Ministers' Prayer Network (MPN) exists to help Christian Leaders and serious minded Ministers to recover the original main thrust of the early church and so stay focused on prayer, the word of God, and dynamic spiritual leadership, as they fulfil their callings and ministries so that saints will be perfectly equipped for every work of ministry and edification of the body of Christ and facilitate a steady progressive spiritual growth towards unity of faith and full knowledge of the son of God as we all mature to that full measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. The forum also seeks to discourage mediocrity, compromise and weakness of character in ministry, and to promote excellence, faithfulness, accountability, integrity and godly virtues. It grew to this from simply being a prayer meeting of willing hearts of those in Ministry (by this we mean those who serve God in one capacity or the other) in the city of Port Harcourt Nigeria since January 18, 1995.

History

Ministers Prayer Network (MPN) started officially on January 8, 1995, with a simple and humble beginning. A few willing vessels, numbering about forty (40), gathered in response to the invitation of Rev. Mosy U. Madugba at Cornerstone Foundation Hall in No. 2B Ozuzu Close D/Line in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. This group was mainly made up of Pastors, Evangelists, Lay Christian Leaders and leaders of some ancillary ministries to the church.

The objective was to afford the people an opportunity to co-operatively pray for themselves, their families and Ministries. Other purpose of the gathering was to pray concerning the state of ethical decay in the church, lowering standards and loose morals among the clergy. The forum aimed at dissuading the current human religious trends and to turn things around spiritually, in our local environment. This we hoped to achieve through intense, passionate and sincere prayers and the encouragement of living by the truth of the Holy Scriptures. It was also our hope to encourage holiness, integrity and servant-style of Christian leadership as against the pompous and bossy style in vogue.

In that inaugural meeting the speaker was Rev. Mosy U. Madugba, who has a good knowledge of the better days of Christian Ministry and of the fall. He told the story of what motivated him to initiate this move. In 1989, he said, David Yonggi Cho invited him to Korea. There he spent time several popular and great names in the world’s Christian circles. The rode together in Buses for one week, had meetings together, with each person taking notes. No one acted as if he knew it all. The simplicity of these great leaders, which appealed to him, stood in sharp contrast to the attitudes of many leaders he knew back home.

On June 12, 1992, Mr. George Tuck of West Midlands Vision in Birmingham, England, invited him to a breakfast meeting at Forte Crest Hotel, Heil Street in Birmingham. At that meeting Reid Carpenter of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A; spoke on “How to recover cities through corporate persistent prayers”. He used the story of God’s move in Pittsburgh as a case study. Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, the home of America’s iron and steel industry, is a prosperous city today – but it has not always been so. It used to be a forsaken, seemingly cursed land, where nothing good appeared to exist.  Few concerned Christians, mainly form the Roman Catholic Church, began gathering in a chosen place. To pray regularly until the city was healed by divine intervention. This was more like the healing of Jericho in 2 kings 2:19-22. This raised a burden in Rev. Madugba’s heart: that this city – Port Harcourt, his nation Nigeria, and his continent Africa, could also be healed if there could be a few willing people to take up the task of praying for them until the results come.

Interestingly, Rev. Madugba never desired to start or lead any organization. He approached a Christian leader, Elder Sam Mbata with some facts and figures, requesting him to convene a meeting to start such a prayer forum for the city of Port Harcourt and Rivers State. Elder Sam Mbata kept the file for over one year, while praying and giving consideration to the vision. He later called Rev. Madugba to say that he could not handle this work, in addition to the demands of his office as the National President of the ‘Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International’. He encouraged Rev. Madugba to go ahead with the task since he was the one God gave the burden.

In the next one year Rev. Madugba shared this vision with several Ministers of the gospel, sensitizing hem concerning gathering to pray for three things – themselves, their callings and the city. At the end of the year 1994, he came to the conclusion that something has to start in the New Year. Eventually the inaugural meeting was held on January 18, 1995.

Change Of Name

Initially it was called Port Harcourt City Ministers/Christianity Monthly Prayer Meeting. Many Ministers visited the prayer meeting from other cities and states, and were moved to start similar forum for their cities. This move began to multiply. Later on when they began to look up to Port Harcourt for leadership, the name was changed to Ministers Prayer Network (MPN), for uniformity – since you cannot have Port Harcourt Ministers Monthly Prayer Meeting located in say Aba, Lagos, Jos, etc. This change came in 1997. Each city began to handle their peculiar challenges by the leading of the Holy Spirit, but within a fairly loose Network.

