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The world is changing.
Evidence of globalisation is all around us.
While to many the world seems out of control, God is fully in command of all that is happening, and is consistently and surely working out His purposes. And He is calling His Church to take up its global mandate with renewed vision and purpose.
The World Prayer Centre is part of the new thing that God is doing around the world. As the Church begins to strategise and think globally, so we must pray globally. A united and consistent flow of strategic prayer is needed now:
- to open the way for us to reach the remaining peoples of the world who have not yet heard the good news of Jesus
- to equip the church to reach out with love and grace to a hurting society
- to enable us to meet, with the authority of Christ, the challenges and opportunities of national and international power structures
- to strengthen the Church to meet its end-time calling
The Centre, as seen in a vision by Project Director Ian Cole, is yet to be built, but even now there is a growing tide of prayer across the world which the World Prayer Centre will join in facilitating in due course.
Download the Vision brochure (A5 size pdf file)
In June 1992, God gave Ian Cole what he describes as a vision. Over a three day period details of a building and its ministry became very clear. Prior to and during this time, Ian had been reading through the story of Nehemiah in the Bible and through Isaiah, particularly chapters 56 – 58.
THE BUILDING
The building was to be a place of prayer and mission in the heart of the UK. Out of both Scripture readings and his personal journey, it became clear to Ian that there were to be four foundations stones to the Centre:
- PRAYER
- MISSION & SOCIAL ACTION
- THE BLESSING & ENCOURAGMENT OF FAMILY LIFE
- HELPING MARGINALISED PEOPLE
At the heart of the building is a large globe; the building contains a large prayer auditorium; separate prayer rooms for each continent of the world; individual prayer rooms; a 24/7 prayer room; a prayer training school. It also includes a Family Centre with action zones, learning areas, play areas and a leisure pool. There is a theatre for presentation of Christian life and witness in many forms and a strategic centre for global communications. Restaurants, book shop, coffee shops and an information centre are also included. Around the outer edge of the building is a boulevard of nations; attached to the centre is accommodation for visitors and around the centre there will be gardens and quiet areas. Plans can be seen on the World Prayer Centre web site here.
THE JOURNEY
Over the last 15 years the vision has remained strong. Even at times of doubt and uncertainty God has kept reminding us of His promise that this vision is a Heaven to Earth promise. In other words, there would come a time when we would know that it was right; just as Abraham and Sarah knew when Isaac would be born, so we would know the right time to plant the seed and see the building come into being.
In 1992 Ian was leading the work of Cornerstone Christian Charity involved in word and action in communities around the Midlands area. At the same time, Ian was also involved in a prayer ministry – Prayer for Revival – led by Rev Bob Dunnett.
In 1997, Ian left working for Cornerstone Christian Charity, and together with his wife Pauline set up April ’97 Trust to support them personally in the development of the vision. The World Prayer Centre was registered as a charity, Trustees were appointed and the ministry began to develop. Over the years, friends have joined us and helped us carry the vision for a time and then moved on.
THE MINISTRY
Today, we have a team involved in regional, national and international prayer and worship ministry. The World Prayer Centre is linked to many initiatives, serving Prayer, Mission, Social Action, Family Life and Marginalised People. These include The International Prayer Council, Global Day of Prayer, The Prayer Association of the British Isles & Ireland, Redeeming our Communities and Hope08. The team also leads small and large prayer events and conferences and sends Prayer Teams, around the UK and overseas. In remaining true to our foundational vision, the Trustees agreed that we would tithe 10% of undesignated gifts received. As a result of this, The World Prayer Centre has blessed those involved in prayer, mission, family and the marginalised in many places around the world and in the UK. In this entire journey, we have begun to understand that we are part of a worldwide prayer army that God is raising up the size of which has not been seen in the history of the church. We realise that a building 15 years ago was not the right time; but that when the promise given 15 years ago crosses God’s timing, the resources for the land and the building would be released. We humbly submit that we believe we are approaching that moment.
THE NEXT STEP
Have the plans changed over the years? In principle, no. However, our architect now tells us that the design of sustainable, climate enhancing buildings has so moved on that we want this building to have the smallest carbon footprint possible. We have been given (subject to planning) an area of land within the Birmingham boundary that will enable us to build a “Global Centre for Prayer in a sustainable community.” We await the necessary finance to see the plans set in motion and the building completed.
The World Prayer Centre, Birmingham will, as far as we know, be the largest permanent prayer centre in the world, and a project quite beyond anything the UK church has been called to in recent years. The fact that God has placed it in the UK is something to celebrate, and we believe it will be a blessing to the whole nation.
A strategic information hub
Equipped with the latest global communications technology, the World Prayer Centre will gather and disseminate strategic prayer information from around the world. Churches, prayer groups and individuals will be able to focus on strategic prayer needs and targets, both for the church itself and for its global commission. The World Prayer Centre will be a centre of excellence, and a place that many will want to visit. Its attractive steel and glass structure will house a huge range of resources and amenities.
A place for prayer
Prayer facilities at the new centre will include:
- a 4000-seater dished prayer auditorium
- dedicated prayer rooms for each continent of the world, plus rooms for Israel and the UK
- 86 individual private prayer rooms
- a chapel for visitors’ use
A place for the family
Families will be able to use the purpose-built family centre, young people’s action zone and day care facilities. In addition, there will be a leisure pool, a well-equipped fitness room and a variety of restaurant facilities. Families of all kinds will benefit from the support and positive encouragement which are part of the very fabric of the World Prayer Centre.
Ground Floor
Ground Floor
This level includes: (text colours approximate to colours on plan to show locations)
| Foyers | 8-lane, 82ft leisure pool |
| 1000 seat theatre | Health and fitness rooms |
| Family Centre | Restaurant |
| Creche | Coffee Shop |
| 4000 seat ‘dished’ prayer auditorium | Book Shop |
| River of Life | Accommodation |
and outside:
Gardens / parking
Boulevard of Nations (national flags around the perimeter)
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Russia’s intervention in Ukraine is a big concern for Poles who fear Moscow might be planning an invasion of their country. This has reportedly resulted in increasing numbers of Poles joining volunteer paramilitary groups that provide basic military training. Up to now, the Polish government has ignored unofficial militias. Now it is reportedly seeking a way to harness the 120 volunteer groups that boast a membership of 10,000. Some 800 members of paramilitary groups gathered in Warsaw on March 20 to attend a meeting hosted by the defence ministry. Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak announced the government’s decision to pay the wages of 2,500 people who would form the backbone of local volunteer units to be mobilised in the event of a war. In an interview with Reuters, the Polish President's chief security adviser, General Stanislaw Koziej, said the new approach had been prompted by the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine, where Russia is accused of fighting alongside pro-Moscow separatists.
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