UPDATE: This page summarises something we did in July and August 2020. It sprang up in response to two women who got the urge to just go and worship in the park on a Thursday lunchtime. We ran it for a few occasions and then joined in with another similar initiative run by others, and then that stopped at the end of September. An experiment that ran it's course - perhaps we shall return to it at a later date?

Park Prayer

This is an outline for an organised time of worship in our city centre parks.

Aim: to meet together to worship Jesus in parks and public places, to bring the presence of God. 

(Everyone else is out there worshiping what they worship, so why shouldn’t we!)

Worship

We will worship together, setting aside time purely for this. 

As we worship, His presence comes, the heavenlies are cleared, the angels are drawn and we come into a place of abiding in him. Like Mary of Bethany, we are breaking open our alabaster jar of worship. This is a core value of 24-7 prayer, our root and foundation, like Pete Greig’s prayer that went around the globe: “the obsession is Jesus”. 

As we worship we will keep listening to the Holy Spirit and if members of the public respond to His presence we will be ready to speak as the Spirit leads.

Evangelism?

Our core aim is to worship for the time we are there, and bring the presence of God. However, some may wish to move out from a place of worship into evangelism. We will not all do this, the core will keep worshipping. 

If any do want to approach people, please remember this is evangelism that comes out of worship. Evangelism that is prophetic. Not a one-for-all method or script. That was the old days. Each person has a different need. One may need a healing, another to hear that God loves them, another a word of encouragement. (Practical point - always reach out in pairs).

This is accessible for the SoHOP community - we have often been praying for each other and for visitors, and hearing what God is saying for them. This is so similar. 

So maintain a stillness and listening in your heart. Ask Holy Spirit what He is showing you. Each person has a key to unlock their heart. We are going out to love people.

Prepare your heart - thankfulness is key

It is important to arrive ready to worship. Before you come take time to sit at his feet; soak in his love.

Psalm 100:4 enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.

As we adopt a grateful and thankful heart, thinking about all the amazing things he has done for us in our life the gates are opened. 

Same if we bring thankfulness into any conversations that arise. The gates of heaven are opened over this person.

Prepare to share the Good News

If we get into the situation where we tell people about God’s love, it is important we then go on to leave them with the hope of the gospel. After bringing a word of encouragement for someone, the best thing we can do is explain simply how to believe in Jesus.

Tools - 15 second testimony. How we met Jesus; What we have experienced on our journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkprflNySS8

Tools - 3 circles. A simple method to explain the gospel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcj5G_4dwrI

A daily walk?

We have asked the question over the years - can all of life be prayer? Yes!

Is God is already working in the lives of people around us? Yes!

We hope Park Prayer will help us in our daily walk - we get used to bringing the presence of God and speaking specific words to people that change their lives. Just like Jesus did!

Southampton House of Prayer, July 2020