By Adri Roos
Two drunk girls walked into the prayer-room in a former ‘Accessorize’ shop in Northern Ireland at about 11pm. ‘What is this?’ they demanded loudly. Realising that the former handbag shop was now a space for prayer, they ran out into the street excitedly and with a loud ‘Come in, let’s pray to God!’ invited others in. Welcome to Belfast.
In a city with such a heritage of racial and religious violence, I was surprised to find myself part of such a different storyline - filled with hope. With McDonalds on the right and the Vodafone shop on the left, prayers are rising from the High Street, attracting teenagers, young mums and old grannies. Some visitors are surprised to find such united Christianity in a place like Belfast, others are extremely excited that prayer has moved out of the church buildings and into the streets.
The Methodist church, which owns the building, has opened the store as a place of prayer available to all, regardless of political or religious labels. The sign outside simply reads ‘24-7 PRAYER: HERE NOW…’ and that’s exactly what is being done: night-and-day intercession, in the shopping center, for three 3 weeks without a break. The walls are covered with colourful prayer requests: Please pray for my drinking problem. Please heal Ronnie’s depression. I need accommodation. May I find true love. These prayers aren’t sectarian – they are simply human, heartfelt and honest .
One lady was overheard saying ‘I feel like I have a crown upon my head’, later we discovered that she had become a Christian whilst chatting to some of the hosts in the room.
One of my favourite encounters
has been seeing Julia’s* face every day. She’s an elderly lady with
big hair, a big smile and a big heart. She came in for a cup of tea,
a bit of banter and a ‘wee prayer’. We loved spending time with
her, hugging her and sharing God’s goodness and kindness with her.
I also prayed with Lydia* for accommodation, asked God to be close to Ben* in the midst of his bi-polar condition and smiled as I heard a group of teenagers pray before they went out to their ‘Christian rave’. The room united such beautiful diversity; old and young, Catholic and Protestant, smiles and tears, everything from glow-sticks to knitting needles.
This is such a time of opportunity
for Ireland and, as 24-7 grows across this divided island, we know for
sure that all true transformation begins in prayer.
*Names were changed
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