International Prayer Days for Musicians & Artists
From: Beat Rink: info@crescendo.org
We invite you to take part at The International Prayer Days for Musicians
and Artists
March 19-21, 2004
In March 2003 many artists (actors, painters, classical and pop musicians,
writers, dancers from California to Mongolia were praying for a spiritual
renewal within the arts. In Latvia the event was mentioned by the national
broadcast program and 200 artists came to a big worship and prayer evening
in Riga. In the Philippines artists sent each other text messages and had
a wonderful gathering in Manila. In the United States students gathered on
Monday morning on campuses. Many church services around the world had a special
intercession time for our requests.
Why these prayer days?
There is a growing spiritual movement among artists in many countries.
God is doing great things! The world is very open for all kind of arts. At
the same time many people especially of the Western society find Christianity
boring. What a chance for Christian artists to point out to the gospel either
through their works in a good, not kitschy way! - or in conversations and
interviews. Therefore Christian artists often stand at the forefront of spiritual
warfare and must contend against opposition. The art world in general needs
a spiritual renewal!
The Christian church needs artists and, more than ever, an aesthetic renewal
that is also fruitful in church building and sharing the Message. And the
artists need the church!
Where do the prayer events take place? And what will happen?
The events will take place right where you are! Maybe in your home, in your orchestra, in your theatre, in your church. Intercessory prayer circles, as well as individuals, will take time during this weekend to pray specifically for artists.
Artists and musicians gatherings will take place with the chance to meet each other, to make joyful noise for the Lord, to listen silently to a Bach fugue, to worship with a band, to meditate over a Christian poem or a picture, to look enjoy a dance, to intercede for each other. The topic of the meeting could also be The Our Father of an artist.
More about it below: Statements and Requests)
On March 20, churches are invited to involve artists in their Sunday morning
services and to pray for them.
Our invitation to you:
Please get involved by praying individually, by informing others, by organizing
prayer meetings and encouraging intercession for artists in your church. If
you can contact Christian artists, invite them to a prayer meeting in your
home, in a church building, in a concert hall. Please, contact also your friends,
pastors, even Christian magazines and radio stations.
A wonderful side-effect could be that an address list and a network of
Christian artists could grow (as there are already such lists among classical
professional musicians). Please think about putting together such a list.
Please give us a feed back about your plans and also about your personal prayer
requests up to the beginning of March.
We will send these information and your requests out to prayer groups in all
over the world. Imagine: from Finland to South Africa, from Japan to California
Christian artists will pray for each other.
Thus, you will hear again from us before the prayer days will start.
Our general Statements and Requests for the Artists and Musicians Prayer Days 2004
---------
"God has called each artist around to the world to pray: that the Lord
of the harvest might send out labourers into the harvest field which includes
the world of the arts. This is the need of the hour!
Let us all come together, humble ourselves, and seek the face of the Lord,
trust Him to exalt Himself in today's arts world."
Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh, Artistic Director, The MasterWorks Festival, Executive
Director, Christian Performing Artists' Fellowship (www.christianperformingart.org)
----------------
This is an era of change. A period of change gives many opportunities to stand
up for righteousness, beauty, compassion. This is and era where artists can
really contribute to shape the culture based on biblical values. This is a
time with an incredible challenge.
Leen La Riviere, Chairman, International Association of Christian Artists
- www.continentalart.org
--------------
1. Pray for pastors and leaders to become aware of the significance of the
arts to impact Europe with the Gospel and that these leaders will affirm and
endorse artists moving in European culture.
2. Pray for artists who are Christians to find a resting place in church so
that they might be nourished and nurtured in the pursuit of their call as
artists.
3. Pray for finances and financial strategies to be birthed so that worthy
Christian artistic endeavours can be supported throughout Europe
Jim Mills, director of Creative Arts Europe - www.creativeartseurope.org
----------------
"Lord, even if my name should be praised in the newspapers. Even if art
experts should say my name respectfully - it would not be of importance! Only
your name is of importance! I want to praise your name: When I am successful
and when I am criticised. When I am working all by myself and when I am on
stage. When I perform in church and when I present my artistic works in secular
circles. When I present spiritual ideas and when my artistic works reflect
you in a more hidden way. When my work is outstanding and when it is mediocre
or even below my expectations. I always want to praise youAnd give my best
for your glory." ( from Our Father of an Artist www.crescendo.org
> life > impulse)
Beat Rink, director of Crescendo international, Artists Network Coordinator
/ Hope for Europe (www.hfe.org)
Thank you for being involved in this event! God bless you!
Patrick Kavanaugh, Leen La Riviere, Jim Mills, Beat Rink
For more info contact: Crescendo, Postfach 219, CH-4003 Basel Fax: +41-(0)61
923 06 83 // Email: info@crescendo.org
Homepage: www.crescendo.org /Homepage:
www.kirchekreativ.ch
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Please send me relevant information which you think should be included. This is mostly for folks in the Lower Mainland in BC so events will mostly reflect what's happening in this region, but others are welcome to receiving it as well, however we may not necessarily promote events in other regions (at least not at this point).
Many blessings!!
Grace Wiebe,
Great Commission Worship & Arts Center - Surrey, BC
http://DiscipleTheNations.org/index9.html
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