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Focus

72 Hours of Prayer for the USA: 15–18 May

Intention

To prepare the Body of Christ to welcome and nurture new believers, loving them extravagantly, so they may grow in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture

“Therefore those who accepted and welcomed Peter’s message were baptised and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.”

– Acts 2:41–42 (AMP)

Reflection

After the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter was able to preach to the crowds who had gathered for the Day of Pentecost.

The listeners were convicted of their sin, and they asked Peter what they should do. He explained — they needed to repent (Acts 2:38).

Three thousand souls responded! These new believers were baptised and immediately began gathering together, learning from the apostles, sharing communion, praying, and caring for one another’s needs. When someone had a need, another believer would sell a possession to meet it.

Signs and wonders accompanied this season, and warm relationships flourished among all the believers. Constantly praising God, they enjoyed the goodwill of all the people around them.

Nothing has changed. The same Holy Spirit who moved at Pentecost is moving today — and new believers still need exactly what those first three thousand needed: each other, and us.

The responsibility for nurturing new believers does not rest with one or two designated church leaders or in any particular church structure. It rests with all of us.

Church structures, such as small groups — often called friendship groups or connect groups — are important. They enable closer fellowship to take place than is possible in larger gatherings. But no programme or established group replaces the warmth of a person who genuinely sees you. Without this kind of personal relationship, even people in a connect group remain disconnected.

We older, more established Christians need to be prepared to support these new believers — many of whom have been baptised but are largely untaught in Christian doctrine and behaviour. We must be very careful not to quench the Holy Spirit, but to remain open to allow him to lead us as we teach these newcomers and help them grow in their knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us guard against becoming like the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son — one who resented the extravagant welcome given to his brother who had finally come home (Luke 15:11–32). Established Christians can sometimes, without realising it, make new believers feel unwelcome or unaccepted. But God calls us to welcome them with open arms, trusting him to work in their lives through a supportive Christian community.

Growth is a process — for all of us. We must not expect newborn Christians to have instantly achieved adult maturity (1 Corinthians 3:1–2), any more than we ourselves arrived fully formed.

Listening to God is a skill we must all cultivate — so that he can build these new believers into the Church he has envisioned.

God promises that he will “sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24). Let us trust him with these new believers, as we seek to be available to God to nurture their new beginning.

Video

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for the many new believers who are joining us. May we support them in getting to know you, so that they can become the parts of the Body of Christ that God has planned since before the foundation of the world.

As we grow together, may you pour out your love upon us, that we might experience its extravagance — and that the world will know we belong to you, because we love one another.

Amen.

Author Bio

Betty is a retired English teacher who taught in the Professional Writing and Editing Course at the Goulburn Ovens TAFE. Her home church is Enjoy Church in Wangaratta, and she also regularly fellowships with the other intercessors on Canberra Declaration’s Zoom prayer calls.

Prayer Points for Five4Five 2026

1. Five people to trust in Christ and to share the gospel with those five in May. Matthew 28:19–20

2. Repentance, revival and reformation in Australia and for millions to believe in Jesus Christ. Luke 24:47

3. A Church that grows in extravagant love for God and people. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15

We invite you to support this campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to faith in Christ. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ.

Join us for 72 hours of continuous prayer for spiritual awakening in the USA and Australia on Zoom:

DATES: Friday, 15 May to Monday, 18 May

BEGINNING TIME: 12 pm AEST on Friday; 11:30 am ACST; 10 am AWST

ENDING TIME: 12 pm AEST on Monday; 11:30 am ACST; 10 am AWST

ZOOM URL LINK: zoom.us/j/776881184

Join us for our nightly Zoom prayer call:

DATES: Every night from Sunday, 12 April to Pentecost Sunday, 24 May

TIME: 8 pm (AEST); 7:30 pm (ACST); 6 pm (AWST)

ZOOM URL LINK: zoom.us/j/776881184

ZOOM TUTORIAL: youtube.com/watch?v=pAMDxH_H_Cs

View all Five4Five 2026 devotionals

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