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International House of Prayer

  • 13-03-2008 12:24am
    #1
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭


    No, I'm not talking about the dodgy deal on Achill Island. I'm currently sitting posting in a prayer meeting that has been continuing non-stop for the last eight years. http://www.ihop.org

    IHOP has been running continously in Kansas City for the last 8 years and I decided to come and spend a couple of days here since we are seriously considering something similar in Ireland. Basically it is a big hall (seats about 600) where continual praise, worship and prayer take place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The music is contemporary worship/soft rock with people occasionally praying for different things. A relay of musicians fill 2 hour slots in a rota and so there is seamless music of an extremely high standard from a 6 piece band (2 keyboards, bass, electric & acoustic guitar, drums) and about 6 singers. There is also a dance floor where people can dance while they are praying. At the moment a guy is spinning his wheelchair around and singing along with the band.

    Every time I have come into the prayer room there are between 100-500 people present - even in the early hours of the morning.

    Attached to the prayer room is a Starbucks style coffee house. At any given time there are about 50 people sat around tables with bibles or laptops open sipping coffee and discussing their faith. I just tried the coffee and my espresso was pretty good!

    About 80% of those in the prayer room would be in the 18-30 age group. There is a wifi signal so quite a few people bring laptops with them. They use this connectivity to enhance the prayer. For example, when someone was praying for an end to people trafficking I could see college kids were accessing news stories on the subject so as to pray more intelligently.

    Some people come here for their vacations. They rent a room nearby for a couple of weeks so they can come and participate in the worship and prayer for several hours each day.

    Apparently this is part of a growing network of such 24/7 prayer centres. It is an interesting and exciting example of how Christianity is growing and developing in innovative ways.


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