"If You Unceasingly Pray, Blessings Will Overflow!"_Heavenly banquet-like Special Daniel Prayer Meeting's Award Ceremony
|
|
|
12062 |
|
November 8, 2015 |
|
|
|
From September 7 to October 25, the church members gathered and prayed with heart, strength, mind, and soul throughout two sessions of 21-day Special Daniel Prayer Meeting. On the last night, its Award Ceremony was held where Performing Arts Committee's teams performed and many lots were drawn for awards. They shared joy together and glorified God. Senior Pastor Dr. Lee prayed by phone for the hearts' desires of the church members who prayed for the kingdom and righteousness of God.
The Bible tells us that to pray unceasingly is the will of God and ceasing to pray is a sin (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Samuel 12:23). Since its opening, Manmin Central Church has been devoted to prayer holding a daily prayer meeting every night except Friday when the Friday All-night Service is offered up. The prayer time is known as the Daniel Prayer Meeting and is led by Manmin Prayer Center President Boknim Lee.
The prayer meeting began in May 1986, and it was later named 'Daniel Prayer Meeting' and continued to be held regularly. This name comes from the biblical anecdote in which Daniel received God's answer 21 days after he prayed (Daniel 10:12-14). Manmin Prayer Center sets the main theme every twenty one days.
Daniel Prayer Meeting is joined by people in branch churches in and out of Korea as well as local sanctuaries via GCN (www.gcntv.org) or via live-broadcasting over the Internet (www.manmin.org). There are two Special Daniel Prayer Meeting periods that are held for two session periods, that is, for 42 days, twice a year.
On October 25, 2015, a Special Daniel Prayer Meeting for the second half of 2015 completed and its Award Ceremony was held. These sessions were held with the main theme "Fruit" based on 1 Thessalonians 5:23 from September 7 throughout 42 days except for Korean Traditional Festival Chuseok holidays.
At 9 P.M. the Award Ceremony began with the Apostles' Creed. Brother Seungcheol Song and Pastor Jihyung Song emceed it, and Manmin Prayer Center Praise Team, Love Dance Team, Crystal Singers, and Praise Leader Rose Han gave special performances. Prize drawings were held between the performances. The church members handed in their Prayer Check Cards to the church with a picture of forty two grapes and the Great Grand Parish Pastors and the church leaders drew lots from among them. When the members' names were called, other members rejoiced with shouts of joy.
One hundred ninety nine members including students, young adults, adults, pastors, elders, and senior deaconesses were selected and given redeemable tokens for tables for worship service given out as prizes. After four rounds of drawings, Rev. Dr. Soojin Lee, President of Pastors' Association announced the grand prize winner who was drawn by Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee who was in the prayer house for his Sabbatical year. When her name, "Deaconess Ilkyung Son!" was called, the sanctuary became filled with great applause and shouts of congratulations.
Then, by phone Dr. Lee prayed for the members to receive answers and blessings. He prayed to God, "You told us to continue to gather in one mind. Thank You for giving us chances to gather every night for Daniel Prayer Meeting. We are living in the world that we can overcome only when we watch and pray fervently. At such a time, Father, You encouraged the Manmin Prayer Center President to lead this special prayer meeting and the members to join in praying. Thank You for leading them to enjoy the blessing of their souls' prosperity through the prayer meeting." He also prayed earnestly for the members' hearts' desires and prayer titles for around 40 minutes.
Deaconess Ilkyung Son, age 46, who received the grand prize gave her testimony. She said, "I was weary both physically and spiritually while I was serving my parents as financial head of my family. One year ago, I had a discharge of blood and this symptom became even worse over time. I was getting weak. Before this Special Daniel Prayer Meeting, Senior Pastor appeared in my dream. During the period of the meeting, God blessed me to repent that I had not loved God foremost of all and served my parents without spiritual love. I also became filled with hope for New Jerusalem the best heavenly dwelling place. I got full of the Holy Spirit. Now I stopped discharging blood, and my medical test result showed that I was very healthy."
The Special Daniel Prayer Meeting was full of answers and blessing.
|
|