In downtown, Grande Prairie, Alberta, more than 160 Christian leaders filled a side room at the Bonnetts Energy Centre, the city’s largest arena. They came from 36 churches representing 16 denominations but arrived with a single purpose—to reach their region with the Gospel by launching the Grande Prairie Look Up Celebration with Will Graham.
This leaders launch was the first in a series of events to unite and equip Christians to share their faith and invite others to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ at an outreach weekend with Will Graham in November.
“There is a sense that this year is a year for the Lord and that He is planning to do something good, to do something exciting in our city,” said Rod Willems, one of the Grande Prairie pastors and a leader of the local Look Up Celebration team.
Rod is rejoicing in the unity he is already seeing among the churches. “That’s something for the rest of the nation to know—that God is bringing our city together for this event, and it’s not about the event. It’s so much bigger. It’s how God is going to bring our churches together, our people together, and it’s how God is going to grow the church for years to come through evangelism and discipleship,” he said.
“We are praying for a harvest. We are praying for people to come face-to-face with Jesus,” he shared.
A Lifelong Prayer
Beverley Rose Robbiard is a local believer joining Rod in praying. At 62, she has lived in the community her entire life. “I’ve been praying for Grande Prairie since I was a little kid,” she said. “My prayer is that people would enter the city limits of this place and feel the presence of the Lord. Why can’t that happen?
“This Look Up outreach is exciting. It feels like it’s the time for that now. There’s a rising up,” she continued.
One of the prayers all attending the leaders launch prayed together was, “Lord, open a door in Grande Prairie.” Will you join these believers in praying this for the city and thousands of hearts that need to know Jesus Christ?
Great Need for the Gospel
In many ways, Grande Prairie is a city of contrasts. There is wealth from the rich resource industries that surround the community, but there is also “a desperation in the area as far as the growth of addiction,” Beverley told us.
There are deep family roots but also rapid population growth. As people come from across Canada and the world to work, there are over 80 different cultural and ethnic groups in the city. Grande Prairie is also the second youngest city in Canada. The average age is just 30, driven by an influx of young families and single young men, who are “probably one of the least reached groups in the city,” pastor Rod said.
Finally, there is a “strong foundation of faith,” pastor Rod shared, but “Grande Prairie is also a city that has become secular like many other cities,” he continued—and there is a great need for people to know Jesus. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10, ESV).
Will Graham will be traveling to Grande Prairie to host a public launch for the Look Up Celebration journey on April 4. Christian artists Josh Havens and Matt Fuqua from The Afters will join him for a night of worship, prayer, and inspiration. You can visit Will Graham.ca to learn more about this free event.
Give To Festivals and Celebrations
