We are quick to lament the declining numbers of young adults who are active in our churches or even give the church and Christ a second thought. We describe them as apathetic, filling their lives with a busyness that doesn’t satisfy.  A truer assessment is that this description applies to every generation and locale down through the ages where there is no sense of a move of God.

This past January 23-26, I attended the United Prayer Rising event in Jakarta, Indonesia:  World Generation Gathering. As one of the “older” generation representatives, I was inspired to witness twentysomethings from 35 different nations from every continent gathering together in passionate worship and fervent prayer. The hundreds of people may only have been a remnant, but they were far from apathetic and self-absorbed. Their passionate, sacrificial, and complete commitment to the Lord brought me hope and great encouragement.  (To learn more about this grassroots movement, check out www.unitedprayerrising.com)

I have attended many worship and prayer gatherings throughout a lifetime in church and Christian circles. What I witnessed the final night at the World Generation Gathering in Indonesia was truly unique. The leader would call out the name of one of the 35 countries represented by the attendees. To which the whole assembly would rush to those attendees, lay hands on them, and zealously pray for their country. This continued through the evening, country after country, amidst shouts soaring and tears flowing. What caught my seasoned attention was the ever increasing crescendo. The intensity would not fade but only increased nation after nation, into the night. The cries of hope for each nation were only overshadowed by the overflowing joy of the impassioned intercessors. By the time the final nation’s name was called out, the gathering had become a holy raucous affair!

In just a few short years, this groundswell movement of young worship and prayer warriors should be encouraging to all of us. From the initial gathering at the DMZ (the border between North and South Korea), this movement has grown and spread throughout the nations. The next gathering is in England, July 8-11. Once again, it is organized by and will be attended by primarily young adults. And once again, they have sought the counsel and oversight of older generations. I look forward to attending, supporting, and sowing into their lives and this movement. And equally, I look forward to witnessing the stirring of God within them, and being their cheerleader. (To learn more about the gathering in England, check out www.UPRisingeurope.org)

Wesley Zinn
Pastor, Wellspring Church
Berlin, CT USA

Read more about this situation:

“Jakarta heats up as anti-Ahok rally begins” The Jakarta Post (November 4, 2016).

“Indonesia protest: President Joko Widodo cancels Australia visit” BBC News Asia (November 5, 2016).

“The demonstrators accuse Basuki Tjahaja Purnama [the Governor of Jakarta, also known as Ahok], a Christian, of having insulted Islam’s holy book, the Koran.”

An encouragement to “Pray the News” from PneumaReview.com author William De Arteaga.

A peaceful day near Jakarta hotels.
Image: Wikimedia Commons