We?ve had many opportunities to welcome back and pray for MP?s as Parliament resumed this past week. We are really pleased with the level of acceptance of the mandate of NHOP among Parliamentarians.

A moment of silence ushered in the first Question Period of the Fall session of Parliament on Monday this past week as the victims of the Dawson College shootings were remembered. Our NHOP team was there to watch and pray along with a passionate team from Victoria, BC.

This team experienced great favour in opportunities to meet MP's from their area. Not only were they received by 3 members of different parties in their offices, but also had the privilege of praying for each one. In each case they were able to demonstrate a strong support for the MP's own personal passions and interests, and in a couple of cases showed that support by going back to hear them speak to these issues in Parliament.

A special privilege was given to pastor Dan and Susan McLean, along with our director Rob Parker, to hear the speech by Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai . Each MP only had one guest pass, but 3 were found when it was learned that the McLeans had a son serving in the military.

That same day the team also participated, along with 10,000 others, in a Red Friday rally on the lawn of Parliament, to show their support for Canadian troops. Immediately afterwards they attended the chapel prayer meeting in the East Block.

It was a pleasure for us to host a number of MP?s and their spouses on a tour of our building where they were able to see the many improvements done over the summer months. During their visit, they were also able to view a portion of Marney Blom?s new documentary "From the River to the Ends of the Earth," which portrays the prophetic destiny of our nation.

Everywhere you turn you can read stories about the Christian impact on our current government. Much of it is misleading and a lot of it factually incorrect, but there is no lack of opinion among the media.

Here are some examples: The Globe and Mail did a two page spread this past weekend looking at the way Christian voters affected last January's election entilted "In Ottawa, Faith makes a Leap to the Right".

The Walrus a monthly political journal placed this statement on their October cover, "Jesus in the House- Are the Religious Right taking over the Conservative Party?" It was an attempt to paint evangelicals as both scary and gaining strength. Rob and Fran Parker of NHOP were just one of numerous targets.

Then there was the most recent MacLean's magazine who gave our directors a passing description as "devout loiterers" in the halls of Parliament. We got a chuckle from that one!

The good news in all this is that the major political parties are all beginning to recognize that they need to take spirituality seriously. The NDP is developing a Faith and Religion Caucus, and the Liberals are rethinking things having realized they lost a lot of votes by ignoring the concerns of a large segment of their constituency in the last election.

We feel the Lord is answering our prayers that political leaders are starting to take prayer seriously. We are grateful for the role that media is playing in this whole process, wittingly or unwittingly!

1. Pray for the many different Christian ministries in Ottawa that are trying to make an impact on government. Pray for wisdom in how they speak and for timing and sensitivity on how they approach each issue.

2. Pray for the Media. Intercede for truthfulness, fairness and propriety in how each reporter and news editor handles the stories they try to tell. Cry out for this sector of our society to be redeemed!

3. Pray for the best priorities for the Fall session of Parliament. Let's pray that issues of morality, justice and good governance will receive the proper focus.

Rob Parker writes, "This Wednesday, I will be travelling again to the Ukraine to take part in what I initiated on my last journey. This Saturday is the anniversary of Babi Yar, where approxamately 90,000 Jews were executed during the Second World War. After gaining government permission, upwards of 20,000 people are taking part in a prayer of repentance march to mark this event. A business couple, Mike and Sharon, from British Columbia who both have Ukrainian heritage, are covering my travel expenses as well as accompanying me on this very important event. Please be sure to cover us as we know that we are stirring up a significant amount of anti-Semitic warfare around this event."

Richard Long, who has been on staff since January this year is moving this coming weekend, having finally bought and sold houses. He is very happy to have his wife Terry join him in the ministry here. His daughter Robin has already started her first term at the University of Ottawa.

Thank you for your prayers as our ministry is stretched to full capacity this Fall.

Representing you in Ottawa,

Rob, Fran, Richard and the team at NHOP

email: info@nhop.ca

phone: 613-789-4907

web: http://www.nhop.ca