Friday, August 28, 2009

Culture~Check: Mohler on "Are We a Nation of Hindus?"

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Are We a Nation of Hindus?

By R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

Those who argue that all religions are essentially the same reveal the fact that they know little about these very different belief systems. The worldview of Christianity is, for example, radically different from the belief structure of Buddhism (some forms of which may actually claim to resist the very idea of beliefs).

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These differences in belief systems are apparent in Lisa Miller's recent article for Newsweek. As she explains, "A million-plus Hindus live in the United States, a fraction of the billion who live on Earth. But recent poll data show that conceptually, at least, we are slowly becoming more like Hindus and less like traditional Christians in the ways we think about God, our selves, each other, and eternity."

Many Christians will flinch when reading this. Does this mean that Hindu temples are appearing across the American landscape? Not hardly. What Miller describes is the transformation of the belief system in ways that resemble Hinduism. Her argument deserves a fair hearing.

She begins by quoting a Hindu writing, the Rig Veda: "Truth is One, but the sages speak of it by many names." The idea of one truth known by many names is not new. Indeed, it is central to polytheism and the syncretistic beliefs of several historic and current worldviews. Hinduism is radically polytheistic and syncretistic. According to Hindu belief, the many gods and goddesses of their veneration all represent one fundamental divine reality. The idea of a singular and exclusive truth is antithetical to classical Hinduism.

So what is Lisa Miller's point? She suggests that contemporary Americans, including many who consider themselves Christians, are abandoning the exclusive truth claims of Christianity for a form of theological pluralism or relativism.

"A Hindu believes there are many paths to God. Jesus is one way, the Qur'an is another, yoga practice is a third. None is better than any other; all are equal," she asserts. Christianity, on the other hand, has affirmed that Jesus Christ is the only Savior, and that the only way of salvation is through faith in Him.

"Americans are no longer buying it," she insists, and by this she means many American Christians. She cites a 2008 Pew Forum survey that indicated major slippage in terms of Christian conviction. According to the Pew Forum survey, 65 percent of Americans believe that "many religions can lead to eternal life." More tellingly, 37 percent of those identified as white evangelicals shared this belief.

Miller cites Stephen Prothero, a leading researcher on American religion, who defined this "divine-deli-cafeteria religion" as "very much in the spirit of Hinduism." As he added, "You're not picking and choosing from different religions, because they're all the same." This is not exactly like traditional Hinduism, of course, but it works in much the same way. As he explains, "It isn't about orthodoxy. It's about whatever works. If going to yoga works, great-and if going to Catholic mass works, great. And if going to Catholic mass plus the yoga plus the Buddhist retreat works, that's great, too."

There is every reason to believe that Lisa Miller and Stephen Prothero are correct in these assessments. Without doubt, Americans have been growing more and more accepting of plural and relative understandings of truth. A tragically large number of those who identify as Christians have been drinking from the same wells of thought.Continue >>

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SBC @ Prayer ~ GCR Calls for Prayer

GCR task force calls for input, prayer

Posted on Aug 27, 2009 | by Mark Kelly

ROGERS, Ark. (BP)--Interest is "huge" in the Southern Baptist Convention's Great Commission Resurgence Task Force and the group wants grass-roots Southern Baptists to share their thoughts and mobilize their congregations to pray for the task force's work, its chairman said Aug. 27.

In an impromptu press conference following the task force's Aug. 26-27 meeting, Ronnie Floyd said he was very pleased with the Aug. 26 listening session that drew more than 400 pastors and lay leaders from the region around Rogers, Ark.

"That was a good, engaging discussion," Floyd said as he stood outside the task force meeting room in the Embassy Suites Hotel in Rogers. "The interest level was huge, and we already know that, out of the 400-plus people who were there yesterday, that over 270 of them committed to pray for the Great Commission resurgence, which brings us great pleasure.

"We're gathering information. We're listening. And we are trying to know enough in order to make the decisions that need to be made," Floyd added. "As of right now, we don't know enough but we're getting there."

The most important things Southern Baptists can do for the task force are to communicate with them and pray for them, Floyd said.

"The No. 1 thing the Southern Baptist Convention people can do for us is to send any idea they want to send -- share anything they want to share -- and more than anything in the world, they need to pray for us," Floyd said. "We plead with them for their prayers, [to] get their churches involved in prayer.

