We’ve just launched something that 9 months ago was nothing more than a crazy dream.

Last summer Nita and I were walking our dogs on a section of the South West Coast Path. It’s a path that has attracted millions of walkers over the years with most completing small sections but some actually making a pilgrimage of the entire 630 miles which passes through the counties of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. It doesn’t really matter which section someone begins or ends a walk on this path – it pretty much all encompasses beautiful landscapes and stunning views which look across emerald blue seas, and on this particular day the inception of this crazy dream, our 10 mile walk on a Cornish stretch was breathtaking. As we walked I began to pray for these counties and then I had a picture. A picture of this South West coast path filled with Christians standing on each of its 630 miles at the same time – creating a ring of prayer and praise – united in praying that Gods kingdom would come and united in declaring the praises of King Jesus. The picture stirred something in me and I remember thinking how incredible it would be if this was possible.

I began to share it with some trusted people – I don’t think I communicated it particularly well but it seemed that everyone I spoke with ‘got it’ and shared a sense that we should go for it. So last Autumn we drew together a brilliant steering group of wonderful, gifted, influential and South West focussed leaders and South West Awake was born.

So the vision is simply this – for Christians to gather at the same moment at each of the 630 mile points on the South West Coast Path – creating a ring of united prayer and praise.

There will be three moments which will be synchronised across the coast path:

• Moment 1: Looking out to the sea and giving thanks for the gospel coming to this land and inviting waves of the Holy Spirit to flow across our region

• Moment 2: Looking towards the land and asking for Gods mercy for the ways we have so often left Him out of our lives and society, followed by prayers based on the prophetic vision of Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones as we ask for the breath of God to breathe across the South West and bring spiritual life where there is death – ‘hear the word of the Lord – these bones will live again’

• Moment 3: Hearing and Declaring . Firstly we will seek to listen to the Lord, inviting Him to speak to us about our own lives, churches and the South West (we encourage people to note these things down with an option of sharing them after the event). Then we are encouraging people to take loud sounding instruments – eg. brass instruments or even fog horns and at a set time, we encourage everyone to sound these as a declaration of King Jesus being among us. I think there is a good chance that everyone will hear at least the people either side of them on the coast path when this takes place.

So at 2pm on Saturday May 30th 2020, at any one of the 630 mile points, this will be happening and the response has been amazing. Christians from all sorts of church backgrounds and traditions are booking their location and it’s encouraging to receive endorsements from lots of different leaders. We are also delighted that each of the Church of England Bishops in the South West have encouraged each of their churches to participate in this as part of the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ prayer initiative.

For more details and to sign up on the map

We are really excited about the impact this ring of united prayer and praise will have on this part of the UK. We will be praying ‘God let YOUR Kingdom come and let YOUR Will be done in the South West just as it is in heaven’. Come and be a part of it and if you can’t join us in person pray where you are on May 30th. Let’s pray for a spiritual awakening in the UK that will touch many many lives.