The Basics:  The Prayer Room at PAC is upstairs, above the church offices (the conference room). Most evenings we have two additional rooms available downstairs.  Entrance to the building should be by the PAC Office Doors.  When possible, pray out loud, especially when ‘2 or more are gathered’.  We encourage you to bring your bible/pen/journal . THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PRAYER Prayers of Approach: As we approach our heavenly Father there are certain steps that can help to focus our hearts and minds onto the heart and mind of God. Take some time to work through and meditate on these short prayers before you proceed. Choosing to abide in Christ: My dear Lord Jesus, I come to you now to be restored in you ; to renew my place in you, my allegiance to you, and to receive from you all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor you as my sovereign Lord, and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to you. Cleanse our lives with the blood of Christ: I give you my body as a living sacrifice; I give you my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and I give you my spirit as well. I cover myself with your blood—my spirit, my soul, and my body. And I ask your Holy Spirit to restore my union with you, seal me in you, and guide me in this time of prayer. Declaring Gods Rightful Place in Our Lives: Dear God, holy and victorious Trinity, you alone are worthy of all my worship, my heart’s devotion, all my praise and all my trust and all the glory of my life. I worship you, bow to you, and give myself over to you in my heart’s search for life. I confess here and now that it is all about you, and not about me. Declaring what is true and what God has done on our behalf: Heavenly Father thank you for loving me and choosing me before you made the world. You are my true Father- my Creator, my Redeemer, my Sustainer, and the true end of all things including my life. I love you; I trust you and I worship you. Thank you for proving your love for me by sending your son Jesus Christ. I receive Him, His life and His work. Thank you for including me in Christ, for forgiving my sins, for granting me righteousness, for making me complete in Him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand, granting me his authority, and anointing me with your Holy Spirit. I receive it all with thanks and give it total claim to my life. Receiving the Son and leaving behind old ways: Jesus, thank you for coming for me, for ransoming me with your own life. I honor you as my Lord; I love you, worship you, and trust you. I sincerely receive you as my redemption, and I receive all the work and triumph of your crucifixion, whereby I am cleansed from all my sin through your shed blood, my old nature is removed and I have died with you to sin. Living in the new life: Jesus, I sincerely receive you as my new life, my holiness and sanctification, and I receive all the work and triumph of your resurrection, whereby I have been raised with you in new life, to walk in newness of life, dead to sin and alive to God. I am crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. I now take my place in resurrection, whereby I have been made alive with you. Receiving the Holy Spirit: Holy Spirit, I sincerely receive you as my counselor, my comforter, my strength, and my guide. Thank you for sealing me in Christ. I honor you as my Lord, and I ask you to lead me into all truth, to anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and to lead me deeper in to Jesus today. Giving Thanks: Heavenly Father, thank you for granting to me every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. I receive those blessings into my life today, and I ask the Holy Spirit to bring all those blessings into my life this day. I call forth the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home, my family, my life and my domain. I pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, with all glory and honor and thanks to him. Amen.

*Prayers of approach taken from Waking the Dead by John Eldredge Postures of Prayer:

You will see various postures of prayer used within the Prayer Room. There is something wonderful about being in a room of people that are all in the same pursuit as your are! The important thing to remember is that what we do is not disturbing to others. The following are some postures you may find helpful in praying:

Sit:

This is a common position of those in the Prayer Room. Grab a chair or seat as they are available. Make yourself comfortable, but don’t forget to respond if God prompts you to take a different posture.

Stand:

Stand in worship, during intercession or other prayer, or if you are feeling drowsy.

Cry:

The Prayer Room is a SAFE PLACE! If you feel the need to cry, whether during time of confession, intercession or worship or if God has placed a burden on your heart to weep for a situation or an individual or perhaps for our region/province/country you are welcome to do so. The only thing we ask is that you are mindful or not disrupting others therefore please cry quietly. There are plenty of Kleenex boxes in the Prayer Room!

Kneel:

You are free to kneel before God in prayer, reverence or for any other reason. Again be aware of the space of others around you however if you are not in a position to interfere then feel free to kneel while you pray!

Pace:

For some people being expected to sit still in prayer or conversation with God is akin to punishment. If it helps you to concentrate or be stirred in you heart to pray and will not encroach on the space of others feel free to walk around the room. We have left spaces for pacing on either side of the chairs that are arranged in rows.

Our church is currently in the process of planting a new church in the town of Neepawa. As we surge with prayer for the week, let our focus include the impending turning of Neepawa UP SIDE DOWN. Our very own, Stafford Greer and his family will be making the move to Neepawa to lead this new church! This will make for lots of change among their family, and the family of PAC.

Pray for the Greer Family:  Thank God for putting the church plant in Neepawa on the hearts of Stafford and his wife Joe, and thank God for their willingness to obey and go where God leads.  For strong friends for the Greer family, who will welcome them to Neepawa and embrace them quickly and easily.  For easy transition into a new school and fast friendships to be made for the Greer children (Elliot, grade 3; Aowyn, Grade 1; Emmett, preschool).  For the Greer family to quickly sell their house in Portage and find a new house to purchase in Neepawa.  For peace and assurance for the family as they embark on this journey.

