For many years the Servant Leader Team of Our Prayer Fellowship, surrounded by pastors, para-church leaders and intercessors have prayed for spiritual transformation in Sonoma County. To our south the pastors of the greater Petaluma area have similarly labored in prayer and relationship building. Only God knows how many additional unseen heroes (intercessors) over decades have been faithfully crying out for a vision from heaven. One of the many answers to these prayers occurred during a Pastor's and Wives Prayer Summit held at Zephyr Point, Lake Tahoe, January 7-10-02.

Petaluma pastors invited our leadership team and wives to join them on their annual summit. A wonderful array of churches was represented; some of which included Assemblies of God, Baptist, Episcopal and Nazarene. For years "the historian" member of our leadership team has been researching the history of the county and particularly the relationship between Santa Rosa and Petaluma, the two largest cities in our county. Since the earliest days that records have been kept, namely 1850 to the present, these cities have had an adversarial relationship. From a controversy, beginning in 1854 over where to establish the county seat to a running feud during the Civil War. Santa Rosa was a confederate town and voted against Abraham Lincoln for president where as Petaluma was staunchly a " union town" and rang the Baptist church bell loudly enough to be heard in Santa Rosa on the occasion of every "union" victory in the war. This bell was later stolen by a band of thieves from Santa Rosa.

In 1906 the great earthquake that devastated San Francisco totally destroyed Santa Rosa. When the militia was activated for duty during the crisis, the Santa Rosa contingent was given the duty of cleaning up debris wile the Petaluma unit was sent to "police" Santa Rosa. One of the demeaning actions of the Petaluma troops was to carry a casket down the main street of the city declaring Santa Rosa was dead. To further exacerbate and fuel these controversies the two city newspapers continually leveled blistering attacks filled with inflammatory language and accusation.

During that period Petaluma was five times the size of Santa Rosa and thus symbolized the center of wealth and power. Now the size and influence of the cities has been reversed, Santa Rosa being the county seat. As recently as the 1980's a similar spirit could be seen during squabbles regarding the routing of the new Highway 101 through the two cities. The spirit and actions of these continuing controversies have produced much pain, humiliation and loss over generations.

God has made clear to a number of spiritual leaders the devastation this has caused across our county. The root sins that have resulted in this harm include arrogance, deception, indifference, manipulation, presumptuous jealousy, pride, robbery and slander.

It has become clear that the same spirit and actions that have so damaged our communities and their populace have also brought incalculable harm and loss in the churches and community of faith. As we gathered for the four days of prayer and worship on January 7 none of us could have imagined what God had in store.

The first two days the entire time was spent waiting in God presence. Songs of adoration and waiting, prayer and waiting, reading of scripture and more silence and waiting; all of us were sensing the solemnity of the occasion. It was clear we were on holy ground and in the presence of the Almighty. With the exception of personal introductions, the first two days were spent in loving and communing with god.

On the third day a gracious visitation of God's Spirit began. A historical look at the county was shared in this article, the Holy Spirit directed us into separate break-out sessions by city. After several hours of prayerful deliberation both groups were prepared to join together for what was to become one of the most memorable occasions I have experienced. Sitting at opposite ends of the room or delegations (cites) faced each other. I was appointed to represent Santa Rosa and I said, "We are thankful for the invitation to join you in this summit and on your turf. Our servant leaders and the pastor prayer fellowship, based in Santa Rosa recognize that the sins of the fathers are visited on the third and fourth generations. Following the model of Daniel's confession and repentance in Daniel 9, we confess our sins and the sins of our fathers against Petaluma." I articulated the root sins mentioned earlier and some of the specific injurious actions that resulted.

After the mention of each sin, I said, "we repent before God and you and we ask your forgiveness." At the conclusion of sharing the list of sins I asked "will you forgive us?" Their response was a unanimous yes.

Other members of our group then added specific things in which they had been offensive or demeaning in their words or actions as regards the Petaluma church community. The Petaluma delegates then responded, represented by Paul Bemis, pastor of the Open Door Christian Church. He similarly listed a number of offenses they had committed in Santa Rosa and the church community. Included was; "indifference", not caring about the big picture in the county and its churches, being judgmental, having resentment and exhibiting a lack of trust and caring when the largest church in Santa Rosa fell. "Carrying the casket" instead of coming alongside, not wanting to be in activities with the Santa Rosa church community. There were tears and sobbing amid this healing exchange.

This was followed by the city representatives being seated in the center of the room facing each other and surrounded by all in attendance while a chorus of prayers blessing the two cities, the county and its churches ascended. The day concluded in a blessed session of worship with Petaluma pastors and wives washing the feet of the Santa Rosa delegates. Then we joined in sharing the elements of communion with one another. Our final day was focused on conversation and prayers about convent establishing. We made a commitment to pursue God's heart as to how we might pray or and serve one another. In addition, we purposed to work together in blessing all the churches and citizens of our county. It is apparent that we have taken one more vital step toward the spiritual transformation of Sonoma County. We are grateful to Pastor Don North of the Trinity Bible Church in Oroville, California for his Holy- Spirit directed facilitating of this historic gathering.

Jim Argue
February 1, 2002