One of our strongly held convictions here at NHOP is that action and prayers go hand in hand. Also, we believe that God has a special place in His heart for the poor and disadvantaged. As a part of our internship program, our team prepares meals each week for the Capital City Mission that is just across the park. In fact we've just finished cooking up some turkeys for their Easter outreach dinner.

Our facility is located on the edge of an inner city neighbourhood so we see the evidence of poverty every day. It reminds us to pray and act to bless our neighbours.

We rejoiced with the staff at Capital City Mission on their 7th anniversary just a week ago. They were instrumental in helping us to purchase the great building that we now own here on Myrand Ave. The cake that was baked to celebrate their ministry tasted great!

For two weeks in a row we had visiting prayer teams attend the Justice Committee that is chaired by M.P. Art Hanger. The second week they provided prayer support for Faytene Kryskow as she presented her views on raising the age of sexual consent. (Bill C-22)

That team included 2 young girls from Steinbach, Manitoba, who were so impacted by the experience that they decided to write to Mr. Art Hanger about what they believe on this issue that is so relevant to their age. Here's two excerpts that they gave us permission to share with you.

"Hey Mr. Hanger,
The age of consent is 14 right now, and I'm 14, and some of the people there said that all people around my age have sex. That's not true, because my friends wear purity rings, and some of us made a commitment to abstain from sex. I know that's not everyone but those people in there, didn't think of people like me and my friends.

I can vote at 18 and have sex at 14. Let's say you were running for Prime Minister or something, and I had sex, what would be more effective to this country? My vote? Or my sex life? I think that the age should be higher, from 14 to 16 is good and all but let's raise our standards a little higher, and say 18." - Maddy

"Dear Mr. Hanger,
I am 13 years old and will be turning 14 next month so this meeting pertains to me and I would like to share my opinion with you. I want the age for consentual sex to be raised from 14 to 16. I don't think that trying to give children more education about sex in school will make that much of a difference in whether they have healthy sex with someone or not. I know that for me personally I learned about sex from my parents and from different books, not from school. Most kids don't even listen in school when they are being taught about sex because it is really awkward for both them and the teacher.

Until I attended this meeting I did not know anything really about the age of consent or even that there was one. The reason why most kids don't tell adults or even their friends about having sex is not because they think that they will get in trouble with the law. It is because they feel enbarassed and shameful about what they did." - Raelynne

The rest of their letters were just as well written. The whole team prayed over them before they were sent on to the committee. We would ask your prayers as well, so that this important reform would see it's way through parliament.

This is a portion of a recent speech by Chuck Strahl (Conservative MP for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon British Columbia, and Minister of Agriculture) at Trinity Western University. He was this year?s speaker for their famed annual Mel Smith Lecture Series.

You would not believe the impact that your comments can have on someone who is out on the edge, taking a stand on a tough issue. In fact, your comments might just make the difference as to whether or not a politician continues to stand and be counted.

I remember several years ago when the debate on the definition of marriage was in the provincial realm, and a local MLA had taken a stand - against his own party - defending the traditional definition of marriage. I?m almost reluctant to use this as an example, because (you have to believe me) I do not get up every morning focusing on the definition of marriage, but it?s perhaps the best example I have so I?m going to use it.

Anyway, right after the vote I was speaking at a church, and I was talking about communicating with your politicians. I suggested that for Christians, it was important to not simply get hold of them when your were venting your spleen, but also to encourage them from time to time when they actually do something you agree with. And I asked the question, ?how many of you wrote a letter or email to our local MLA, thanking him for standing up for something you believe in??. This was a big church, maybe 7-800 people in attendance. I had spoken with the the MLA so I knew the answer. Not one person there had written a note to say thanks for standing up for what we believe. Not one person.

Let me assure you, I hear from MPs all the time who tell me that ?such and such is a huge issue - I?m being inundated in my office?. "Boy that sounds serious," I say, "how many people? Coupla thousand? Several hundred?" Often the answer is "well, maybe a dozen people phoned in." A dozen!

You know what a difference it makes in your work, attitude and life when someone takes the time to tell you that they appreciate what you?re doing. Politicians are like anyone else, so please, remember to encourage people along the way when they take a stand that you agree with, whether that?s at work, in the home, or in public life.

Every team that comes to NHOP makes a special visit to bless and encourage their own M.P. We want to encourage every one of you to express your appreciation to your representative for the hard work they do on your behalf. Why not do it this week while they are back in their home ridings?

1. We have all been hearing the rumours of another election. Let's continue to pray for the Lord's timing for our current and future government.

2. Please pray for our M.P.s as they spend another week back in their local ridings. Often this is a very busy time for them, so let's pray that they will get some quality time with their families as well.

3. Many ministries are sensing that a special alertness is required by the Church at this hour. Let's be standing on guard for Canada in our prayers. Pray that the body of Christ would not fall into apathy at a time when we must be wide awake.

We believe that the Lord wants to increase the spirit of prayer in the land. If that is so, we need to prepare ourselves as intercessors and posture ourselves for the shift that God is making in our nation.

That's why we are excited about the National School of Intercession. Along with teaching from gifted national prayer leaders, like Sara Maynard from Cityscape Prayer, the week will feature time for activation, individual coaching, personal prayer ministry and practical application.

The cost for this school will be $150 per person, $225 per couple and only $100 for students. Registrants will also need to look after their meals and accommodation. We have had to arrange a larger facility to allow us to accommodate a larger number of students.

If you are sensing that the Lord is calling you to participate in this training week, we encourage you to send us an email requesting the application form and the information sheet about local accommodations and other directions. Contact us at info@nhop.ca.

We have been getting a lot of applications for the special week of training in June. If you are interested in joining with many others, please don't delay in asking us for the application.

Thank you to those who have already contacted us about the Resident Intercessor positions. We are glad to send out application and reference information to any who feel this special call.

By the way we are already receiving applications for next Fall's Internship Program as well.

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