The Growth

The very rapid growth of this move in these five years across Nigeria, and Africa could only have been done by Jehovah Himself. This is a confirmation that this vision is not of any man but of God Almighty.

The first annual conference was held in January 1997, at the International Airport Hotel, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. It registered about six hundred (600) participant who came from mainly the South and eastern states of the federation with a few from Kebbi, Kaduna and Plateau States.  The key speakers were, Rev. Dr. (Senator) Mac Nwulu, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai and Rev. Dr. Reginald Klimionok a native of Australia, then resident in USA.

January was chosen as the time for the annual conference so that participants could respond to the challenges they receive from the conference within the year.

The second annual conference was also held at the Port Harcourt Airport Hotel from January 12 – January 14, 1998. Pastor Eddie and Alice Smith were key speakers who came in from the USA. The Late Senator Mac Nwulu gave the message at the opening. About one thousand one hundred  (1,100) registered participants attended the conference. The facilities at the Airport Hotel were over-stretched because of the crowd. The Hotel’s banquette hall was full and the lobby and some over-flow rooms were used. It became obvious that a larger venue was needed for the following year’s conference.

The January 1999 conference was held from Sunday January 10 – Thursday January 14, 2000 at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex (Civic Centre) in Port Harcourt city. Many foreign speakers came from USA, France; Sierra Leone and several denominations from Nigeria. The key speakers included Rev. Dr. Charles Osueke, the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God in Nigeria, Pastor Eddie and Alice Smith, Organisers of America Prays from Houston Texas, USA, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, The Very Rev. Dr. James Ukaegbu of the Presbyterian Church, Barrister Emeka Nwankpa, Chairman of Intercessors For Africa, Pastor Gbile Akani, Arc. Bunmi Adedeji, the National President of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, Pastor Emmanuel Kure of The Throne room Ministries Kafanchan, Dr. Don Odunze of family Circles Enugu, Rev. Mosy U. Madugba – The International Co-ordinator of the Network and many others.

The registered participants were about three thousand (3,000) while over ten thousand (10,000) attended the night open session. Some participants came from countries like USA, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, France and England.

The fourth annual conference tagged, “Nigeria 2000” from January 9 – January 14, 2000 also at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex (Civic Centre), Port Harcourt. Speaker came from five continents of the world from countries like they include: New Zealand, France, USA, Ghana, Cameroon, Israel, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was officially represented by Sir K. Z. Dudari, Hon. Commissioner of Police, Rivers State while the Executive Governor of the State, Sir, Dr. Peter Odili was officially represented Sir Alaye Eremie – Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties. Pastor Emmanuel Kure gave the opening message.

There were up to 6,000 registered participants in the conference while over twelve thousand (12,000) attended the night open session. A lot of focus was given to Africa.

The 5^th International Ministers and Christianity Leaders Prayer and Leadership Conference, tagged “Africa 2001”, will also be held at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex (Civic Centre), Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. A lot of Mobilisation for that conference has been made in many continents of the world. The focus shall be Africa, and participants are expected from all over Africa and many parts of the world.

Aims and Objectives

The initial aims and objectives as stated earlier were to create a forum devoid of any ostensive ceremonial religious atmosphere.  Such only breeds religious growth without deep convictions and commitment to anyone or anything. Thus the need to provide an avenue where those who minister from the altar or from wherever they are, can come together, speak sincerely the bare truth to themselves. And also rebuke, exhort and pray for one another as a family of basically brothers and sisters without any religious stratifications or classifications.

There is the need to pay particular attention to these so that after we have preached to others, we will also make it to heaven, not with our work consumed by fire but refined by same. Our families too need to be given adequate ministerial attention so that we will make it together to heaven. Our cities also are not left unhealed. This way we will not be one or two tall trees and the rest shrubs in the bush. But according to Ephesians 4:12-13 that together we shall all be equipped, both old and young, for the work of the ministry, by enjoying (V16) what every joint supplies may be increased in faith and the sound knowledge of the Son of God, to grow to be perfect men and women, as God demands it, and to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Therefore as we tap from the knowledge, experience, exposure, and revelation of each other we experience mutual growth in ministry.

Recently the Holy Spirit has led us to wake up Christians in the family of God to man effectively the spiritual gates of their families, cities, states, nations and continents for the kingdom.  We have seen God make us to play the role of spiritual midwives to help the church in travail to give birth to the glorious church with an Apostolic and Prophetic mandate as we march to the end of the age.

