Adopting streets, and changing cities

When Mark Zuggerberg, founder of Facebook, decided to give a gift of $100 million toward the improvement of American Education, he chose Newark, New Jersey.

Why?
The politicians will give a political answer
The educationalists an academic answer
But
The intercessors of this city will give a God answer.

With a current budget of $900 million this donation is not going to solve every need, in fact it is only a big drop in a big bucket.

So what’s the big deal?

In the late 1960′s Newark NJ was the place of riots and political unrest.  This revolt soon spread to neighbors and across the nation. Newark quickly lost its reputation of  economic growth and prosperity. Despite its proximity to New York City, Newark became despised. This city was not on the list of choice cities to raise your children or to do business.  In fact the word was out. Newark was dead.

While that may sound like the end of tale, the body of Christ in this city, decided to re-write the ending. 
They chose to believe that God had a purpose for this city and it was not one of desolation and despair.
They believed  these words ,” build up theHighways, and you will be called sought after, the city no longer deserted”

Easy words to read, but not so easy to implement.  They needed a strategy.  Lloyd Martin decided to take God’s word literally and began to build prayer highways.  Oh no, not physically that’s for the city, but rather spiritual in-roads.  He started to pray for the Highways.
Over the next few months the highways, led to streets, and the streets to avenues and very soon the entire city of Newark was covered in prayer.
The most amazing thing happened, as the percentage of streets adopted in prayer increased so the crime decreased.  It was documented by the secular press…no, they never acknowledged the prayer, but they saw the results and they liked what they saw.

Is this not the evidence of things hoped for?
Is this not the hope that makes us believe in the power of prayer?
Is this not the power that encourages us to persevere even in the mist difficult situations?

Not only did crime drop, economic growth is happening, perceptions are changing, and Mark Zuggerberg chooses the Newark school system for one of his donations.

Coincidence?
 Or evidence of things hoped for, of things yet to be?