Floyd suggested churches use registration cards akin to those placed on tables at the luncheon as a way of getting members involved in the task force's work.

"The model you saw yesterday of registering people with a card and then us taking that and registering that in the website, if churches duplicated that, it would be huge," Floyd said. He pointed out that the card asked for specific commitments to pray for members of the task force, for him as chairman, for other Southern Baptist churches and for leaders of SBC entities.

"When was the last time 3,400 -- almost 3,500 people now, as of this morning late -- prayed every day for the leaders of our convention?" Floyd asked.

Floyd said he is encouraging task force members to hold their own listening sessions like the one held in Rogers as they travel. "The whole deal is, we're going to listen more than we talk," he said.

Three members of the task force – Daniel Akin, David Dockery and John Copeland -- were unable to attend this week's session, Floyd said. The group's next meeting will be Oct. 27 in Dallas, at a venue near an airport that has not yet been secured, Floyd said.
--30--
Mark Kelly is an assistant editor with Baptist Press. Audio from the luncheon is available online at www.pray4gcr.com/2009/08/gcr-luncheon-audio/.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

IBSA @ Prayer ~ No More Cobwebs in the Prayer Room

Phil - - - I was talking with our DOM Bro Terry the other day about our Associational Prayer Seminar and told him Joppa Baptist has had a 9 AM Prayer Meeting on Sunday mornings every since I've been there [ 9 years ] ... it started off with 2...a Deacon and myself ...we have now grown to 12 who faithfully attend and a few weeks ago we had 16 to show up.

We divide people up into groups and go through the whole church ...every pew...every seat...every class room ...the pulpit ,the alter, the prayer list , all Sunday School teachers are prayed for...someone even goes outside and prays over the Church property.

Back in 2000 right after we were called to Joppa, the Lord laid it on my heart to write down what we were doing inside His Church and to record how much time we were spending on everything. I did this and found out that praying was last on the list. We were even spending more time eating [ Potlucks ] inside His Church then praying. The Lord even showed me some cob webs inside our prayer room. Then He took me to Luke 19:46 where Jesus tells us what kind of house we are to be.

Bro Phil ,we are now becoming a house of prayer. There are no more cob webs in our prayer room and we have seen God bless in many ways. One example ...Our worship attendance has gone from 40 to 200. There is no doubt in my mind that prayer is the key.

Bro David Wright

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

IBSA @ Prayer ~ Pastors Prayer Group HIts the Streets

Franklin Association pastors walk the walk

By David Belcher in Illinois Baptist

Franklin Baptist Association Director of Missions Matt Frizzell (far left) leads the association's pastors in prayer prior to prayer walking the community of Ina, Ill.

INA, Ill. | Walk the walk and talk the talk is taken literally in Franklin Baptist Association.

Every Thursday morning, a group of association pastors and church members conduct a prayer walk though an association community.

An association delegation demonstrated how a prayer walk works recently when they congregated at Ina Missionary Baptist Church.

After prayer, they walked through the streets of Ina in pairs, praying for the southern Illinois village and its residents.

When seeing a community member on the streets, the pastors stopped walking and praying, told them what they were doing and asked if they had any needs in their life for which they wanted prayer for.

Walkers also had copies of a pamphlet outlining the plan of salvation for distribution to those they saw on the walk.

Matt Frizzell, Franklin Baptist Association director of missions, explained that for several years the ministers met each Wednesday morning at the association office in Benton for prayer.

However, he said, the group decided in April "to go beyond these walls" and begin praying for the communities they serve while walking through their communities. The meeting time was shifted to Thursday.

"We have had good success," Frizzell said. "God has blessed it. The Lord has done a lot of things that we can't see this side of heaven."

During one walk a man in Valier was led to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

"This is what it's all about, the Great Commission - go into all the world telling them about the Savior," Bert Mitchell, pastor of First Baptist Church of West City, said.

Most of those on the prayer walk are association pastors. However, Frizzell said the walk is not limited to pastors - anyone who is willing to walk through a community and pray is welcome.

Roland Fisher of Christopher is a layman who has been a regular on the walks.

"It's a way of reaching the lost," Fisher said.

The prayer walk has blessed an entire congregation. Frizzell said First Baptist Church of Sesser had a difficult time in calling a pastor. However, during a prayer walk some church members came to ask for prayer in finding the right man for their congregation. The next Sunday, they called their new pastor on a 76-0 vote.

