SBC President Johnny Hunt

Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt is calling all Southern Baptists to a special day of prayer on Jan. 31 to help us all focus on seeking God’s will as major decisions impacting the denomination are made in 2010.

The president specifically cited the meetings of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, the God’s Plan for Sharing effort (which will bring the “Find it Here” door-to-door evangelistic campaign here in Kentucky), and the work of search committees for three of the entities — the Executive Committee, the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, along with the general moral decline in America as major reasons for calling all Baptists to a special season of prayer. Here in Kentucky, we can also add our own KBC Great Commission Task Force, which starts work Jan. 5, to the prayer list.

Hunt is asking pastors to incorporate a season of prayer for our denomination into regular worship services on Sunday, Jan. 31, and to 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.)
• Wisdom for the members of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force as they prepare their report in February. (See Jer. 33:3; James 1:5.)
• Guidance for the search committees for presidents of the Executive Committee, the International Mission Board, and the North American Mission Board. (See Prov. 3:5-6, 13, 15:22, 27:17; Acts 1:21-26.)

Hopefully these are all things we are already praying for but a time of focused prayer is certainly appropriate. This could be a very important year for Southern Baptists and it is essential that we keep our focus on God and off of personal agendas.