On 8 June a group of nearly 80 children aged nine to 13 travelled to London from churches across southern and midland England to pray for their nation.
Dubbed Operation London 2012, the event was run by Children Changing Nations (CCN), a movement empowering children to pray for Britain to be changed for the better. Teams came from churches in Leicester, Northampton, Bedford, Banbury, Oxford, Bromley, Horsham, Winchester and Salisbury.
After a time of worship at the Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, and before separating into different mission groups, CCN leaders reminded the children they were champions taking ground for God. “You are bringing heaven to earth by lifting up prayers of love, hope and blessing over our nation. Lives will be transformed by the love you share with people today,” they said.
Operation Heal the Sick
The largest contingent headed to St Thomas’ Hospital. There they asked the Holy Spirit to give them messages of love, which they wrote on postcards and presented to those patients and staff God directed them to. They also prayed for healing for several individuals, including an injured toddler and a coma patient whose family requested the children’s prayers.
Operation Broadcast Heaven
From beside the BBC newsroom that generates television, radio and Internet news to 230 million people a day, another group of children prayed for the organisation’s decision-makers and for God to be glorified through media broadcasts. After a tour of the studios, they declared God’s rule and reign over the airwaves.
Operation Prosperity
A third team climbed the 530 steps to the top of St Paul’s Cathedral where, over London and the financial district, they blew bubbles representing God’s presence and blessing. They laid hands on the outside wall of the London Stock Exchange and prayed for successful trading, and handed out to passersby chocolate coins symbolizing they were valuable to God.
Operation Rule and Reign
At 10 Downing Street a small delegation handed over a petition about the e-Safety campaign which seeks to protect children from inappropriate Internet content. They were rewarded with an unexpected meeting with Shaun Bailey, special adviser to the Prime Minister on youth issues, and were able to pray for him.
On their way past the Houses of Parliament, the group inadvertently ran into Brad Hawkes from New Generation – an organisation equipping youth for creative outreach in schools, and Clive Ireson from the Association of Christian Teachers. There on the pavement, all three organisations were prayed for.
In the grounds of Westminster Abbey the children were given keys with tags attached. One of the leaders explained, “We want you to encourage the person you’re going to give your key to. Who God says they are is the key to unlocking their heart. So ask God what He wants to say, and write it down on your tag.” They also prayed about whom to give their keys to, then handed them out to surprised tourists and passersby.
The final mission included a guided tour around Westminster’s shrine of St Edward the Confessor, who built the original abbey. Public access is restricted there but the children were warmly welcomed. They prayed for the Queen and declared the positive and influential role the church has in the nation.
As the day ended with feedback and worship, one of the leaders held up a flag to symbolize that CCN was setting up camp and would be back each year with greater numbers of children.
Making a difference
CCN’s desire is to see children equipped to carry and release God’s love and goodness into their communities and nation. The movement is planting in children’s hearts the dream that they can make a difference in their community; that they can be agents of change.
Says CCN, “God is raising up our children to be intercessors, and their prayers and declarations are going to change news headlines.
“We long to see this initiative flooding out across the nation. What we did in London can be replicated by any children’s ministry, and we’d love to see other churches engaging in similar ways in their local areas. CCN aims to provide a platform of encouragement and support for this to happen.”
For more information and to learn how you can get involved, see www.childrenchangingnations.org.uk
Out of the mouth of babes…
Shaarai, 10, “I went to this father with a child his arms. She had trapped her finger in a pram, and when I finished praying, she smiled. I felt something changed for her because of my prayers.”
Sam, 11, “At St Paul’s the wind was so strong we didn’t need to blow our bubbles hard. It carried them really far. I know God was there and things changed spiritually.”
Joshua, 11, “When we were blowing bubbles it felt like my legs were going to take off and I would fly like a bubble telling people God loves them. God told me to have fun, bless Him, and bless others.”
Adam, 10, “I prayed there wouldn’t be any greed, and I felt my heart tingle.”
Bethany, 10 “I could feel God’s love and arms wrapping round the city.”
Yasmin, 11, “We prayed that God would protect the Prime Minister, and then for his special adviser Shaun Bailey who really enjoyed it.”
Tapi, 10, “Blowing bubbles at 10 Downing Street made me feel like we were giving presents to the Prime Minister.”
Olivia, 10, to a passerby, “I’m from Children Changing Nations and this key is going to open up your heart.”
Glenys, 11, to a tourist, “God says you are loved and that key will unlock anything you want. You just need to ask.”
We believe that the children today can shake this nation.