"We should not be surprised when God answers prayer," Frizzell said.

Dale Burzynski, pastor of Ina Missionary Baptist Church, said the walk gives pastors "an opportunity to meet people they've never met before."

"I believe it pleases God," is why Ron Knox, pastor of Royalton First Baptist Church, said he participates in the walk. "God says you don't have because you don't ask and He tells us we are to pray without ceasing."

He said the prayer walkers are planting seeds and may never see the fruit of their prayers in this life. "We're obedient and God takes over."

"I enjoy the expectation that God is going to honor these prayers and souls are going to be saved," Jim Ebbs, a retired minster from Royalton, said.

Ebbs pointed out another benefit of the prayer walk is that it helps encourage those praying to be "in unity in the Holy Spirit. We need unity as much as we need souls to be saved. These churches have a real unity of purpose."

Monday, August 24, 2009

IMB on FB: Connect for Global Prayer Impact

The International Mission Board’s Web-based intercessory prayer resource “CompassionNet” is expanding into Facebook. From your Facebook account, simply enter CompassionNet in the search feature and give it a click. Once you’re there, sign up to be a “fan” and recommend it to your “friends.”

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Rock the River Rocks!

ROCK THE RIVER TOURS Final Praise & Prayer Report . . .

Young People today really do have an extraordinary desire for spiritual things!

God reminded us of that in a powerful way this summer as the Rock the River Tour moved up the Mississippi River taking the Good News of Jesus Christ to young people of all ages.

Sunday, August 18, was the RTRT Event culmination day in Minneapolis/St. Paul,

where 23,000 gathered at Harriett Island Park and 966 people made commitments to Christ.

For this fourth and final RTRT Event, Christian bands such as Flyleaf, Skillet, Hawk Nelson,

Red, Kirk Franklin performed once again and Franklin Graham presented the Good News.

We prayed together across our nation and around the world with the believers in the local Event cities

and we have seen God do a marvelous thing on behalf of the children and youth of our nation

through these RTRT outreaches.

Thank you for your faithful prayers, because He did answer them.

God blessed each Rock the River Tour outreach:

Baton Rouge, July 16 - 10,998 attendance - 270 commitments
St. Louis, August 2 – 65,000 attendance - 830 commitments
Quad Cities, August 8 – 13,800 attendance - 805 commitments
Minneapolis/St. Paul, August 16 – 23,000 - 966 commitments

Prayer Request:

Would you continue in prayer with us. . .

That every person who made a commitment would be discipled immediately so they can live effective lives for Christ,
That every young person would know their value in Christ and seek to live out His plan for their lives, growing in grace and knowledge of God,
That we would see and treat our children as true gifts from God, training them up in His ways, so they can live godly, successful lives with the heart and compassion of Jesus.
That a greater awareness of the urgency to meet the spiritual needs and hunger of our children and young people would prevail among us, the Body of Christ,
And, that we adults would make ourselves wholly available to God to be used of Him to make a difference for Christ in their lives, while there is still time.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20, 21

HE has fulfilled Ephesians 3:20, 21 before our eyes and through our prayers!

To God be all the glory!

Amen!

Blessings and appreciation for your prayers,

Wanda Bailey, Crusade Ministries and RTRT Prayer Coordinator

Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn.

St. Louis RTRT Office - 314.770.9807

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

IMB: Reaching thee Unreached with Prayer

Pray

Connect through PRAYERplus
PRAYERplus connects churches and groups with the untouched harvest. Your church or group can take the first step in reaching a people group that has no known access to the Gospel. Learn how to commit to long-term prayer for an unreached people group no one else is trying to reach and find downloadable resources to share with your church.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

IBSA @ Prayer ~ 2009 Impact Offering

Praying for and Giving to Illinois Missions

Illinois is one of the largest mission fields in the U. S. More than 8 million people in our state do not profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s why Southern Baptists have nearly 100 missionaries in the state helping Illinois Baptist State Association churches reach them with the gospel.

Some Illinois missionaries are starting new churches. Some are ministering on college campuses, attempting to reach the 800,000 Illinois college students. Nearly a dozen Illinois missionaries are associational directors of missions, helping their churches work together to reach their local mission field.

Illinois missionaries also help strengthen 1,000 existing IBSA churches through Bible study, worship, evangelism and family worship, while others assist our churches in being involved in missions at home and around the world.