Current Functions

We can therefore summarize the Aims and Objectives of MPN as follows:

Create forum in cites and neighbourhoods for those in ministry, laity and clergy inclusive to:

(1)   Come together as brothers and sisters to frankly encourage and pray for one another and release grace to one another so that we can have corporate growth and maturity without stifling but enhancing individual initiative in pursuit of excellence in ministry.

(2)   Discover areas we have strong grace in and focus our energy on those.

(3)   Be encouraged and helped to carry our families along in ministry

(4)   Pray for the healing of our cities and society until the required changes occur.

(5)   Discover what the divine calendar of God is and follow it as well as encourage others to do same

(6)   Help Christian Elders in cities to wake up to their spiritual roles of keeping spiritual surveillance over their cities.

(7)   Provide updating training for one another so that we can be relevant and effective in a changing world.

(8)   Networks with other prayer movements and Christian bodies like the Intercessors for Nigeria (IFN), Intercessors for America (IFA), National Pastors Prayer Network, USA (NPPN), Elijah List, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) to bring about a global prayer focus and share prayer needs.

How to Establish MPN Forums in your Cities

Ministers Prayer Network is not about big names. It is about humble sons and daughters of a great God coming together to objectively discuss on how best to do their Father’s Kingdom business - to meet likeminded people and discuss the need. Choose a neutral venue not your church venue to give them that feeling of neutrality and security without their thinking you are bringing them under your own ministry.

Share the Following Challenges:

1.      The possibility of praying down a whole city revival, not a local church warm up event loaded with revival speeches.

2.      The possibility of breaking up the cloud, brass, and covering cast over your land in the heavenlies so you can have open heavens.

3.      While some are doing very well some are not doing well at all. But we can all do well. So let’s work together to make this happen.

4.      Battles over any city are won or lost at the gates.  Discuss the need and how to man your cities spiritual gates.

5.      Research and find out covenants entered into by founders of your city and altars they raised and discover how those things affect your ministries and the growth of the land. Discover the redemptive gift of each city and pray towards its fulfillment.

6.      See the need for everyone to concentrate on their callings and how those who collect the tithes and offerings can share with those who are in the field and frontline as evangelists and missionaries winning the souls others pastor.

7.      Plan a programme of activities focused on the development of the individual members of the network

8.      Establish a research unit and finance them. They will buy and read papers books, etc; and develop the volume of prayers needed regularly to help you keep making progress in the spirit, and consolidate your gains.

9.      Give everyone opportunity to share, old and young, then appreciate, correct, and support one another in sincere love.

10. Write to inform Co-ordinating Head office to send an officer to visit to see how well you are doing and make possible apostolic input into what you are doing.  We may propose a monthly general meeting in a city and r two more meetings (in a month) for Officers and Co-ordinators. City, State or Regional conferences/Symposia are encouraged.

How the Parts Fit in

You are primarily responsible to God for what you do in your forum. No other city or person is responsible for what goes on in your city but you. We only network the needed mutual growth and create regional, national, continental and global impact.

Then you are secondarily responsible to the leadership of the general network for decency sake and to keep the vision simply what it is wherever the network exists. So the Co-ordinators at different stages of the Network meet to train, harmonize, learn more skills to deal with their challenges and to and receive ministry from one another.

Nigeria has her own MPN with a Co-ordinating office in Port Harcourt, Cameroon has one with its Co-ordinating office in Douala, Ivory Coast has her Co-ordinating office in Abidjan, USA has our Co-ordinating office in Melbourne, Florida, etc.

The Leadership

In Nigeria we have the following stages of leadership.

·  National Advisory Council

·  National Leadership Team

  (Made up of National Co-ordinators, Regional and State Co-ordinators)

·  Regional Co-ordinators

·  State Co-ordinators

·  Zonal Co-ordinator

·  City Co-ordinators

Note: Find where you fit in and concentrate your energy to make impact where you are. This arrangement is not for prestige but for work effectiveness.

No one in any team is better than the other. We are only playing different musical notes to give a complete rich harmonious sound. Team and servant leadership is highly encouraged but our experience is that someone has to stick out his head to bear the initial financial burden for a while.

FINANCING THE NETWORK

The Challenge

The network has realized that there are chronos and Kairos times. God has brought by his Holy Spirit refreshing times of reformation for the church. We are in the beginning of an apostolic and prophetic reformation that will straighten out the church and restructure her disfigured state back to what was originally intended by God. It is a course, which we must follow through with the Holy Spirit. The place of corporate prayers cannot be over-emphasized.

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Copyright © 2002 Spiritual Life Outreach Inc.
Last modified: 04/13/03