What if revival broke out in Portland, Oregon?

What if people, by the thousands, awoke to the glory of God?

What if the city of Portland, which is known all over the world as a liberal, secular, stick-it-to-the-man bastion of pagan hedonism, was transformed by the gospel of Jesus?

The prophet Jeremiah said...

"Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace."

In a city where there are more dogs than Christians (documented fact), a revival would be a flat out miracle.

Could it be the God of the miraculous is on the move? On the streets of Corinth, God said to Paul...

"I have many people in this city." Could it be God is waiting to save "many people in this city"?

Could it be God is ready to awaken the least churched city, in the least churched county, in the least churched state in America?

In the spring of last year thoughts like these were running through my mind, keeping me up at night. God was convicting me of my small thinking and myopic vision. I was coming to realize God’s heart for the entire city.

Then a crazy idea popped into my mind. What if we fasted and prayed for seven days, crying out to God for a revival in the city? The idea was crazy, but plausible enough to sound like the Spirit of Jesus.

That week I stood up and invited The Way (Solid Rock Church’s college group of a couple hundred young people) to something called Seven. We announced "seven days of prayer and fasting for revival in Portland, Oregon" thinking three people would participate (myself, my wife, and my son).

Hundreds of people signed on.

We gathered every morning at 6:30 am for an hour of prayer. No music. No hype. People, in the dark, praying. Praying for repentance. Praying for purity. Praying for boldness. Praying for Jesus to awaken this sleeping giant also known as the church.

On the last day of the fast, we gathered at Council Crest Park, a historic and symbolic location. In 1897, a band of thirty pastors from all over the city, converged on the park and prayed for a move of God. Eight years later, revival broke out in Portland. The entire downtown corridor shut down every day at lunchtime and people gathered to hear the gospel. People traveled from all over the nation to join in the revival (for more info click here). In short, the pastors’ prayer meeting was a raging success. One century later, we gathered at the same park, on the same soil and prayed for the same thing: God, awaken Your people. And then it happened – people were transformed! Lives were changed. People were saved. The Way exploded. God answered prayer.

Here we are one year later. God’s heart hasn’t changed. God’s heart breaks for the city. God’s heart beats for the lost, the poor and the unrepentant. Summer 08 has the potential to be a pivotal moment in Portland’s history. The Season of Service is taking the gospel to the streets. Hundreds of churches are united around God’s heart for the lost. Luis Palau is preaching the gospel from Waterfront Park during Cityfest (August 22nd-23rd). The old adage is true: "The church of Jesus Christ goes forward on its knees."

We believe Seven 2008 isn’t just a "The Way thing", but a Spirit of God thing. And we’re inviting you, whoever you are, wherever you come from, to join with Jesus’ body from all over the city asking God for a miracle. Sunday, June 22nd through Saturday, June 28th join with thousands of Christians and churches from all over the city and pray. Join for seven days or one meal. On the last day of the fast join God’s people at historic Council Crest Park, the highest point in the city, for a citywide prayer gathering.

We join a long line of seekers after God, desperate for more than cold religion. We join a kingdom fighting to gain ground. We join with the heart of God for the city.

Could this be the turning point?

Could this be the dawn of a new day?

"And the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE."

Peace,

John Mark Comer

Pastor of The Way, citizen of Portland,
and seeker after God

Jeremiah 29v7
Acts 18v10
Ezekiel 48v35