Core Convictions and Affirmations

These biblical foundations of WPA were written 11 years ago and have stood the test of time!  We would encourage all participants to read them.

We believe in certain fundamental Biblical statements. We wish to affirm that these undergird our approach in bringing together intercessors from around the world.

1. We are praying towards the fulfilment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and of the Great Commandment. (Matthew 22:37-39)

2. We believe that "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea~' (Habakkuk 2:14 & Isaiah 52:10)

3. We believe in a God who answers our prayer "before you call I will answer" {Isaiah 65:24, Jeremiah 33:3), and that the prayers that Jesus prayed will be answered - "Father forgive them" (Luke 23:34), "Your kingdom come your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6.9-10), and "that they may be one as we are one~' (John 17:20-21)

4. Prayer is a unity between the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and us. The Holy Spirit prays with us and for us. (Romans 8:26-27) And Jesus is praying in heaven for us. (Romans 8:34) That unity and oneness is one of the goals of the WPA. We come from every tribe and nation, from three generations, and many denominations, speaking many languages from many cultural backgrounds. We wish to find and express our unity through the sharing of stories, vision, varying styles of both worship and prayer, and through the love of God shared among us.

5. God wants his house to be "a house of prayer for all nations'.' (Mark 11:17, Isaiah 56:7) What was true of the temple in Jerusalem in Jesus' day is now true of God's worldwide "house of prayer" - for all nations and among all nations. "The glory of this house will be greater than the glory of the former house~' says the Lord Almighty. (Haggai 2:9)

6. The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Through accepting Him, knowing Him, and serving Him, not only are we changed, but every situation that we are part of should also be changed. The earth is the Lord's and everything and everyone in it. (Psalm 24:1 paraphrase)

7. We believe in the manifestation of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is near, (Luke 10:9-11) within us, (Luke 17:21) and around us. (Matthew 6:10&33 and Matthew 24:14) Some day "the kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ' (Revelation 11.15) God wants His kingdom extended on earth.

What we are hoping for through and beyond this Assembly are for connections to be made across the nations, generations and denominations, around common areas of interest, leading to ongoing cooperation and strategy. We wish to see the Great Commission and Great Commandment worked out through transformation-focused initiatives and sharing of stories, vision, ideas and ways of working.

This Assembly should not be seen as one event, but part of a process of building waves of prayer across the globe, in which we are all engaged. We wish to emphasize that this is a World Prayer Assembly - not a World Teaching Assembly. As such we expect prayer (in its diversity) to be significantly part of every plenary and track, national gathering and stream. Any presentation or teaching should help develop this and flow into responsive and deliberative prayer.

Brian Mills, IPC Senior Advisor
On behalf of the WPA Program Task Force