Time Alone 

with God 

3/8/14 

Mesa

Ahwatukee

School Of Prayer 

3/23/14 Gilbert 

3/30/14 Mesa

 The 2014 Prayer Conference 

Starts February 7!!

Join us Friday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. for this exciting event featuring guest speaker Mark Batterson, the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington D.C. recognized as one of the 25 Most Innovative Churches in America by Outreach Magazine in 2008.

You've heard it a million times, pray, pray, and pray some more. But what would happen if you and the church stopped praying?

"I feel like prayer is the difference between the best you can do and the best God can do. So if we're not praying, then the best we can do is the best we can do, and that's not good enough. When we get on our knees, the Holy Spirit does the heavy lifting. Prayer creates the culture and gives people a heart for evangelism, because when you get into God's presence, you start to get His heartbeat."         - Mark Batterson [1]

Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired to develop your passion for prayer, and to help you strategically pray for your needs and the world around you through this life-changing event.

For details and to register go to www.CentralAZ.com/Prayer

A Capitol Prayer

by Paul Covert

I was a part of something very meaningful this month. Several of us pastors were asked to pray at the state capitol on January 13, 2014 which was the opening day of the 2014 legislative session. We went on to the House and prayed over that chamber, and then to the Senate floor and did the same thing. Next we went to the governor's tower for prayer and finally to the flag pole where I led prayer over the judicial branch of AZ State government.

There were a hundred or so of us (including some from Central) and it was incredibly moving. I sensed God was pleased.

On the way from one prayer point to another I struck up a conversation with Jim. He is a retired man who responded to God's call to pray for what he called the "cesspool" ministry. After retirement he felt called by God to pray for our government in a real and tangible way. He started a prayer group that now has over 50 who gather weekly for no other reason than to pray for our state and local governments. He is also involved in helping Christians run for office in local governments and councils.

As he described his ministry I was blessed and prayed as he was speaking.... "God thank you for this ministry and for people who are willing to invest in your kingdom when they are done with traditional jobs".

What could God use you to do? Ask Him!

Ahwatukee's First Anniversary Prayer Walk

(To its next location!)

After celebrating Ahwatukee's first anniversary at Mountain Pointe High School on Sunday, Jan. 12, a two-mile Prayer Walk headed out to the next home for Central in Ahwatukee.

The 25 to 30 prayer walkers included people of all ages, from children pulled in little wagons, to some more blessed in age. Most of them were carrying bright yellow balloons, so they were hard to miss walking along 48th Street.  Many had never done a Prayer Walk before, but they were game for this very special occasion.

Another 30 or so prayed and drove to the new location at the southwest corner of Chandler Boulevard and 48th Street.

"I didn't know praying could be such fun," said a first-time prayer walker. She loved joining in as people prayed for cars driving by, especially those speeding by...for safety for all others on the road and for more wisdom and obedience to traffic laws, for instance.

"You get new ideas of what to pray about," one man hoofing it to the new location said. "Just hearing what others pray as we walk past businesses or homes, well, it's inspiring."

"God blessed us with a perfect day of weather," many echoed in the warm sunshine.

The prayer focus was on Ahwatukee's growth and outreach to the community, especially given the future move to a new location. Many praises were offered for a more permanent location which will alleviate the need for set up and tear down each Sunday, plus provide space for meetings and activities the rest of the week.

But as people walked, they also were prompted to pray for anyone involved in anything that required a siren, the families residing in the housing along the way, and the businesses the walkers would pass.

Once at the new location, the pray-ers circled the building and our future neighbors in prayer before even going into the space Ahwatukee worshipers will call home. Only then was there the tour inside.

Easels were placed in each section of the space to be rented, and on the easels were prayer requests for the events and programs and people and outreach that will happen in each area. Outside the one section we couldn't access, there were many sidewalk chalks and old and young alike expressed art work praises leading into the building.

Lifting the renovation of the space in prayer was important so that all will go smoothly and quickly, asking God for favor to have a soft opening the week before Easter and the official opening on Easter Sunday!

