September 2006

Dear Holy Trinity Ripon:

Thank you for the generous part you played in helping us to create Paraguay's first 24-hour prayer room at the cathedral.

While waiting to tie in our acoustic work with fire regulations for all the buildings on the diocesan site, we had an idea to convert an old stairwell - which had started to absorb junk - into a prayer room. And God said 'Go!'.

We used ideas from www.24-7prayer.com and the book Red Moon Rising to adapt this room. The area now has the prayer area above, and a toilet and kitchenette in the space below.

The prayer room is lit with spotlights and candles, and furnished simply with floor cushions. It's a beautiful sanctuary close to church, school, faculty and diocesan offices where busy people can forget everything and spend time with God.

Many people come to pray here - young and old, rich and poor, from neighbouring churches and other denominations. We've now had 2 weeks of continuous prayer, with security personnel taking turns and camping out.

We have used it to pray for future vision, especially youth mission focused through the San Andres evening service, and we've been awakened to its power as an evangelistic tool. Our Sunday evening youth service has moved to the room, and there have been momentous events as people have recounted their experiences in the prayer room and that of their friends and contacts from school, university and other churches.

We can see that more people want to continue in this style of communing with God. It has become a precious resource for diocesan personnel beset by phones and constant interruptions.

Of behalf of all the prayer room users -

Iglesia Anglicana Paraguaya