You are invited to join us and participate in a day of blessing businesses in the Wynnum Manly Area.

The Plan

In essence Operation Hope is about going to the 1000+ businesses in the Wynnum/Manly area and asking God to bless each one.  Teams will be sent out two by two to go into each business and let them know that we are going to every business in the Wynnum Manly area for the sole purpose of praying for you, the owner, workers, etc… that God would bless your business and you.  We will ask them if they would mind if we prayed with them. We will ask if there is anything going on in their business or if they have a need?  We can then pray for that too!

What Holy Spirit does next is up to Him.  AND THEN… Lastly, we will ask can I leave a blessing with you today?   This is when we will leave them with a Business Bible (the best hope we can possibly give), plus an invite to do Business Alpha.

The Background

The current economic crisis provides us with a brilliant opportunity to give hope to the local businesses in the Wynnum/Manly area (an area of Brisbane, Australia).
Throughout this year as a team has been praying for the area, two key scriptures have come to mind.  First Isaiah 61:1-4, confirming the fact that the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is truly upon us, therefore we need to preach good news to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release the prisoners from darkness. We are to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, comfort those who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion –bestowing on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  So that they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour and that they can rebuild the ancient walls.

Ezekiel 37:1 -14 has also been of encouragement to us.  We may look on this area as a valley of dry bones.  Yet God is opening our eyes and asking us the question “can these bones live?”  The answer is “yes”.  It is very interesting that verse 11 says that the bones cry out saying, “our bones are dried up and our hope is gone”. While they are crying out – God is saying to us to prophesy to them –prophesy to them to hear the word of the Lord. Prophesy breath into them and to prophesy that they will become a great and mighty army.

Sixty to Seventy years ago, the Wynnum/Manly area was the second most prosperous business district in Australia.  Today it is a mere shadow of it’s former self.  However, the government is spending significant sums of money in the area.  Long neglected roadways are being upgraded and $130 million is being spent on rebuilding the government schools in the area.  Significant plans are afoot to redevelop the business district.  So while on one hand there is a physical rebuilding taking shape, of greater importance is the need for a spiritual rebuilding.

Patrick McBane to Help

During the week the training and help and assistance will be provided by Patrick McBane. We first met Patrick in Argentina last year while attending the Harvest Evangelism conference with Ed Silvoso.

Patrick was born and raised in Warren, Ohio; USA He moved to Youngstown after graduating from Warren G. Harding H.S. in 1980 and attended Youngstown State University.  It was at YSU that he met his wife Leslie, and they have 2 daughters – Emily (26), and Allison (24).
His personal mission is to ignite hope and freedom in the lives of people through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by sowing into them, serving beside them, and casting vision before them.

His personal vision is to equip and release people into a kingdom life pattern that brings significance, fulfillment of God’s purposes, and replication across an entire segment of society.

Patrick’s background includes Manufacturing labor, International Teaching, Retail Management & Buying, Non-Profit Executive Director and Technology Sales & Distribution.  Patrick is the Executive Director of Marketplace Solutions, a non-profit corporation that is bringing transformation solutions to Christians in the marketplace.

Marketplace Solutions is propelled by three objectives: 1) To equip people to understand and fulfill their roles as agents of transformation, 2) To connect them with resources and relationships, and 3) To mobilize them to fulfill God’s Great Commission right where they are in the marketplace. Check out Patrick's website at www.4marketplacesolutions.org.

Patrick is the right man to help us with Operation Hope and has given us a lot of guidance in direction in setting this up.  He will also be sharing at Business Blessings’ Monthly Members meeting on the Tuesday night 28th July 2009 (7pm at the Carindale Hotel).  His wife Leslie will be here to help as well.  Both of them will be on the ground with us each day as we go door to door.


Your Part

There are three main ways that you can be a part of this week of blessing!

1.    Pray.

We are looking to a recruit a team of people all around the world to pray for the businesses in Wynnum/Manly, for the team, for the week and for a period of time after the event.  Each person who commits to pray will be given a list of the businesses in the area to pray over and key focus areas.  We will also be asking you to give some feedback as to what God is telling you as you are praying for us.

2.    Join the Team

Come join us as part of the team for the day on the 28th July. We will be starting with prayer at 9 am and then going out from 10am to 3pm day to assigned businesses to bless them.  Then coming back for a celebration time.

On the Monday 27th July the week will start at 7 pm with some practical training. We ask that you contribute A$75 per person towards helping with the admin and practical costs of the week, part of this will be for an “Operation Hope” shirt to wear during the week as you go door to door.

Depending in the number of people involved and how quickly we go from business to business, we will extend into the Redlands area as well.

For those outside of Brisbane who would like to join us we will work with you to provide you with billeting in the local area. (If you can help out by billeting someone for the week, please let us know)

3.    Help Fund the Purchase of the Business Bibles

The Business Bibles are of a very good quality with amazing testimonies from key Australian Christian Business Leaders, and contain the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs. The Bible Society has very generously provided these to us at a cost of $10 each.  Therefore we are looking for people/businesses/churches to help fund the purchase of the Business Bibles.  How many Bibles can you donate?

If your business needs a tax deduction – we are happy for you to sponsor the “Wynnum Manly Christian Business Network” for $250 – please send your logo and we will include it on emails and mention your business at the breakfasts over the next 12 months.

How Do I Get Involved?

Complete the application form and send it to us. Don’t delay – register today – even if there is the slightest possibility of your joining us – register early. 

Who is Organising this week?

Operation Hope is a joint venture between Business Blessings and the Christian Business Network Australia.

For more details:
1.    Phone 07 3390-8540 or 0413388840
2.    Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
3.    Go to www.businessblessings.com.au or www.wynnummanly.cbn.net.au

We see this day as a test run and plan to work with other communities throughout Australia to take “hope” to their business communities as well! Let us know if you would like us to organize a team in your area.

Look forward to seeing you as part of the day!

Download and complete the application form today!

operation_hope_application_form.pdf