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Australia has some wonderful prayer pioneers. Too many to thank properly, but we have to make a start. Join us for a thanksgiving dinner on 17 February as we appreciate the past so we can plan for the future!

We have a lot to be grateful for in this wonderful nation of Australia. Our National Anthem says it so well:

“Australians all let us rejoice,

For we are one and free;

We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;

Our home is girt by sea;

Our land abounds in nature’s gifts

Of beauty rich and rare…”

We can be thankful for God’s bountiful blessings on our nation which goes back to the prayerful words found in our Constitution, “Humbly relying on the blessings of Almighty God”.

Honouring Prayer Pioneers

We can also be grateful for those who have pioneered the promotion of prayer in our nation and prayer for our nation. God, speaking to us in Ezekiel 22:30, said, “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall.”

Thankfully, over the last 50 years, we have had many wonderful national prayer leaders. These same leaders have bravely ‘blown the trumpet in Zion’, to call people to pray for Australia according to 2 Chronicles 7:14 and to stand in the gap on behalf of the nation.

As the psalmist says, “It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes” (Ps 118:23). To God be the glory!

Noel and Barbara Bell founded and led Intercessors for Australia from 1973–1993. Noel has been promoted to glory, but Barbara, at 94 years of age, is still with us.

Brian and Robyn Pickering started the Spirit Alive Prayer Ministry in the early 1980s. This grew into the Australian Prayer Network which blossomed in the mid-1990s. Many other key prayer leaders have also contributed to the up-swelling of prayer over the last five decades in Australia.

Honouring the History of Prayer in Australia

Over the last decade Brian and his team, which includes Ben Gray, Matthew Bolte and Ken Kilah, along with many others too numerous to mention, have trained over 16,000 intercessors in Weekend Foundation Level Prayer Schools. Their simple but successful vision was to raise a mantle of prayer across Australia.

This extraordinary effort helped undergird the annual National Day of Prayer & Fasting which started in 2011. The success of the World Prayer Assembly which was held in Perth in October 2023 is a recent example of the multiplication of prayer in our nation, along with many, many other prayer exploits. As the song says, “To God be the Glory”.

Nothing happens in a vacuum. As the Scripture says, “Every joint supplies” (Eph 4:16). We should honour Barbara Bell, Brian and Robyn Pickering, and their wonderful team, along with many others for their sacrificial service in training intercessors, and facilitating, promoting, leading and coordinating prayer in our nation.

The team at the Canberra Declaration believes it is time to honour some of these wonderful prayer warriors, but more importantly to give thanks to God for them. We also want to pray for the next generation of prayer leaders.

That’s why we are inviting you to join us for a special thanksgiving dinner in Sydney on Saturday 17 February 2024.

Let us “Tell of the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps 27:13).

Space is limited and we believe the event will book out fast.

Event Details

Please find details below with a booking link.

OBJECTIVE: Honour those who pioneered the prayer movement in Australia. Worship God together and pray for the multiplication of prayer in Australia for the Glory of God.

EVENT: Brian & Robyn Pickering + Others Thanksgiving Dinner

DATE & TIME: Saturday 17 February 2024, 5:45 pm for a 6 pm start until 10 pm (AEDT)

COST: $85.00

VENUE: Holiday Inn Sydney Airport

ADDRESS: Cnr Bourke Rd & O’Riordan St, Mascot, Sydney NSW 2020

BOOKING LINK: https://www.trybooking.com/CODMJ

BOOKINGS CLOSE: Midnight Monday 12 February 2024

VENUE & TRANSPORT PROXIMITY: 1.3 km from Sydney Domestic Terminal; 500 m from Mascot Train Station

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: Special package rates for accommodation and breakfast provided in booking email after you make your booking.

NOTE: We hope to have an optional thanksgiving worship service on Sunday morning 10 am–12 pm. Venue TBC.

Book now to avoid disappointment.

The event will be an informal strategic gathering for key prayer and church leaders from all over Australia with a heart for the nation.

The thanksgiving dinner will cost more than $85 per person. However the Canberra Declaration team will seek donations from those who want to underwrite and promote prayer in our nation.

The Scripture says, “Honour your father and mother and it will go well with you” (Eph 6:3).

Blessing comes when we bless those who have gone before.

We all stand on the shoulders of giants.

We greatly appreciate your prayers and support as together we seek to multiply prayer in our nation.

Yours for our nation,

Warwick & Alison Marsh