The seventh in the series of ‘Trumpet Call’ events was held recently at the NEC Arena, Birmingham. A great company of people from all parts of the U.K. and beyond joined together in a powerful expression of united prayer and proclamation.

The event marked the exact halfway point of the HOPE08 year. Reports were given by Andy Hawthorne and Roy Crowne of some of the amazing opportunities for mission in schools, prisons, and young offenders centres. Over two hundred students in one school coming to faith in Christ. A DVD presentation was shown of the instances in which young people in young offender’s centres were responding to the message of the gospel. Much prayer has been invested in HOPE and it was a source of great encouragement to see

something of the fruit of this praying.

The audience were invited to bring banners with the names of their cities/towns/villages, and at set points during the day these banners were held aloft and a proclamation of the Lordship of Christ and a call for the continued release of the gospel over the nation was called forth. It was an inspiring sight to see thousands of banners representing many parts of the British Isles being held aloft as the audience united in this powerful act of prayer. Seven trumpeters were in attendance, and their sound reverberated around the great NEC Arena as they joined with the prayers of the people.

The event also marked the launch of the ‘PRAYER FORUM OF THE BRITISH ISLES AND IRELAND’.

This forum exists to unite the ministry of a wide ranging group of the prayer streams and organisations throughout the British Isles for the express purpose of mobilising prayer, encouraging unity, and working for community transform-ation. The mandate is to make Jesus known through prayer and action.

Flag bearers carrying the flags of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England joined in a procession that began in the body of the audience arriving together on stage. The last flag to arrive on stage was the Union Jack borne by Brian Mills. Each flag was then lowered at the cross in a very moving ceremony.

Many in the great audience were visibly moved at the sight of the flag bearers representing Northern Ireland; (Harry Smith), and the Republic of Ireland; (Marie Gough), openly embracing each other in a powerful expression of unity and reconciliation.

Ian Cole and the team at World Prayer Centre hosted the day and were ably supported be Godfrey Birtill who led in anointed ‘Prophetic’ worship.

The Elim Prayer Network was one of a number of national prayer streams who united in support of the event. Trumpet Call has served to cement the link that has been forged between prayer and mission. This level of activity must continue, not just for the remainder of this year of HOPE, but beyond, and be the vehicle by which many come to faith in Christ.

Report by Alistair Cole

Chair, Elim Prayer Network.

—It was an inspiring sight to see thousands of banners representing many parts of the British Isles being held aloft as the audience united in this powerful act of prayer.