The Rev. Dr. John Hedepeth, Pastor of Northwood Temple When Bishop Doug Beacham called the denomination to a period of fasting and prayer, it really was a call well received in our church. Pastor Hedgepeth called for a two-fold approach of 30 Days of Fire for January where we would fast and pray, and incorporate a 21 Day Daniel Fast. Each Sunday we gather for one hour for prayer--6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and we are divided into eight prayer teams. Under a group lay leader we take turns praying for nine different prayer needs that range from those of the local church to our country. Being a church with a good number of military, there is a special focus on those men and women serving around the world and their families here at home. Each of the prayer topics also listed an appropriate Scripture(s) that assisted in prayer, and to close out each Sunday evening we all prayed in unison a number of Scriptures.
Pastor John Hedgepeth planned a celebration service for last day of the fast--Sunday January 31st. Also our sanctuary is open every day from noon until 1 o'clock for prayer.
Recently our pastor shared the following in the church's weekly newsletter dealing with the Sunday night prayer time: "On this past Sunday night at the beginning of the Fast and Prayer that we have entered into at Northwood Temple, along with the other churches of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, there was a spirit of fervency and passion. You could sense among many, many people who gathered that things, ideas, ideals, and other baggage that we carry are secondary to the move of God's Spirit. We believe that by the end of this month as we fast and pray the Lord will do great miracles. He will restore broken families. He will bring back the lost. He will heal sick bodies. Jesus said, 'This kind comes only by fasting and praying.'"
We trust that other churches in our denomination are seeing the same unity and passion that the our pastor has called us to do.
[Editor's comment: First, I want to thank Colonel Jack Kelley for this excellent report. What a tremendous story this is. I can tell you the same thing is happening at Christian Life Worship Center in Athens, GA, where Brad Cooper is our pastor. We started our prayer and fasting on the first day of January. He had not been informed of the request by our Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham that began later in the month.
Second, I would love to get reports from your church about what the prayer and fasting is doing there. My hunch is that good things are happening in your local IPHC church, too. Let us thank God for the leadership He is giving in our church and churches.]
Pastor John Hedgepeth planned a celebration service for last day of the fast--Sunday January 31st. Also our sanctuary is open every day from noon until 1 o'clock for prayer.
Recently our pastor shared the following in the church's weekly newsletter dealing with the Sunday night prayer time: "On this past Sunday night at the beginning of the Fast and Prayer that we have entered into at Northwood Temple, along with the other churches of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, there was a spirit of fervency and passion. You could sense among many, many people who gathered that things, ideas, ideals, and other baggage that we carry are secondary to the move of God's Spirit. We believe that by the end of this month as we fast and pray the Lord will do great miracles. He will restore broken families. He will bring back the lost. He will heal sick bodies. Jesus said, 'This kind comes only by fasting and praying.'"
We trust that other churches in our denomination are seeing the same unity and passion that the our pastor has called us to do.
[Editor's comment: First, I want to thank Colonel Jack Kelley for this excellent report. What a tremendous story this is. I can tell you the same thing is happening at Christian Life Worship Center in Athens, GA, where Brad Cooper is our pastor. We started our prayer and fasting on the first day of January. He had not been informed of the request by our Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham that began later in the month.
Second, I would love to get reports from your church about what the prayer and fasting is doing there. My hunch is that good things are happening in your local IPHC church, too. Let us thank God for the leadership He is giving in our church and churches.]