Canada is in need of prayer as we enter the New Year!

National and local leaders have been invited to come to the annual vigil at the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill. There are significant national, regional and local challenges facing our nation which require us to stand in the gap for Canada for the year ahead. This gathering is being sponsored by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Intercessors for Canada and the National House of Prayer.

It is significant to note that, due to renovations, the flame is extinguished for the first time since it was lit by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson 40 years ago (we will meet close by). It is time to relight the flame of the gospel in our great land.

In Ottawa the prayer vigil will be from 5:00 ? 6:00 p.m. followed by a reception back at the National House of Prayer.

As you will know from last week's special bulletin, we are also calling the Church in Canada to join with us on Saturday, January 13, 2007 because of the special opportunity it gives us to pray for our military. We have been amazed at the response from across the nation to this call for prayer.

In next week's newsletter we will share more about the various communities that have committed to participating. Specific prayer directives have already been sent to those who requested them. Send us a note if you would like to receive them for your prayer group.<

In mid-March a special tour group of First Peoples will make their way to the Holy Land under the leadership of Kenny & Louise Blacksmith.

Their vision is to bring together an equal representation of First Nations, Inuit and Metis pastors, leaders and community members to Israel. They are believing for 40 representatives from each nation and their target is to have at least 120 First Nations, Inuit and Metis on this Covenant Journey to Israel.

Kenny states, "Our corporate journey is intended to renew,and foster relations with the people of the land, and release our best and sincere cultural expressions of our corporate faith in our Lord Yeshua."

He addes, "We encourage and honor our friends and family in the Lord, who are not First Nations, Inuit or Metis but who desire to stand with us in the First Peoples Covenant Journey to Israel; and we welcome all who desire to join us in our journey.

We realize this is a very short notice to many but we sense the urgency in the timing of this Covenant Journey to Israel, and believe the window of opportunity is therefore as such - small. We therefore must move as quickly as we are led to. We honor those who will not be able to join us this time and encourage you to join us by sowing financially and covering us in prayer as we move into this journey."

Here at NHOP we have already committed to sponsor a First Nation's person to be able to make this trip, and we know of a couple of other ministries that have also taken this step. Donations can be sent to Gathering Nations International c/o Kenny Blacksmith, 788 Covehead Crescent, Gloucester, ON. Canada K1V 1M3.
Please check out their website if you would like detailed information about how to join this Covenant Tour or donate towards its success.

Rob Parker, our team leader, began this new year with a heightened sense of alertness. He has challenged all of us to be vigilant in our spirits as we serve the Lord in 2007.

1. Let's pray for the Church in Canada to be fully awake and alert as it stands on guard for the nation. Prime Minister Stephen Harper ended his New Year's address with these words ... ?Happy New Year, Canada . . . and may God keep our land glorious and free.?

2. There are a number of new cabinet ministers who need our prayer coverage. Rather than give the full list here, we would encourage you to check the press release available online. The weblink is below.

3. Please pray for our team at NHOP this week as we seek to teach Biblical principles of leadership and intercession to 16 Inuit leaders. Pray that this will be a transformational week both for them and the people they will impact as they head back to the Arctic.

As we look forward to the first three months of this year, we realize that almost all of our weeks are already booked with teams from many regions of the nation. If you are considering bringing a team in 2007 we would encourage you to give us a call so we can reserve a spot for your group.

Representing you in the nation's capital

Rob & Fran Parker, and the team at NHOP

email: info@nhop.ca

phone: 613-789-4907

web: http://www.nhop.ca