Impacting the South West

A big event is being planned by Christians living about England’s southwest coast. I am all in favour of demonstrations of Christian faith and evangelistic initiative. It reminds the liberal wokesters and Islamic strategists that Christianity in this land is not as dead as they imagine, or desire. Still, the event begs several questions. But first, here is the opening spiel (emphasis mine):

We believe God is wanting to impact the 5.6 million people who live in the South West and prayer will be key to this being possible

In the last few years, over 7000+ Christians from all traditions of churches across the South West have been standing together on one of the 630 miles of the South West Coast Path to pray Thy Kingdom Come. This year, in 2025 we're going bigger, with more opportunities for you to be part of this big day. Invite your friends and church to be part of this historic event for the region.

The first question is what does ‘impacting’ the lives of 5.6 million people mean? We know that God desires people be saved, but ‘impacted’?

Why will prayer be the key? If God is wanting to 'impact' people, why would our asking Him make it possible? Doubtless, God does much in answer to human prayer, but there is a hint in this wording that God cannot do it unless we say so.

7000+ Christians would be a fine sight indeed. Assuming that a nice round 7000 turn up and stand equidistant among that 630-mile track of coastal path, then one would be standing and praying at every 0.9 of a mile. From all traditions? Roman Catholic? Unitarian? Word of Faith? Mormon? Let us hope that there is some discrimination in choosing which Christians can line the coast in prayer; not all that claim to be Christian are Christ's.

7000 Christians lining the coast praying might be an impressive feat to arrange and a remarkable occurrence if one is out walking, but just imagine what might happen if those same 7000 took to the streets giving out Bibles, tracts and testimonies? Prayer is important, but there is a clearer mandate to go out and preach the gospel rather than surround areas with declarations and requests for His Kingdom to come. If it did, of course, most of those 5.6 millions of Britons would be swept away in judgement. So be careful what you ask for.

A number of prominent Christians from the nation and locality are quoted offering endorsements of the event. Exclaims Dave Plowman, the UK & Europe Director of the Luis Palau Association:

'South West Awake is all about unity the church standing up in all its beautiful diversity but united in praying for God to move again in our land and in our region especially. As SWYM this is exactly what we want to see Christ's church uniting to pray and then to join in with God's mission. It's going to be brilliant.'

Time will tell. Perhaps we should hold a similar event in England's northwest. We could try and find 7000 Christians to stand in all the potholes and pray for revival, but I fear 7000 would still be too few to cover every one.