“Blow a trumpet…gather the people…gather My godly ones to Me…at whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” (Joel 2: 15-16; Psalms 50:5; Nehemiah 4:20)
I stopped hosting conferences several years ago. Why? The lack of true kingdom fruit they produced, as well as distaste for the primary motives—promoting ministries, raising money and entertaining the church—saddened and disappointed me. I grew tired of competing for attendees, sometimes even with friends, and decided I would no longer play the game. I actually told the Lord I wouldn’t convene any others unless I became 1000% certain He had birthed the cause and the message.
In hindsight, if the state of our nation—including the church—is the verdict, few, if any, of the hundreds of conferences that have occurred over the last decade have made any real difference. According to the leading research, we’re down to 1% of America’s youth and young adults that hold a biblical worldview—a belief that the Bible is the absolute and final authority for all of life. Aborting sixty million babies is yawned at and selling their body parts is now old news. So is the redefinition of marriage. America is broken beyond human repair. Apart from the greatest revival in the history of America—maybe the world—we’ve lost the war for the soul of a nation.
So why do another conference? What pushed me past my distaste and disillusionment? Three things:
- I am absolutely certain I have a mandate and message from heaven.
- I am absolutely certain there is NO hope for America apart from an unprecedented national revival.
- And I am absolutely certain that a national revival can only be produced by prayer.
Ad campaigns, innovative local church programs, church growth endeavors, training conferences, books, well-intended laws, electing the right president—NONE of these things will matter unless fueled and sustained by a mighty move of prayer. The thing the church does the least…is what would matter the most.
Somehow, America’s Founders understood this. John Locke, a British philosopher who had great influence on our early leaders, stated that when every human effort to see justice or breakthrough had been exhausted, there was still recourse: appeal to heaven. The writers of the Declaration of Independence (our founding document) believed him and actually referenced the phrase in the text: “We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions…” (Italics mine). Then George Washington, known as the father of our nation, grabbed the phrase, put it on a flag and flew it over our naval vessels and battlefields. He knew that well-placed bullets and innovative battle plans could not defeat the world’s greatest military power. Prayer, however, could. America was born under the first great Appeal to Heaven prayer movement!
But something unusual occurred: Washington’s Appeal To Heaven flag disappeared for 250 years, hidden by God until another moment in time when America would need a miracle to survive. This is that moment. Surely the rebirth of this flag is a holy déjà vu, God’s invitation to appeal again. He is making an amazing offer. The question now to be answered is, will there be enough of a remnant that understands America’s true condition, acknowledges the ineffectiveness of the church’s man-made ideas and solutions, breaks free of their maddening pace, and shows up for the appeal?
One such appeal, and there will be many, will take place November 5-7, 2015, in Middletown, Ohio. There will be messages, yes, but more importantly, there will be prayer. Prayers, decrees, binding, loosing, weeping and warring. Don’t come to be entertained! Come to be heard in the heavens and to assault the gates of hell. Come ready to act, not just to hear—to work, not just enjoy. We are also preparing powerful tools and practical strategies to assist you in ongoing prayer. Really good tools! With Holy Spirit’s help, we intend to launch a movement—the second great Appeal To Heaven movement.
And we intend to win the war.
I hope every prayer network in America is represented—we want to help equip your network! I’m praying that hundreds of pastors will come and many churches will send representatives—we will help your church pray! If you are a member of a prayer group, why not pool your resources and send a delegate? I pray that every state will be represented. Let’s join forces and rally around prayer!
I’m sounding the alarm…will you gather?
-Dutch Sheets
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