Pray for UNITY:  For God to work in the hearts of Christians and church leaders who currently live in Neepawa and that the presence of a new church plant would bring optimism and excitement to their congregations.  For a strong alliance and friendship of church leadership in Neepawa.  For PAC to be unified in vision with the Neepawa church plant including strongly supporting the new leadership in worship arts and children's ministry at PAC.  Pray against the spirit of division in all areas of the church.  Pray for God to give us, the family at PAC, a deep unexplainable love for the town of Neepawa and the people who live there.

Pray for RELATIONSHIPS:  For God to orchestrate connections between people in Portage la Prairie and Neepawa over the next 12-18 months that will help the Neepawa church launch well.  Healthy relationships and friendship among church leaders (Neepawa and PAC).  Friends and community connections to be made easily between those from Portage and Neepawa.

Pray for NEW BELIEVERS:  For God to begin to work in the lives of people in Neepawa who are far from Him that they would be greatly impacted by Christians currently living in Neepawa.  For God to prepare the Neepawa church to be in a position to greatly reach, bless and share Christ with the large Filipino and immigrant Population.  That the launch day of the Neepawa church would include at least 30 unchurched people and families.

Pray for TRANSITIONS:  For God to work in the lives of people from PAC and to speak clearly and convincingly that they need to follow his leading to Neepawa.  For PAC to embrace, celebrate and bless a large number of families who commit to drive or move to Neepawa to launch the church there.  For God to move mightily and arrange logistics so families from PAC can be freed to move to Neepawa as part of the church plant there.

Pray for the LOGISTICS:  For wisdom from God to help church leadership set up systems that will help launch the Neepawa church well - governance, finance, insurance, staffing, and anything else we need to consider.  Clarity on how things will operate in the new church (video teaching, live teaching, children's ministry, student ministry).

Pray BIG, ask God:  To provide a free building for us to use.  For a rock-solid partnership or merger with an existing church in Neepawa who shares our vision of God's Kingdom turning Neepawa UP SIDE DOWN.  To stir in the hearts of people from PAC to move to Neepawa to be a part of that community. And that people would have the courage to obey.  For revival in the congregations of Neepawa churches - new people coming to Christ, prodigals to return to their Heavenly Father, for strong and healthy church leadership.  To soften the coldest and hardest hearts in preparation for what God is going to do in Neepawa.

Pray for the LEADERS in the community.  They would begin to think thoughts about God.  That they would be led to seeking Godly priorities for the town.  That their hearts would be passionate for justice.  They would find a supernatural compassion for the poor and the needy.  Pray for each town council person by name. NEEPAWA town Council Ken Waddell - Mayor Bill Stilwell – Deputy Mayor Robyn Copeland- Councillor Dean Dietrich - Councillor Allan Drysdale- Councillor Sheri Grant – Councillor Lisa Pottinger- Councillor

Pray for the schools and students of Neepawa: Hazel M. Kellington Elementary School Neepawa Area Collegiate Institue Assiniboine Community College, Neepawa Campus

Pray that:  The schools remain safe and students stay free of harm.  Students would be able to stand firm in the face of the temptation of alcohol, drugs, violence and crime.  They would meet Christ in their search of who they are.  They would have Godly influences placed in their path.  They would find their need for love fully met in Jesus Christ.  Pray for God to send down showers of blessing on the students.

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE

Through 24/7 prayer surges, we have seen God do amazing things in the of Portage la Prairie. Let’s pray with expectation that God will continue to move throughout our city and move it towards the UP SIDE DOWN dream.

 Pray that God will be working in the hearts of people and they would feel led to come to Church  Pray that as people drive by the building of PAC, they would be drawn to it.

 Pray for the Current City Council in Portage la Prairie: Mayor Earl Porter Brent Froese Ryan Espey Brent Budz Irvine Ferris Liz Driedger Diane Stasiuk  Ask God to move through out this city and that His hand would be in the coming fall elections.  Pray the council would see PAC as a church with incredible love for Portage and give them a desire to work with PAC towards the UP SIDE DOWN dream for the city.

 Pray for safety within the schools: Ecole School Ecole Crescentview School School La Verendrye School North Memorial School Yellowquill School Portage Collegiate Institute Westpark School

Pray for the children of Portage la Prairie:  Pray for the love of Jesus to just spread throughout the young people in this town and that the children who know Jesus will show the love of God to others and start stirring questions in their friends hearts.  That Godly influences will be put into the lives of the children and students in Portage la Prairie.

Prayer for Reconciliation with First Nation people:  Praise the Lord for how He is working in people in our community  Pray for the reserves that surround Portage la Prairie: Dakota Plains Dakota Tipi Long Plains  Ask God to empower PAC to be a church which "undoes" much of the damage the Church has inflicted on First Nations people.  If necessary, pray about your own heart regarding First Nations people.

