"You know, it was prophesied 400 years ago that Australia is the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. So our prayer is to see a greater release of that. We're seeing the indigenous people rise up ... to see God do amazing things through them, and through us as well."

Wesley Leake and his wife, Pam are part of the organizing team for the National Day of Prayer and Fasting in Australia. I met up and spoke with Wesley while at AzusaNow in Los Angeles earlier this month. I've always felt there is a special bond between our two countries, and that was reiterated by Wesley, as he confirmed the important relationship between Australia and the US in many remarkable ways... (Photo: Wesley and Pam Leake/BCN)

What kind of lead-up to this event have you been involved in over in Australia?

We have our own National Day of Prayer and Fasting through the season of Lent, so we've had—I think it was 70,000 people praying for Australia during that time. But each year, we also have a time of prayer and fasting for the US, which is coming up for us at the end of—I think, leading up to your National Day of Prayer and Fasting as well.

I saw that. That's exciting to us here in the US, that you guys over there are praying for us. That just means so much. And it's something that you do every year?

It is. We've done it for the last three years, so it's something that we're doing on an annual basis. (Photo: Wesley Leake, Aimee Herd/BCN)

You're here at Azusa. What does this mean to you, just being here in the US? And especially, here at Azusa?

There have actually been a lot of prophecies about Azusa as the A-Z representing Australia, and the U-S-A representing the USA, so there's been a connection. We're quite excited to see that what happens here will go around the world.

I find it exciting that you said that. Because I was looking at the word Azusa last night, and I'm going, "A-Z-U-S-A. Is it Arizona connected with the USA?" That didn't feel right. So for you to say Australia... that's definitely it! There's something prophetic and special about that.

Yeah, it's a very powerful thing. In a natural, they say when Australia catches a cold, we get the flu, sneezes, you get the flu. So what happens in the US has a huge impact on us. So for us to pray for this nation is very important.

And do you feel like Australia is well-represented here?

I noticed some of the key leaders in the world here today. So yes, I think there is a good number of Australians here. (Photo: Wesley Leake/BCN)

What do you feel like you're going to carry back to Australia?

There's just a very sweet and powerful presence of God here in this place, and I'm just feeling it. So I guess, we're taking back that spirit of revival, the spirit of healing that's being released here this morning, and we'll just see what God has on His heart to do in both our nations.

What are some ways that you've seen God move in answer to prayer in your country?

(Answering for Wesley Leake, David Rowsome, Prayer Co-ordinator for the Canberra Declaration and the National Day of Prayer and Fasting, explained): 
On 7 February 2016, the day of this year's National Day of Prayer and Fasting, a long-standing impasse was suddenly blown open with an article in our second biggest newspaper The Herald Sun.  For eighteen months all the warnings of the dangers of a program of indoctrination of school children with radical sexual ideology had fallen on deaf ears.  Australia was slumbering on the insidious Safe Schools Coalition program which sought to normalize homosexuality and gender fluidity among school children under the guise of an anti-bullying program.  But as Aussie Believers prayed and fasted on the National Day and throughout the 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting which followed, many more newspaper articles appeared and a number of politicians began to speak out.  There were also a number of petitions and demonstrations in different places by parents.  It all came to a head on 18 March the last working day of the 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting when the government backtracked and announced sweeping changes and removed the program links to internet pornography.  Ironically it was the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.  Later that same day an undercover video was released in which the founder of the program, Roz Ward, who identifies as transgender and is a Marxist activist said, "Safe Schools Coalition is about supporting gender and sexual diversity.  Not about celebrating diversity.  Not about stopping bullying.  About gender and sexual diversity." (Photo: Stage and crowd at AzusaNow/BCN)
 
There is still a long way to go but as our team leader Warwick Marsh believes "there has been a total realignment of the debate around this radical sexual ideology."

Wesley, how can we here in America be praying for our brothers and sisters there, and all of  Australia?

You know, Australia has been prophesied 400 years ago, that Australia is the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. So our prayer is to see a greater release of that. We're seeing the indigenous people rise up. Part of our National Day of Prayer and Fasting, we have 40 days. And during this time, we had a series of 40 stories of aboriginal leaders who share their testimony. And so, it's really that connection again with the First Peoples, which we have seen again here this morning. That really spoke to me; that we're seeing the First Nations raise up to see God do amazing things through them, and through us as well.

Learn more about how Believers in Australia are praying by clicking here.