These missionaries are all supported by generous gifts to the Illinois Missions Offering. This Offering is similar to special offerings for national and international missions except every penny stays right here in Illinois.

Please use this prayer guide to pray for our Illinois missionaries and mission field and for the 1,000 Illinois Baptist churches cooperating together to reach our state with the gospel.

2009 Illinois Missions Offering Prayer Guide
Sunday ~Psalm 145:7 Give thanks for the 2008 Illinois Missions Offering that is helping start more than 45 new churches this year, reach 30 college campuses, and train more than 22,000 church members in evangelism, VBS, Bible study, worship and missions.

Monday ~ Colossians 4:3-4 Pray for nearly 100 missionaries serving in Illinois. Pray for their ministries to be effective, for open doors for the gospel, and for safe travel.

Tuesday ~ Ephesians 6:19 Pray that IBSA churches will be excited about sharing the gospel in their communities, and church members will witness to their family, friends and co-workers.

Wednesday ~ John 9:4 Pray for urgency for spiritual awakening across Illinois and that we will have a passion to share Christ with the lost.

Thursday ~ Romans 10:9-15 Pray for new churches to be started. Pray for God to call out church planters, including laypeople, to start them, and for existing churches to become involved.

Friday ~ Isaiah 58:6-9 Pray for ministries across our state which meet special needs such as disaster relief, English as a Second Language classes, hunger and jail ministries and others. Pray the lost will hear the Good News of Jesus through them.

Saturday ~ II Corinthians 8:20-21 Pray for the IBSA staff as they make and implement plans to help our churches reach Illinois, that they will be wise stewards of the resources Illinois Baptists entrust to them.

Sunday ~ II Corinthians 8:7 Pray that Illinois Baptists will give gladly to the Illinois Missions Offering and become personally involved in missions.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

NAMB Research: The Right Question May Not Be A Good Question

>>>.

>>>Note: This insight is vital to prayer evangelism ...

What Questions Are People Asking?

Wednesday August 12, 2009 ~ 9 Comments

For decades, the phrase, "If you were to die today, do you know for sure you would go to heaven?" was associated with evangelical attempts at sharing their faith. My guess is that millions of people have been asked that question over the last few decades-- and I would not be surprised if God used such a conversation and question and many many became followers of Christ.

But, the question itself always intrigued me. And, one of the great things about my job (as a researcher), is I get to say, "I wonder..."

And, in this case, I wondered how many people really ask that question. In other words, how often to people wonder if they were to die today would they go to heaven. My first assumption was that only a few people really would think about their eternal destiny and, thus, thought the question might be less helpful today if few asked that question.

So, to test my informal hypothesis, we commissioned a poll.

About three years ago, while I was serving at the North American Mission Board's Center for Missional Research (now led by my friend Richie Stanley), Richie and I did a poll on that very subject.

Interestingly, "Will I go to heaven when I die?" is not a question most Americans ask themselves with much frequency. The North American Mission Board's Center for Missional Research conducted a survey that give some insight into what Americans are really thinking.

There are a good number of people who ask that question and do so frequently, but most do not.

===>Click headline for complete article and comments . . .

Monday, August 10, 2009

10,000 Steps. 10,000 Prayers!

Fresh Ideas: Ten thousand steps. Ten thousand prayers.

By Diana Davis

"Pray constantly." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

My friend wears a pedometer to count the number of steps he takes. His healthy goal is to take ten thousand steps daily.

Let's suppose that each of us wears a pedometer and makes a goal to pray for people in our life's path. We pray silently for neighbors as we pass their house, for associates as we go by their work station and for players at the ball game. God's Word instructs us to "pray constantly," so we pray as we go wherever our ten thousand steps take us.

A church-wide prayer walk is a simple, effective way to inspire members to pray. It can be an hour, day-long or ongoing event. The prayer walk could launch a church plant, revival, or new church ministry. It could target a subdivision or campus. Your city streets will be filled with church members, some strolling, some jogging, some with a walker or wheelchair or baby stroller, praying as they go, talking to God about people who need to know Him. Need a few starter ideas for planning a church-wide prayer walk?

"Circle the City" Prayer Walk. On a large city map, make a circle of 1 stick-on paper dots spaced around the perimeter of the town (or a one-mile radius of your church.) Members sign a dot to commit to prayer walk from that dot clockwise to the next dot on the circle, surrounding your city in prayer.