As the tours and prayers were drawing to a close, Ahwatukee Campus Pastor Corey Bullock led the whole group in prayer as all the balloons that survived the walk were released with even more prayers of blessings for Ahwatukee and God using Central in Ahwatukee for His purposes.

And a few more people left thinking Prayer Walking is a whole new way to travel!

Prayer Teaching Continues 

Throughout the Valley

Inspired by Central's series on prayer and our prayer conference with Mark Batterson? Looking for more teaching on prayer?

Try Central's School of Prayer Sunday, March 23 and 30. (See related article in this newsletter.)

Also, check out Chandler Christian's "Praying with Purpose Conference" Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22. Jonathan Graff, presenter, is a noted prayer and revival author and speaker, leads the Church Prayer Leaders Network and Prayer Shop Publishing, and is VP of Harvest Prayer Ministries.

Their conference will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday in Chandler Christian's Worship Center located at1825 S. Alma School in Chandler.

Registration is online at www.ChandlerCC.org or at the door.

Take A More Personal Look At Prayer:

Perseverance, Healing, Spontaneity,

And Discerning God's Will

Central's next School of Prayer from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 23 or March 30 will take a closer look at personal prayer and elements of it that sometimes trip us up:

• How can you pray for healing in a balanced way? 
• How can prayer help you discern God's will for your life?
• If the answer to your prayer is not immediate ... if it doesn't even come in a year, or two, or more ... how do you persevere in prayer?
• If someone needs prayer now, can you in good conscience tell them you will pray for them -- later?  Do you ever forget?

Details:

Gilbert:

Mesa and Glendale:

Cost: Free (A love offering is taken for the materials and snacks)

Child Care: not provided

Registration is required. Click here.

Life Coaching Series 2 of 3

"What's Next For Me?"

By Kevin Sieling

In the last newsletter we introduced the idea of asking for a life coach and for some of you I hope that you've already taken that next step and contacted Central.  When I took that long hard look into the mirror, I can tell you, I was not disgusted with what I saw, just a guy with a lot of worry lines on the forehead, but mostly a pair of tired, older eyes looking back.  I had tried everything that I knew how to do, but I was certain there was something more than just me making these half-hearted attempts to regain control of my life.  When I accepted the Life Coaching opportunity, it came at a time in my life where I was asking God, "What's next for me?", "What's going to be my Chapter 2?"   What I did know was that I had more questions about life, faith, and God, than I had the answers.  My life coach and CTO, the "God's Call to Obedience" book, helped me to focus on those questions and provided me with the deeper understanding I was seeking.

In Part Two of CTO, "The Gospel and Our Relationship to the Fall," is designed to help you identify the specific ways the fall has impacted you and the patterns of unbelief that are keeping you from living an obedient, surrendered life.  You will start by discovering your sinful patterns of self-protection that have become your normal way of relating to life.  As you begin to understand the root causes of your sinful behaviors, you can respond with confession in repentance through the life transforming power of the Gospel.  

As part of my CTO daily-weekly routine, I read the pages that my life coach assigns.  Part of the process also includes reviewing the Bible verses that go with each lesson.  For anyone who was looking to make that New Year's resolution or just reaffirm a commitment to reading the Bible every day, this program will truly help you keep that goal.   Even more than just meeting a goal, you begin to more fully understand the promises that God has made to us, the grace that has been given to us, and the knowledge we need to lead a more obedient and fulfilling life.

Because God is GREAT, with CTO you can learn to see life through His perspective. This often requires renewing your mind and CTO gives you the strategies to do that.  Now when I walk by a mirror, I still see those worry lines, but I'm okay knowing they come with age.  I can also see that those older eyes have a new sparkle in them because I better understand GOD is GRACIOUS and GOD is GOOD. This gives me comfort.  If you are looking for a life coach or an opportunity to improve your relationship with God, take this next step, please contact Paul.Covert@CentralAZ.com  for more information.