I was in Hollywood last week for a series of meetings with national prayer leaders. We meet in a different warm city each January. (That was decided a few years ago when we met in Chicago; there was an uprising. "Never again," declared these godly prayer leaders.)Wherever we meet, we include strategic prayer for that city, hoping in some way to leave a spiritual deposit of God's blessings. I've prayed through Dallas. Miami. Even Las Vegas.
But how does one pray for Hollywood? I had to confess my unbelief that God might do a work of transformation in Hollywood. Of course He can do anything, but I confessed wondering if He would. Perhaps Hollywood is too far gone. The perversion and corruption of that culture make it seem hopeless. Yet, we all believe in the power of prayer. I mean, for goodness' sake -- we've all devoted our lives to that belief and mission!
So I repented of my unbelief. And then I prayer walked throughout Hollywood. I spent time at Disney and Universal Studios. I walked up and down Hollywood Boulevard, amazed at the contrast of the "walk of stars" vs. the adult entertainment establishments lining the streets. Some of us were dispersed to other studios. Still others prayed over the city from the vantage point of the Hollywood sign on the hillside.
As I prayed, God instilled a new hope within me. We all felt it. We all sensed that God's heart is to do a mighty, reviving, transforming work in that city. You just watch. I don't know when, but you just watch and wait and pray -- expectantly.
And if you don't believe God has a heart for Hollywood, just look again at the photo I took of Nancy Wilson of Campus Crusade, sharing Christ and praying with Spiderman and Elvis. Nancy can't help but speak of Jesus to everyone she meets. I want to be like her.
So I pray for the faith to keep believing that God has His loving eye on Hollywood. It is always His heart to redeem and restore when we turn back to Him.