"My Zone" Prayer Walk. Each member selects a specific area to prayer walk, such as their street, neighborhood, apartment complex or office building. My son's church charts prayer walk assignments online or you can simply use a highlighter and a map.

"To the Heart of Our Town" Prayer Walk. On a large master map, members put a stick-on dot where they plan to begin their prayer walk toward the church. Directionally-challenged walkers can use a GPS. Some walk a block; others walk miles, but all paths lead to the church building where prayer walkers will rally for snacks and celebration.

Permanent Prayer Walk Path. A North Dakota church built a lovely prayer walkway around their church's acres. Members walk and pray for church ministry and outreach.

A church-wide prayer walk can open members' eyes to ministry and witnessing opportunities around them. Read Sprinkle's "Follow Me," ibsaprayer.blogspot.com and nppn.org for prayer-walking instructions, and make a plan to fit your church.

Ten thousand steps. Ten thousand prayers. It's hard to fathom the potential impact! Maybe it's time to go get your pedometer.

Diana Davis 2009. Diana, author of Fresh Ideas (B&H '07) and Deacon Wives (B&H '09), keeponshining.com.

Originally published in Illinois Baptist State Newspaper

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Sunday, August 09, 2009

SBC Prayer Leader on the State of Prayer

Click Here to learn more about Lowell Snow

Phil Miglioratti interviewed Lowell Snow -
Listen as these two prayer leaders discuss the state of prayer in the Church and practical steps congregational leaders can take to increase the level of praying.

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Season of Prayer for Annual Illinois Mission Offering

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois missions and missionaries continue to be the focus of the Illinois Missions Offering and Season of Prayer, said Marty King, coordinator of the state mission emphasis.

"We appreciate all the IBSA churches that use this time to pray for and support Illinois missions and our 100 Illinois missionaries," King said, noting it is the only offering that focuses specifically on our "Judea mission field."

"The Cooperative Program provides critical foundational support we need day-in and day-out to meet the missions needs of Illinois Baptists" 1,000 churches, as well as support nearly 11,000 Southern Baptist missionaries across the country and around the world," King explained.

"But the Illinois Missions Offering and Season of Prayer gives us an opportunity to focus on our own state and how we are working together to reach the more than eight million lost people in Illinois."

The suggested dates for this year's state missions emphasis are September 13-20, although churches need to plan prayer and offering dates that fit their own schedules. King said the promotional materials are undated so they may be used throughout the fall. He also noted many churches conduct one offering a year for all special missions efforts and then divide it between state, national and international SBC mission causes.

"Every cooperating IBSA church and mission should receive an IMO planning kit by the first week in August, in plenty of time to prepare for a September emphasis," King said.

The kit includes a Planning Guide, a DVD with four brief Illinois mission videos, Prayer Guides and Offering Envelopes. The quantities mailed to each church are based on each church's reported morning worship attendance, however additional copies of all the materials are available free of charge by calling (217) 391-3116 or sending an e-mail to IllinoisMissionsOffering@IBSA.org.

Additional materials will also be available on the IBSA.org website including:

- Age-graded mission studies for adults, youth, children and preschool

- Listening guides for the mission videos

- Clipart

- A children's sermon

- Illinois Missionary stories

The four mission videos are also available for preview and free download from the IBSA.org website, King said.

Last year, Illinois Baptists gave $380,824 to IMO, $2,000 less than the year before and $9,000 short of the goal. This year's IMO goal of $390,000 is the same as last year's.

"The need is so great, we are praying that, even in today's economy, we can exceed the $390,000 goal," King said.

"If every IBSA church increased their giving by 10 percent, we would give more than $420,000, but if every church gave the equivalent of $7 per person based on their average Sunday morning worship attendance, we would give more than half a million dollars. If they gave an average of $7 per resident member, that amount would double to over one million dollars for Illinois missions!"

King also explained this year's offering will be used where it is needed most next year.

"Gifts to this year's offering will be spent next year to make it possible to do more missions including supporting nearly 100 Illinois missionaries, starting 45 more Southern Baptist churches, training 22,500 church leaders, initiating more and supporting 30 existing campus ministries, in addition to providing salary support for associational directors of missions and partnering with 34 Illinois Baptist associations. Every effective ministry we provide our churches and associations requires increased support through the Illinois Missions Offering."

