Is Kingdom Forerunners a Local Church?

 

No.  Kingdom Forerunners supports and works alongside local churches and other paralocal church ministries.

Is Kingdom Forerunners affiliated with the International House of Prayer in Kansas City? 

 

No. Kingdom Forerunners is self governing and not organizationally tied to prayer ministries in other cities. At the same time, we are eager to work with prayer focused communities including the International House of Prayer in Kansas City to make use of conferences, resources, internships, and wise counsel to develop Birmingham's own city-wide prayer movement and city transformation culture. 

How is Kingdom Forerunners chartered and funded? 

 

Kingdom Forerunners, Inc. is an Alabama non-profit corporation and a 501 (c) 3 federal tax exempt organization. All gifts of cash and other assets from individuals designated to Kingdom Forerunners are used to pioneer Kingdom initiatives across campuses, cities, and regions as determined its leadership. The ministry also receives private charitable foundation grants and revenues from the sale of gear and media products.
 
Is Kingdom Forerunners committed to establishing a city-wide, night and day, prayer room in Birmingham?

 

Yes. No one has done more night and day prayer gatherings in Birmingham over the last decade than the Birmingham Prayer Furnace.  Our long term vision is to help facilitate a collective of likeminded ministries who will create and maintain a 24/7 prayer room in the heart of Metro Birmingham. In the meantime, Kingdom Forerunners believes that a small but powerful mobile tribe of night and day prayer leaders is God's way to transform our city-wide church culture to embrace the vision of a 24/7 prayer and worship hub.

 

Is Night and Day Prayer in the Bible?

 

Yes. In the Bible there were specific times when night and day prayer was a part of the life of God's people. It wasn't necessarily "24-7" prayer at all times. But the principle of corporate night and day prayer and worship is a clear pattern for the priesthood of the Old Testament and intercessory prayer communities in the New Testament. The New Covenant in Jesus's blood qualifies every believer with equal and bold access to the Throne of God at all times. 

King David used the resources of Israel to commission thousands of priests, and hundreds of musicians, and singers to minister night and day before the Ark of the Covenant which he put in a tent in Zion. 1 Chron 16:1-6, 1 Chron 25:1,6,7 This was done even while the Tabernacle of Moses was also attended faithfully by priests not far away from Jerusalem in Gibeon. Israel was at peace and undefeated during the period when night and day worship and praise continued in the Tent of David. 

When the first temple built by Solomon was completed, the tabernacle of David and the tabernacle of Moses were brought together in one place. God's glory filled the Temple! 

Some have interpreted David's worship style of open praise and worship gazing on the beauty of God as a model of worship for the New Covenant people who were created by the blood of Jesus on the cross. There was no instruction in the Torah that gave David the paradigm of open visual worship in this way. It was by revelation that David believed that God would enjoy being sung to and gazed upon out in the open. If he had been wrong, it would have ended very quickly! 

The prophet Isaiah saw God posting "watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem" in chapter 62:6 who would "never be silent day or night. You who call upon the Lord give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." 

In the New Testament, Anna prayed and fasted night and day in the Jerusalem temple for over 60 years prior to the first coming of Jesus. Anna was the first evangelist for Jesus. Could it be that the Holy Spirit is releasing "Annas" today to pray, fast, and preach prior to the second coming of this same Jesus? 

Jesus used the example of night and day prayer for justice in the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18. He began the illustration by saying "Men ought to always pray and not give up." Then went on to say in verse 7 and 8, "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the Earth?" 

From these verses we believe that a night and day prayer movement is a vital key for the Kingdom of God to be released now and for Jesus to find radiant dynamic faith in His people when He returns. 

After His resurrection, Jesus commanded that His followers remain in the city of Jerusalem until He sent power from Heaven. One hundred and twenty people, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent what ended up being 10 days of night and day prayer and worship before the Holy Spirit came and the church was birthed through powerful preaching of the resurrection of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins in His Name.

Is Night and Day Prayer in History? 

 

In the year 555 in Ireland a Celtic monk named Comgall and his co-worker Columbanus gathered 3000 monks to Bangor (meaning High Choir). They began a prayer meeting that continued 24 hours a day for 300 years resulting in the Celtic mission movement that re-evangelized pagan Europe in the Dark Ages. 

In 1120 a Catholic monk named Bernard in France gathered 700 monks to Clairvaux (Valley of Light). They began a prayer meeting that continued 24 hours a day for many years resulting in a dynamic release of evangelism and miracles across Europe. 

In 1727 a young German count named Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf gathered persecuted Christians to his large estate that he named Herrnhut (The Watch of the Lord). These Christians, called the Moravians, began a prayer meeting that continued 24 hours a day for 120 years, resulting in the first Protestant missions movement. 

In September of 1999 prayer meetings began independently on both sides of the Atlantic that have continued ever since. One is the International House of Prayer in Kansas City and the other is a global network of prayer rooms linked through the 24-7 Prayer web site.

God is releasing grace for communities across the Earth to engage in night and day prayer and fasting in this generation This movement of prayer is unprecedented in its global scope and creative potential to deepen intimacy with Jesus, involvement in the mission and justice of His Kingdom, and increase the readiness of His global Bride for His return.