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Status of Christianity in the Spokane Area
In the history of Spokane, there has never been
a true sustained citywide move of God. There have
been some ebbs and flows, but nothing large and
sustained. Much independence and competition is
evident among the churches, especially in the
past. However, good signs have been showing up
in recent years as churches have been coming together,
i.e. Servant leaders, community wide prayer events
and the Franklin Graham Festival, to name a few.
Prevailing Social Bondages
Poverty is the main prevailing social
bondage in the Spokane area. This is confirmed
from such sources as demographics, community business
leaders, city officials and available statistics.
The Mayor of Spokane has declared that the #1
problem in Spokane is poverty. He has indicated
that poverty in the urban core of Spokane has
grown by over 100% in the last two decades. However,
poverty is not the root, but rather a symptom
of the problem. The root would be described by
words like:
Greed, exploitation, and oppression. It
is the findings of these researchers that these
roots have been with Spokane since its inception.
James Glover, founder of Spokane, in his autobiography,
Reminiscences of Glover said when looking at the
Falls for the first time, "I determined I would
possess it." He took this land from the Native
Americans, never paying them for it. Recently
in a private interview, a local government official
said, "A small group of wealthy and influential
people control the city for their benefit."
Independence and Exclusion - [The original
inhabitants of this land were not the Salish-
speaking natives that worked and celebrated together.
The original people were Nadenae and Athabascan
people groups who came from Asia on an Ice bridge.
They passed through this region over a period
of several generations. They were a fierce, warlike
people, extremely avaricious in their desire to
control as much territory as possible and to keep
all other people out of that territory. Source:
The Sentinel Group]
There is tremendous competition in our city,
where people desire to increase their own small
piece of the action rather than work together
to create a larger market. This is seen most strongly
in the businesses and churches of Spokane. Spokane
businesses, rather than work together to attract
a larger worldwide market, fight to divide up
the small pie here in Spokane. (Source: An informed
leader in the business community.)
Exclusion has the greatest impact on people of
other cultures especially based on the color of
their skin. They are made to feel they are not
welcome in this community. This even shows up
when people move here from other states. "We don't
need you, go back to where you came from!"
In the Transformation documentaries mapping
information was gathered for the purpose of being
given to leaders and intercessors to begin a process
of change: a process of repentance, prayer
and action. It is our belief that God has
uncovered the strongholds over our city that must
be removed.
Currently in our city several groups are moving
forward to address these issues. They believe
the first thing to be done is to search our own
hearts and see where these attitudes have found
a place in us personally and in the Church of
Spokane. The process will involve individual repentance,
corporate repentance and points of prayer in the
community.
If you would like more information on the spiritual
mapping or if you would like to be a part of this
process to bring Godly change to Spokane, call
Dan Grether at (509) 468-4855, email info@missionspokane.org
How
can we effectively pray in response to this report?
Click
here for the 40 days Prayer Guide that is based
on this report.
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