Thy Kingdom Come has become a global movement of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost, supported by Christians across the world, focusing on the power and promise of those three words.

Jesus asked us to pray Thy Kingdom Come and to have an expectation that it would. But what does that mean? What should we expect and how do we go about it?

What does praying for Thy Kingdom Come mean?

Praying Thy Kingdom Come is a calling to be an active participant in God’s love, to bring about transformation, wherever we are.  Walking around the outskirts of Callington with ordinand Nicki Farr gave a great sense of what that can look like in a very practical way. Each Monday Nicki prayer walks or, more accurately, prayer strides, around the town. “Wrapping it in silver threads of prayer,” she says. “Reinforcing and strengthening the protection for our community with every intentional walk.”

It certainly helps to be fit to walk alongside Nicki as Revd Jane Horton found the day that she accompanied Nicki. “It’s by no means an amble around the town stopping in huddles to pray. It’s more a bold and energetic stride, praying for the town with eyes open, naming people and places to bless and protect,” says Jane.

The value of blessing

Nicki believes blessing the community is fundamental to bringing about Thy Kingdom Come. Callington is set in an idyllic rural Cornish landscape but, like a lot of our communities, there are many for whom life is hard. From young people struggling with the anxieties and pressures of working out how and where they fit, to families battling with poverty and the isolation and loneliness that cuts across every generation, the Kingdom of God can seem like a fairy-tale.

“We can’t change anything,” says Nicki, “Not on our own. But God can. Speaking blessings into the community really does change people’s behaviour and changes the atmosphere.”

“Praying Thy Kingdom Come is the first thing that Jesus told us to do, so their must be something in it!” Revd Celia Apeagyei-Collins

Revd Celia Apeagyei-Collins, when talking to Archbishop Justin Welby, said of Thy Kingdom Come, “It’s the first thing that Jesus told us to do, so their must be something in it!” She went on to say that when she prays these three little words she thinks of His goodness, mercies and grace as well as His capacity to bring order and restore beauty. When Nicki walks around her town, she is doing the same.

“When we pray and speak blessings into Callington, we are saying Thy Kingdom Come and we are expecting it to happen.” Nicki explained how don’t pray against anyone or any situation.  “Instead we speak blessings into the schools, health centre, churches, parks, town council, town hall, shops and business as well as individual homes and families.”

Praying without walking

For those who don’t have Nicki’s energy, there is a prayer meeting before the walk that prays over a local street map. They pray blessings into specific areas they might be concerned about, or people they know who have particular needs or issues affecting the community as a whole.

Praying Thy Kingdom Come is powerful, it’s an invitation to God into our communities. It requires confidence, expectation and hope. If you would like to join in with the activities around Thy Kingdom Come, Callington will be joint-hosting with Truro Diocese the Day of Prayer on June 1st from 10am to 5pm. There will, of course, be opportunities to join in a prayer walk.