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Awakening Australia is a conference designed to foster revival, see many come to faith in Jesus, and activate and mobile the Church to share the gospel far and wide. The Canberra Declaration has a vision to see Australia’s Judeo-Christian Values revitalised. That is why we are excited to support this event.

Awakening Australia held their first revival/awakening conference in Melbourne in 2018. Some 20,000 people attended, many hundreds trusted in Jesus for eternal life and were baptised, and many churches and networks came together to pray for and mobilise for sharing the gospel!

This year, Awakening Australia will be held at the Brisbane Showgrounds from 26–29 September. Guest speakers and musicians include John Bevere, Todd White, Jeremy Riddle, Daniel Hagen, Ben Fitzgerald, Awakening Music and Nicola Olyslagers. Click here for more information.

On Tuesday 16 July, prayer leaders gathered to consider how the Canberra Declaration and the broader Australian prayer movement could support this Awakening movement with prayer. Organisers Pat Steele, Ben Fitzgerald and Daniel Hagen shared their inspiring vision for an awakened Australia and activated Church. Watch the recording from this Zoom gathering in the video below!

Pat Steele, the prayer coordinator of this year’s Awakening conference, approached the Canberra Declaration prayer team to consider supporting 21 days of prayer and fasting for the Awakening Australia conference happening in Brisbane.

However, we are already committed to praying for sexual purity during October for a full 31 days – something which we are extremely excited about. Praying and fasting for 21 days during September is not something we could commit to.

Seven Days of Prayer and Fasting from 6–12 September 2024

Instead, a proposal was made for seven days of prayer and fasting from 6–12 September 2024. During our Zoom prayer calls the past couple of weeks, we have been praying about whether the Canberra Declaration should commit to this. 

The unified feedback on the above Zoom prayer call was a resounding yes! We are big believers in Matthew 18:18–19, which teaches the importance of believers agreeing together. Agreement is the place of power. As the Scripture in Amos 3:3 says, “How can two walk together unless they are agreed.” Check out this historic call for unified prayer for revival in 1747 by Jonathan Edwards for further inspiration.

We are delighted to support Awakening Australia from 6–12 September in prayer and fasting. For seven nights during this period, we will hold Zoom prayer gatherings at 8 PM AEST. We are hoping that the Awakening Team will join us for vital updates over this time!

Further Prayer Initiatives From August – October

It is important to note that two existing national prayer strategies for Awakening Australia are happening. The first is the call to set your watch for 7 PM every night to pray for an awakening to Jesus in Australia. Secondly, James Condon and the team at Australian Prays are calling for a special night of prayer for Awakening Australia on Zoom at 7:30 PM on Friday, 23 August 2024.

This is more than an event. It’s about seeing believers and the Church across Australia fulfil the calling to make disciples and see the good news of Jesus change lives.

Then, during October, we will continue praying for revival, while at the same time praying for sexual purity and the restoration of God’s design for the family. We will let you know more about these significant times of prayer as we move closer to them.

A massive thanks to everyone who has prayed about this opportunity and given feedback. And thank you all for your continued partnership as we seek and pray for revival in Australia.

Yours for an awakened Australia and activated Church,

Samuel Hartwich & Warwick Marsh

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Image via Awakening Australia