STRATEGIC PRAYER & FORWARD MOVEMENT

A Report on the Cherokee Day of Prayer

The Eighth Annual Western Band of the Cherokee National Day of Prayer was heralded as one of the most memorable in our collective history. This Day of Prayer is held the last weekend in April each year. This year’s gathering met on the grounds of the National Heritage Museum located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The grounds were used with Tribal governmental blessing for the first time. Several local congregations participated by providing worship leaders, tents, and sound equipment. Mark Roye with his Compassions Acts team cooked a wonderful lunch of Texas brisket for the entire gathering! James spoke Friday evening on the importance of strategic intercession. His teaching opened the way for our time of prayer on Saturday.

Communication with God the Father is our birthright as a result of the Cross. As a result, there are many forms of prayer available to us as believers. We find dozens of different patterns of prayer identified in the bible. One of the most challenging is what can be categorized as “strategic intercession”. Strategic intercession is most always apostolic in nature. The Apostolic being partially defined as having a focus involving issues pertaining to a people group at some level. People groups can span a wide gamut of social communities. These communities include neighborhoods, national and international societies of people.

Strategic Roots Addressed

The Eighth Annual Day of Prayer, for the first time chose to address strategic root issues from the past as part of their activities. These root issues existed between the tribe and the first democratically governed community of European settlers. In the United Sates the first independently governed communities were a group of four settlements located in what is now eastern Tennessee. One of these communities was known as the Watauga Settlement. The Watauga Settlement was founded in 1772. It is said that from these four communities sprang the independence movement. This independence movement drew to its ultimate conclusion by giving birth to the United States some four years later. The Watauga Compact (signed government contract between those at the location) would then be foundational to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Watauga Settlement was located in what is now known as Carter County, Tennessee.

On April 19, 2010, the Carter County Government in Tennessee passed a resolution of a Day of Peace to coincide with the Cherokee National Day of Prayer. This resolution was the first government to government reconciliation thus far between our collective people groups that we are aware of. A descendant of those at the Watauga settlement confessed a fear based control issue that resided within the foundations of the independence movement. Those representing the Cherokee accepted the resolution and reconciliation releasing the land from a word curse spoken over the state. Due to the treachery of land purchase practices used by the settlers, the tribal leadership was split over the sale of land to these first groups of Europeans. It was said over part of Tennessee that “a cloud hangs over it (the land) and it will be dark and blood to settle.” The Cherokee present prayed to remove the dark cloud over the state and replaced the cloud with an “open heaven”. They removed any dark spiritual residue left as a result of the settlers broken promises. No longer would the Tennessee be known as a place of innocent bloodshed.

The Cherokee Nation made room for the encroachment of the four settlements willingly. Chief Little Carpenter pleaded with the British government to allow the settlements to stay on tribal lands. Therefore, historically, they had a foundational hand in giving birth to a nation. Even though the settlements treated the Cherokee with less than reputable dealings, the Cherokee have a birthright. This birthright is the freedom they so willingly deserve. The Cherokee picked up the mantle of freedom to express to others the freedom they enjoy thru Christ. They rejoiced in their redemptive gift and we rejoiced with them!

Walking in Humility and Wisdom

As we addressed each strategic issue, the Cherokee declared the issue resolved by the use of a judge’s gavel carved from the tree under which the Watauga Compact was signed in 1772. By convening the court of heaven we asked the Supreme Judge, God our Father, to record our prayers and release His blessing.

Many people did not know that the name “Tennessee” is believed to have derived from the capitol of the Cherokee nation known now historically as “Tanasee”. If that is the case we equally have a birthright in this state. Tanasee was a righteous seat of government for thousands of years before the first European contact. It was a seat of tribal justice and equity. We realigned the state in the spiritual realm by prophetically renaming it correctly as Tanasee. May God’s government reside in this land in new ways.

Spill Over Affects

There was a spiritual buzz in the air as these root issues were resolved before God. His great mercy seemed to be whispering in our ears with the warm gentle breeze. The atmosphere shifted toward a wonderful spring day. The sun came out and the rain hovering over the area dissipated. Our barbeque dinner was under a wonderful blue sky with a warm breeze among the trees. The resolution of freedom spilled over into Sunday worship time. At one church a man came forward to reconcile between his father’s ranching practices and the Cherokee he had hired to work the land. We all felt God presence.

In the Seer realm, James Goll saw an old fashion Camp Meeting being held at this same site in the future – he named it Holy Fire Camp Meeting. This would be a part of redeeming the land and fulfilling prophetic destinies. He saw in the Spirit a fresh movement of deliverance from alcoholism and a spirit of adoption coming upon the people where children’s homes would be built and a new day would come for the Cherokee. May it spread to every tribe for Jesus Christ sake!

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”