony encouraged us to invite the Holy Spirit to change and mould us afresh.
Step Out in Faith
Guy Miller
Guy Miller (Westminster Chapel London) shared from Genesis 7:16: “...Then the Lord shut him (Noah) in.” Guy felt that many people feel shut in by their personal circumstances—roles, buildings, finances, size, or culture. But in Genesis 8:1-18, God tells Noah to come out of the Ark. God is saying: come out, in faith, from under something and into a new season to be fruitful and multiply. As you step out, everything will look different—God is calling us into the bigger promises!
Building for Him
Pete Clayton
Lastly, Pete Clayton (Together Church Torquay) shared a picture of sandcastles with trenches. As the tide came in, the whole thing was washed away. This is how the world builds. But what we build for God will last. Pete felt there would be a move of God in smaller churches. He shared that multiplication is messy, but God is doing a bigger thing.
Smaller Church Needs
All these prophetic words set the stage for a time of prayer focused on smaller churches, with larger churches praying for them. Adam Parret (Pinehurst Community Church) shared current needs and changes, such as: vacancies, buildings, missional initiatives, and leadership transitions. We had the opportunity to pray for specific churches in each of these areas.
Following the break, we watched a mission update video where Vinu encouraged us to participate in Commission’s mission and consider giving to our 2025 Offering. Mark Waterfield (Hope Church Newham) led a time of prayer for London and other cities. Mark shared how cities are strategic for gospel advancement—population centers, culture-shaping, and gateways to the nations.
Mark Waterfield (Hope Church Newham)
We prayed for our London hub and London churches, led by Adam Watson (Story Church Paddington) and Segun Oladokun (Kings Church Epsom).
Following this, we spent time praying for other cities across the UK and some nations worldwide. [Download prayer slides here]
Praying for Our Global Family
In the next session, we heard about specific situations across the nations and prayed for the needs of our global family. We also prayed for new nations and partnerships we are working into.
The Great Commission
Towards the end of the day, Dub Everitt (Welcome Church Woking) shared the importance of the gospel and reaching the world. Jesus’ last words were:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Dub Everitt (Welcome Church Woking)
Jesus is passionate about the lost, and there’s a celebration in heaven over every sinner who repents! Dub shared how we can practically ensure that the Gospel and reaching people are central to what we do, not just during occasional events.
Dub’s book, Loving People Towards Jesus, summarizes the heart of evangelism in three simple ways:
Loving people practically –
by sharing our lives
Loving people into community –
by sharing our friends
Loving people towards Jesus –
by sharing an invite
Evangelism doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s about being relational, sharing life, and offering others a taste of Jesus through our actions and invitations. The Great Commission is central to our purpose—reaching others through life, church, and mission.
From spontaneous worship to collective prayer and a real sense that God was dwelling with us, as always it was a privilege to be in the room, seeking and praising Him. Let’s continue to carry these words and encouragements into our churches, communities, and lives as we adventure together into all that God has for us as Commission.