For more information about this year's Illinois Missions Offering and Season of Prayer, call IBSA at (217) 391-3116 or visit the IBSA website at IBSA.org.

"I do pray IBSA churches will see the importance of focusing on our Judea mission field this September, and will set aside time in their busy calendars for prayer and giving so that together we can do more to reach a lost state," King said.

Monday, August 03, 2009

Free, Easy to Download Prayer Resources

===>Click headline above to access complete newsletter and download links . .

16 Brief Studies in Prayer based on John 17
Pastor, I've just published a new set of brief studies in prayer by pastor Rick Ezell. He uses his Wednesday night prayer meeting to teach his church family about many aspects of prayer.
This edition is focused on how believers can be an answer to the prayer Jesus prayed in John 17.
Access all 16 studies in prayer based on John 17 now ...
Teach them to pray, Pastor!

Craig Webb, Editor

Download a sample ofGrowing Disciples: Pray in Faith
by Claude King & T.W. Hunt

Download a sample ofDisciple's Prayer Life by T.W. Hunt and Catherine Walker

Download a sample ofAnd the Place was Shaken: How to Lead a Powerful Prayer Meetingby John Franklin

SBC @ Prayer @ www.Pray4GRC.com

GCR website goes live at pray4gcr.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A website encouraging support for the Southern Baptist Convention's Great Commission Resurgence Task Force has been launched at www.pray4gcr.com.

The site, which went live Aug. 1, gives interested people an opportunity to register their commitment to pray, interact with the task force through blogs, Facebook and Twitter, sign up for updates about significant developments and see photos of the 23 task force members.

The task force is asking for 5,000 believers to commit themselves to pray for task force members and a renewed passion for the Great Commission among Southern Baptists, chairman Ronnie Floyd said in a press statement.

"We cannot accomplish the task entrusted to us without a groundswell of prayer support. Surely, thousands will join in prayer together," said Floyd, who is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark., and the Church at Pinnacle Hills in Rogers. "I know Southern Baptists love the Great Commission and will want to join us in praying for this resurgence. The urgency of the hour calls us to pray.

"Southern Baptists have entrusted the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force with a great responsibility. I can assure all Southern Baptists that our final report will reflect the boldest visionary dreams of Southern Baptists to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are ready to get busy with bold thinking, hard questions, fervent prayer, and big dreams. The world is waiting to see how serious we are. I can tell you that this task force is ready to get to work. This is why we are asking you to join us by going to pray4gcr.com, sign the prayer partner list and share it with your friends and family members across the world."

In a statement posted on the website, Southern Baptist Convention president Johnny Hunt echoed the call to prayer.

"Would you please pray for us daily, weekly, or ever how God lays it on your heart? Also, please encourage your church family to join us in praying that God would help the Southern Baptist Convention to have a Great Commission Resurgence in order that church-planting, as well as church revitalization, would become a priority in our hearts like never before and that we, as pastors and laypeople, would be intentional witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying nation," Hunt said. "May we give like never before that the Gospel would be taken to the furthest ends of the earth. I trust that it will become the rally cry of our denomination that, as we think of the Cooperative Program, we would all simply say, 'We can do more.' I will assure you that if that would be our mindset, only heaven knows what will be given for that cause."

Floyd said he is asking supporters to pray about three primary concerns:

-- for the members of the task force and "for God's leadership to be upon them mightily, making His direction clear for them;"

-- for a Great Commission resurgence "to occur in my life, my church, and through the 50,000 churches and missions in our convention;"

-- for a Great Commission resurgence "to occur in the leaders of and through the entities of the Southern Baptist Convention."

Task force members are scheduled to meet twice in August, the first time Aug. 11-12 at the Renaissance Hotel near the Atlanta airport and then Aug. 26-27 at the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas in Rogers. Floyd said the Arkansas meeting will be preceded by a luncheon for area pastors and staff, laypersons serving on SBC entities and "anyone who wants to come." Reservations must be made by 2 p.m., Aug. 24, by e-mailing Debbie Swart at debbies@fbcs.net or calling (479) 751-4523.

As of press time, 1,300 prayer partners had registered through the site.

Compiled by Baptist Press assistant editor Mark Kelly.

IBSA Prayer Ministries