In Arizona, God's "Torch" Transcends Headlines and Border Controversy: the State is Ablaze with Prayer!

Deb Fritch : Sep 1, 2010
LitetheFire.org

The Church in the State of Arizona has now been praying non-stop almost three straight years.

The "Torch" non-stop prayer initiative has almost completed its 3rd Year with great momentum. It doesn't seem possible that on New Year's Eve almost 4 years ago, 15 of us gathered in a small prayer room in Phoenix, AZ to "Launch the Torch."

A humble $20 camping light represents the "Torch" that has passed, much like a baton in a relay race, from location to location. The initial vision for the "Torch" was to organize and equip 52 prayer teams who would each cover one week of non-stop prayer in 2008. For each prayer team's assigned week, they would cover all-day, all-night prayer from some pre-determined location. Our desire was to see non-stop prayer happen in churches, businesses, hospitals, universities, or where ever else the Lord had in mind. We stepped out in faith believing we had heard the Lord and His heart to have non-stop prayer blanket our state. At that time, we had 13 churches committed and a whole lot of faith for the Lord to fill all 52 weeks of 2008 with churches and ministries who were hungry for HIS Presence. (Photo: Prayer in progress in Arizona/LitetheFire.org)

To date, we have had over 100 churches from many different denominations, ministries, and market place locations participate. We have seen non-stop prayer occur not only in churches, but also in every sphere of society. These include: schools, businesses, a radio station, TV station, hotel, government offices, hospitals, a county jail, and even a casino!

A second "Torch" was launched in January, this one we are calling the Family Torch. Families are coming together and hosting the presence of the Lord in their homes, just like in the days of Obed-Edom, "The Ark of the LORD remained there in Obed-edom's house for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and his entire household." -2 Samuel 6:11 . There have been great healings, deliverance and testimonies of reconciliation within the families who have hosted the "Torch".

It is exciting to see communities come together to unite in prayer. In one city a mayoral proclamation was made announcing a "week of prayer". Another "Torch Transfer" service was streamed over the Internet through a local newspaper. The City of Phoenix has reported that the murder rate dropped over 40% between 2007 and 2009 and the violent crime rate dropped 18% in 2009. We have seen many changes and continue to hear testimonies on a weekly basis of how the Lord is encountering individuals, churches and communities as they host their week of non-stop prayer. We believe this is some of the tangible fruit we are seeing as a result of continuous prayer and worship that is changing the atmosphere over Arizona!