Thank You for Bristol Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace
 

Dear Bristol Churches and Christian Community,

Thank you to those who were able to take part in the day of prayer and fasting for peace in Bristol last week.

The day felt like it was carried by the grace and favour of God. Christians across the city quickly heard about it and were keen to be involved. We had lots of Christians mention it to us and say that they would be fasting and praying that day. The local news heard of it too and it was mentioned on BBC and ITV local news.

We had two times of whole church gathered prayer. The 7am Zoom had 220 participants (with a quick scan noting that at least 45 different churches were represented), and the evening gathering for prayer at the Cathedral saw the main part of the Cathedral full for a powerful time of prayer, repentance, worship and encouragement. That was both a time of engagement with the rawness and pain of the violence in our city and also a faith filled time of worshipping Jesus together. Bishop Bernard Morris from Inns Court Christian Fellowship in Knowle West opened, with us all aware of recent events there. Pastor Fatima Sibanda then shared personally the experience of her cousin being stabbed. Later Pastor Steve McEwen told of leading a young boy involved in gangs to Christ before he was killed in a stabbing. Within this, and surrounding our prayers for violence to end, the band, made up of members of 4 different churches, led us in joyful praise. We finished with sharing refreshments and breaking our fast together. There was a real warmth and love for each other as we gathered there in the Cathedral as a united church in the city.

It was very encouraging to see how the church of Bristol mobilised to prayer and fasting with just 6 days’ notice! We are expectant that this fasting and these prayers will have had an impact in the heavenly realms and on earth on the streets and in the communities of Bristol.

And we are aware of the need to continue in this in three ways:

• To intercede for our city – to continue in prayer for God’s protection, and even more, that people vulnerable to violence would instead come to the love and transformation that comes through Jesus Christ.
• To pastor our city – to continue to comfort and serve those affected by violence.
• To invest in our city – to engage with areas and people that are vulnerable to violence through social breakdown of various sorts.

On this third point we’ll be looking at how the church can strategically work together and work with other organisations for long term investment in the city in the coming weeks.

And finally, another opportunity for the church of Bristol to gather to worship and pray together will be at Woodlands Church on the afternoon of Pentecost Sunday (2.30-4pm 19th May – please download and circulate the landscape and portrait fliers).

We’re very grateful to be following Jesus together with you as part of His church in Bristol,

Love Chris Bond, Fatima Sibanda, Dave Mitchell, Sheena Tranter, Matt Southcombe, Bernard Morris, Derick Mulubwa
(steering group of church and prayer network leaders)