Regional citywide concert of prayer set for Feb. 4

By Susan Johnson

Copy Editor

Rockford Renewal Ministries will host a regional citywide concert of prayer with the theme
One Heart, One Voice

at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, at Memorial Hall, 211 N. Main St., Rockford.

Dr. Robert
Bob

Griffin of Rockford Renewal Ministries said this year’s program would be unique in that they will have a group of community worship leaders, both civic and clergy, from different local congregations to lead in worship and prayer. The basis will be the prayer that Jesus taught, the Lord’s Prayer. Prayer groups will be structured along the individual petitions of this prayer, starting with
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Each petition will be applied to needs in Rockford and the nation specifically.
When it comes to ‘Give us this day our daily bread,’ we will pray for jobs, for the hungry, the homeless, etc.,

Griffin explained.

Music will be supplied by the worship team, he added.
They usually lead in a traditional hymn as well as more contemporary worship and songs. They will probably have a different beat to it, but it will be recognizable. We generally have a lot of people that lead us, and we generally go from worship to repentance and confession and thanksgiving. We usually do a different format, but this will be a special one. We hope this is a launch pad for the National Day of Prayer in May.

This citywide concert of prayer began in 1996, after three local congregations met together in 1995 for community prayer. They had been meeting quarterly, but in 2002, after a concert of prayer at the Coronado Theatre, there was a change. In January 2003, they began meeting monthly.
What we hope to accomplish is obedience to some instructions in the Bible to God’s people in the Old Testament,

explained Griffin. The keynote scripture verse is
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

(2 Chronicles 7:14)
Our hope is that as we continue to pray and be God’s people together in unity, humble ourselves and pray… seek His face, that He will hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal our land,

added Griffin.
That would include our city and the nation. I did my doctorate on this subject, and there has never been a major radical change from a spiritual point of view that has not begun with prayer. Every major gift of God or revival always, with no exceptions, ends up with spiritual social transformation.

The public is invited to this free event. For more information, call (815) 962-6246.

From the Feb. 3-9, 2010 issue.