Divine intervention needed: Let us pray

WOODSTOCK — Southern Baptists are being called to intercede in fervent, united prayer on Sunday, Jan. 31.

Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, stated. “The reputation of SBC churches is akin to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-5. Jesus commended them for doing many good things, but called them to repent. Baptism rates are down, divorce rates are up, and too many families are falling apart. We’re busy doing church but we have lost our connection to the power of Almighty God.”

Marty Youngblood, the Georgia Baptist Convention’s missionary for Prayer and Pastoral Care, has taken up the cry for prayer, stating, “Please join your GBC staff and our Southern Baptist families across the nation and around the world as we ‘fast and pray’ Jan. 31.”

Youngblood continued, “Like never before, the church is in need of divine intervention and wisdom to reach the nations. Therefore, thank you in advance for your time, energy, and resources you and your church will give to this important day.”

Prayer for repentance, reconciliation

Georgia Baptists need to pray for spiritual awakening in Georgia and across the nation, asking God to restore our first love for Christ and to help us rediscover the sacred flame of our national heritage, which so many have given their lives to safeguard.

Churches across the convention are urged to pray for a spirit of repentance to fall on our churches corporately and personally for individuals, and for a sweet spirit of reconciliation among any Southern Baptists at odds with each other. The prayers must include a request for believers to love one another and for that love to grow and blossom.

The call includes a clarion request for Baptists to pray for the kind of spiritual awakening that draws the lost to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that God’s Plan for Sharing will be greatly used to accomplish that holy purpose.

Pastor Ronnie Floyd, chairman of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, has asked Southern Baptists everywhere to intercede on behalf of their committee and ask God to give them wisdom and direction.

We need to pray for guidance for the search committees for the presidents of the Executive Committee, the International Mission Board, and the North American Mission Board.

Pastors and churches should decide how they will make prayer a significant part of the last Sunday in this month. It is knee time in our denomination and in our nation.