Pray for the other churches in town:  Their pastors, leaders, and families  That they would grow in depth, strength, and numbers  They would see those missing from the Kingdom of God, come to know His glory.

Pray for those who work in the medical/health care field in Portage:  For wisdom in curing, gentle patience in caring, deep compassion for their patients.  For followers of Christ, that they would feel Gods presence through tough times in their workplaces and be magnetic examples of Christ to those who do not yet know Him (to patients and co-workers alike).

Pray for the Emergence of Christian leaders to help transform all areas of Portage la Prairie:  Media / education / medicine / entertainment / government / business / social sector).  Pray specifically for the leaders of those areas as you think of their names (mayor / doctors / teachers / media personalities / local businessmen) that they would grow increasingly curious about the Kingdom of God and begin to search for God.

Pray for the ministries within PAC ,that they would continue to focus on the UP SIDE DOWN dream.

Pray for the ELDERS AND STAFF  For wisdom and deep connection with Holy Spirit  For opportunities to witness and courage and to seize those moments  For Strong prayer lives and passion for the Kingdom with willingness to risk  To be effective to meet the demand of the family life  Their house churches would be encouraging and exemplify authentic community  For courage to wrestle with difficult or discouraging relationships  For good friendships and joy  For passion for generosity with their money and time

Pray for HouseChurches:  More HouseChurch leaders needed- praying for the Holy Spirit to lead people into radical integrity  Pray for Holy Spirit to gently prompt people into leadership roles  Pray for HouseChurches to create a desire within more believers to lead others well  Pray for the vision of the Bride of Christ and House Churches changing this community, to be one of the same.

Pray for San Pablito:  Pray for the people of Portage Alliance church to discover ways to connect with the people of San Pablito, and for the courage to follow through with their ideas  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide PAC and Heather Hahn (our international worker) with the paper project, health care, and emerging community projects.

Pray for the Church Teams:  Pray for the Holy Spirit to give us a burning desire to serve everyday in our place of work or wherever we go  Pray for the Holy Spirit to give many people a desire to serve on a PAC team to bless our church family  Pray for the leadership of our current teams and for new teams to emerge as needs and congregation grow

Pray for our Finances:  Pray that God continues to bless us with the gift of radical generosity  Pray for us to grow deeper in believing for supernatural giving  Pray for more people in the church to have a desire and determination to give their "first fruits"  Pray that God blesses us financially so that we may bless our community in more radical ways of hospitality  Pray for continued growth in steward- ship among people in PAC

Pray for Kids Church:  For more volunteers and people to serve in Kids ministry  For the children, that they will grow in their love with God and have a desire to pursue a relationship with him  That there will be unity and healing within families  That the children coming to us will have their homes transformed by Christ so they are homes filled with love and joy and peace  That fathers will recognize the importance of being a spiritual leader in their homes and lead their children, teach their children, and love their wives with the love of Christ  For parents, that they will realize the time with their kids is so short and seize every moment to pour into their children and train them about following Christ  Pray against the busy schedules that prevent people from making Christ a priority  Pray for the kids who are coming from broken homes, that the Holy Spirit will work powerfully in those kids so they can know the love of their heavenly Father and rest confidently in that  For kids to live out of the identity that God gives them, and not listen to the lies the world tells them and for them to build a firm foundation where their roots go down deep into God's love

Pray for PAC STUDENT MINISTRIES:

"Is it OK if I don't trust my family?"

"Can God actually heal?"

"I haven't heard from God, and I wonder if he cares?"

These are real questions from students at PAC who are working through their faith and questioning God's goodness.  Pray for our students that they will encounter Jesus in such a way that they will know His presence in their lives  Pray that the voice of Holy Spirit rings loudly in the lives of students as they seek out next steps in their lives - many getting ready for college and adulthood  Give praise for students who are attending PAC Student Ministry who do not have a church background and are encountering Jesus for the first time!  Pray that we see lives changed in students and their families!  Pray for wisdom for students to make wise and godly choices as they navigate relationships

CLOSING PRAYER: Please join the pleas of those who prayed before you and who will pray after you by praying the following prayer.

"Father, it was good to be here with you. Thank you for listening to me/ us. Before I leave this room, please hear my plea. With all our hearts we long to be a people who are trans- formed by Christ, transforming Por- tage, Canada and the world. By your grace and for your glory, renew and empower us by giving us more of yourself. Help us to be wise as we serve, walk in sync with you as we try, and stay passionate as we pursue your UPSIDEDOWN dream. I TAKE A MINUTE FOR REFLECTION: Here are some bible passages that will help ‘take a minute’ to spend some time on reflection and thanksgiving.

Isaiah 59:1 “Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.”

Palm 18:2 “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety”

Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Psalm 71:14 “But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.”

Psalm 42:11 “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Saviour and my God!”

Psalm 23:1,2 “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.”

Thank you for your prayer. As a church we look forward to seeing God do infinitely more than we ask or imagine.

Portage Alliance Church 2375 Sask Ave West Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3B2 www.portagechurch.com