THE prayer wave in Malaysia is sweeping our children, judging from the two children conferences in Petaling Jaya (PJ) and Johor Baru (JB) held in August as part of the NECF Malaysia 40-day National Fast and Pray programme.
The two-day conference in PJ was a rip-roaring event for the nearly 700 children from over 100 churches nationwide at the PJEFC sanctuary.
The worship sessions got the kids singing and thumping tirelessly; the games provoked much shouting and cheering, while the speaker, Pr Sam Phun, drew a strange mix of side-splitting laughter and spontaneous outburst of tears with his messages on God’s destiny for the children.
But most importantly was the children’s intimate encounter with God as the Holy Spirit convicted them of their sins and ministered healing to their emotions.
Most of the children responded to the altar call at the end of the first day and the front of the sanctuary was a scene of emotional chaos as the children wept in conviction of their sins.
Children as young as six were weeping over, what they later described, the “bad things” they had done. James Lim admitted he cried over his many sins.
When asked how he could have “many sins” when he’s only nine, he replied, “I have many sins. Sometimes when I get angry with certain people, I feel like killing them. That’s wrong.”
For some children who had hidden inner fears, God ministered to them by revealing to them their secrets. One Std 5 girl cried intensely without knowing exactly why but as the Holy Spirit ministered to her, she realised she was terrified that her parents would divorce.
At the conference, the children learned to pray beyond their personal needs – such as exams and personal desires (toys, holidays gadgets, etc.) – and instead, intercede for the country.
The conference ended with a prayer rally when many children willingly climbed the stage, took the microphones and vocalised their simple prayers for the country.
It was a truly touching moment and proof that children could rise to the ocassion if given the opportunity and proper training.
The one-day Johor Baru conference, held after the PJ conference, also featured Pr Sam as the speaker. Some 320 children from 16 churches were taught to live up to their God-given destiny and calling.
Again, God moved powerfully among the children, and like the PJ conference, the altar call scene was an emotional, tearful sight.
One father, George Neo, commented: “You should have told us to bring tissues. I asked my daughter, Philia, 7, about the conference. She told me the speaker made her laugh a great deal and also made her cry.”
Looks like the movement to mobilise children to intercede for the country has kicked off to high gear.
Passionate in prayer and praise...snapshots of the PJ Children Conference. – Pix by Sonya Chua
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