It is pitch dark and the temperature is below zero. There are about seventy of us. Your body would welcome sleep in a warm blanket, but you are excited by the prospect of being with God. First we sing choruses of love for Him, love for one another, and the vision to reach the nation for God. The come words of knowledge; there has been bad feeling between members of the group and God will not move unless there is reconciliation. Everyone is in tears; all are hugging each other and confessing their coldness of heart. This goes on for some two hours.

Then comes a prophecy: 'It is time to take the land. Be strong and bold, for I will build My Church. Make war on the powers of darkness. Call on Me and ask for the heathen.' Some dance and clap their hands, others are prostrate in humility before God. Then all rise, hands lifted and joined together, and begin to engage their foe. This is not petition, it is proclamation. They know God will do it.

You find the Spirit is praying through you. Someone gives out a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit working through the whole state, village by village. Everyone prays, and suddenly everyone can see the same picture! God gives you names of people and places you have never heard of before. But you know it is from God, so you speak it out. Everyone is doing the same; it is like gunfire.

Eventually the whole group breaks into a crescendo of worship. You sense the enemy has been bound. God is glorious. We give ourselves to the call. 'Lord, I am willing to die for You,' cries one. All begin to weep, falling on their knees on the frozen soil. The prayer rolls down the mountain like an avalanche. Soon it is 4.30 am and you have to return - for the daily prayer meeting at 5.30 am.

What's being said