January 2010

SPECIAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SBC- JANURARY 31!!!

Consecrate a fast,

Proclaim a solemn assembly;

Gather the elders

And all the inhabitants of the land

To the house of the LORD your God,

And cry out to the LORD.

Joel 1:14

SBC President, Johnny Hunt, is encouraging all pastors to set aside Sunday, January 31 as a special day of prayer and fasting for our denomination. From his December 9th Baptist Press article:

“We are asking you, pastors, to not only incorporate a season of prayer for our denomination into your regular worship services on Sunday, Jan. 31, but to make provision and give direction for a full day of prayer focus… Some of the suggested things to pray for include:

-- A spirit of repentance to fall on our churches corporately and personally for individuals, and for genuine revival of first love for Jesus. (See Matt. 4:17; Rev. 2:4.)

-- A great spiritual awakening across our land so that the lost will be drawn to a personal relationship with Jesus. (See John 6:44; Rom. 1:19; 2 Cor. 2:14.)

-- A sweet spirit of reconciliation among any Southern Baptists who are at odds with each other, or other works of God. Love for one another in the body of Christ to grow and blossom. (See Prov. 28:13; 1 Cor. 13:25-27; John 13:34-35.)…”

NAMB (North American Mission Board) Prayer Coordinator, Elaine Helms, adds this information (from "Call to Urgent Prayer for SBC"):

"The goal is for all of us to “Be still and know that God is God,” as a sign of our humility and desire to wholeheartedly return to Him. By our being still before Him (see Psalm 46:10), we exalt our God and position ourselves to obey the Great Commission our Lord commanded in Matthew 28:18-20.

How:
Distribute personal preparation guides for cleansing and restoration and instruct every church member on how to use it through the day.

Plan a Solemn Assembly or a Concert of Prayer for whole congregation or the entire association.

Hold prayer gatherings by Sunday school classes or Bible study groups.

Encourage families to have a focused prayer time acknowledging God alone is God.
For example, an extended prayer before the evening meal, or a prayer walk through the home asking for cleansing and God’s presence.

Challenge every Sunday school class or Bible study group to tithe time to contrite prayer for spiritual awakening.

Extend the pastoral prayer and invite several to read scriptural prayers.

Preach a sermon on prayer, stopping at each point to lead the congregation in application praying.

On Sunday, January 24th, ask your members to pray daily for tens of thousands of SBC congregations to participate in the January 31st urgent call to prayer for the Southern Baptist Convention.

Resources: Information to support the above ideas and more are being added daily. Click here to access the resource list. You may also access the resource list from the GPS website."


BAGBR pastors, prayer coordinators, and church members, PLEASE make this time of prayer and fasting a high priority for your church. We urgently need to be on our faces, corporately, before God.