Fasting for Peace in California July 2008
In the face of what he called an epidemic of gang violence, Mayor Dennis Donohue of Salinas invited the entire city to join together July 20-26 in a week of prayer and fasting for peace to come to Salinas. Watch the video of the KSBW nightly news, or read the news story. There as been a large surge of grass roots involvement. Nearly every church in the city is participating in the week of fasting and prayer.
United Service
Mayor Donohue has asked the faith community to join him to officially bring the citywide week of fasting to a close this on Sunday, July 27th at 4 pm, at First United Methodist, 404 Lincoln St., Salinas, 93901. Directions The gathering will be short and will end with the celebrating of Holy Communion. As a sign of unity, all the pastors in attendance will be asked to sit up front and also participate in serving the elements. —This is a powerful breakthrough; let’s give thanks to God and celebrate it!
Where do we go from here?
I don’t know if this has ever happened before in California and it is very timely. In addition to the epidemic of violence from the inter gang warfare, the economy of Salinas and the valley has been very hard hit, not only are they facing the housing and mortgage crisis and high fuel costs, but the agriculture industry has been particularly hit by both the increase cost of shipping their products and the tomato and spinach scares, so the industry is down 20 to 30% as a whole.
As you can imagine, the call to fast has caused quite a bit of controversy, but it has also struck a cord with many other cities. While the week of fasting has officially ended many churches have agreed together to continue to fast for peace one day a week from here forward, indefinitely, as long as it takes! Furthermore, eighteen other cities have agreed together to call a statewide fast for peace. Can you imagine 18+ mayors in California calling a state wide fast! We’ll see what comes of this, but it sure looks to me like an opportunity for God to move.
Canopy of Prayer
A team from Salinas will join us in Argentina this October for our International Institute. On the opening night we will connect places all across California along with locations from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego with a two-hour broadcast to Raise a Canopy of Prayer over the Americas. Learn more about the conference and the Canopy of Prayer here
Don’t give up on us yet, it is always darkest before the dawn and as one very famous person once said: “where sin abounds grace overflows”!
Ted Hahs
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