Let’s Soak Our Streets in Prayer Ahead of Pentecost
At the recent Ministry Leaders’ Family Camp, Bishop Anashuya Fletcher challenged those gathered to pray for every house, street, and suburb across the Diocese.
Reverend Richard Apperley from the Parish of St Michael and All Angels, Newlands-Paparangi is embracing this wholeheartedly.
"This is no small feat," said Richard. "But we’re sensing a move of the Spirit across our diocese, and we want to lean into that. Let’s soak our diocese in prayer.”
Watch the video here
The initiative invites individuals and small groups to take to their neighbourhoods, towns, and city blocks, praying as they go. Participants are encouraged to pray with open eyes—both literally and spiritually—as they tune in to what the Holy Spirit might be saying over the places they walk.
"Is there a spiritual darkness that you need to address?" Richard asks. "You can cry out for the light and love of Jesus to come over your neighbourhood. Whether you’re walking past a school, a playground, or a local café—these are places full of life and potential for transformation."
To help coordinate and track the prayer effort, the Diocese is encouraging the use of the Holy Here app (formerly Holy Ground), which marks streets in red as they are prayed over. The vision is to see the whole map of the Diocese glow red by Pentecost, each line representing intentional intercession.
Richard offered specific ideas for praying in a variety of contexts: “If you live in the suburbs, pray for each household, the parks, the schools. If you're in a rural area, pray for the people, the land, the livestock. And if you're in the city, pray for the businesses, the workers, from baristas to lawyers. Pray that they may know fullness of life.”
A simple phrase—spoken or silently held—serves as a powerful blessing during a walk: “I bless this house and those who live here in the name of Jesus, that they may come to know the fullness of Christ.”
Richard concluded with a hopeful call: “Let’s pray that every person in our diocese may come to know the presence of God, whether or not they know Jesus yet.”
The invitation is clear: from hills to highways, schools to sheep paddocks, the Diocese is being invited into a shared rhythm of prayer. As Pentecost approaches, the challenge is not just to walk—it’s to walk in prayer, trusting the Spirit to do what only the Spirit can.
Find other Pray to Pentecost resources here
Note: AI was used in the creation of this story.
