Archive for the 'National Day of Prayer' Category
Ronnie Floyd Delivers Message of Love and Racial Unity at Mother Emmanuel AME Church
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Nearly three and a half years after a white supremacist killed nine parishioners at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Ronnie Floyd took the pulpit to deliver a message of love and racial unity and reconciliation.
“Racism is the most tragic sin in this nation’s history and present,” Dr. Floyd said. “Racism is an assault on the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s completely opposite to the message of love.”
“When you belong to Jesus, you belong to love, and you forfeit your right to choose whom you will love. Love is the better way. Love is God’s way.”
Dr. Floyd, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, was a guest speaker at the annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Marshall Blalock, president of SCBC and pastor of the historic First Baptist Church in Charleston, was behind Tuesday’s event. He moved the convention’s evening session for that day to the 200-year-old Mother Emanuel Church and invited Dr. Floyd to come speak from Arkansas, turning the evening into a special worship service between South Carolina Baptists and the church’s parishioners.
“We need to stop letting our nation define who we are. America needs to see the church rise up as one, which is the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Dr. Floyd said to audible agreement from the audience. “We are not black churches, we are not white churches, we are not Latino churches, we are not Asian churches, we are not Native American churches — we are the church of Jesus Christ.”
During his tenure as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Floyd made racial reconciliation a priority for America’s largest Protestant denomination. In the wake of the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Mo., and following the 2015 mass shooting at Mother Emanuel, Dr. Floyd and Dr. Jerry Young, president of the predominantly African-American National Baptist Convention, came together to build unity between black and white Baptists. Their groundbreaking efforts were highlighted in the New York Times.
Dr. Floyd’s message paralleled the recently unveiled theme for next year’s National Day of Prayer on May 2, 2019: “Love One Another.” The theme comes from the words of Jesus in John 13:34, “Love one another. Just as I have loved you.”
As president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, Dr. Floyd oversees the team that each year mobilizes millions of Americans to participate in prayer gatherings across the United States.
In 2018, an estimated 50,000 gatherings across all 50 states were held on the National Day of Prayer. More than 1 million people from 38 countries have viewed the broadcast of the National Observance, which was held at National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Floyd reminded the audience that Christians would not be known by their creeds, songs, doctrinal statements, achievements or the color of their skin.
“Jesus said you are only known by his love, and his love through you,” Dr. Floyd said.
Media note: Dr. Ronnie Floyd is available for interview. Please email mediainquiries@thekcompany.co to schedule an interview.
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the senior pastor of Cross Church and president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, which each year mobilizes millions of Americans to unified public prayer for the United States of America. He’s the author of “Living Fit: Make Your Life Count by Pursuing a Healthy You.” Follow him on Twitter @ronniefloyd.
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
National Leadership Summit of the National Day of Prayer was a Huge Success … Let Us Tell You About It
The National Leadership Summit of the National Day of Prayer held last week on October 29-30 was a huge success:
- Registration & attendance was outstanding in comparison to recent years
- Worship was powerful
- Teaching, preaching, and equipping was strong
- Vision was clear and compelling
- 2019 theme was released
- Response of the audience was over the top
- People left knowing where we are going and what we will be communicating. They left equipped, inspired, and motivated to the future.
The 2018 National Leadership Summit was an overwhelming success. May God alone be praised.
Let those who attended the Summit tell you their personal response!
Listen to these encouraging testimonies from participants of the Summit:
“As a public school teacher in the interior of Alaska, I was especially touched by the morning sessions on Tuesday. It is my sincere prayer that the afterglow that I bring with me will ripple out across my state and touch each NDP coordinator who so generously volunteers their time, effort, and heart for unified public prayer in this great land.”
-Andie Rice, Alaska National Day of Prayer State Coordinator
“The Summit was amazing! Thank you for everything.”
-Curtis and Sylvia Johnson, California National Day of Prayer State Coordinators
“But I have to say, when you announced the 2019 theme, Love One Another, the crowd roared, clapped and gave a standing ovation! It was riveting!”
-Pat Chen, Board of Directors, National Day of Prayer, Maryland
“The National Day of Prayer leadership summit was a tremendous encouragement to seek the Lord more, coupled with more fasting to receive greater understanding of God’s purpose and agenda in all seasons of life.”
-Rex Tonkins, Colorado State Coordinator
“Gathering with NDP leaders from across the nation releases powerful encouragement and equipping for our prayer assignments, refreshing us like a wonderful family reunion.”
-Rick and Sarah Lowe, South Central National Area Leaders
“BLESSED and HONORED to be part of such an awesome, inspiring, challenging and anointed Leadership Summit in Arkansas, climaxing with the revealing of the 2019 theme, which is straight from the Throne of Heaven. Thank you, Dr. Floyd and National Team. Pray on!”
-David Franklin, Georgia State Coordinator
From Some of Our Speakers:
“As we gathered at the National Day of Prayer Leadership Summit, I sensed the Holy Spirit’s clarion call to unity, experienced Father God’s mighty presence, and was inspired to live out Jesus’ never-ending mission to love one another as never before!”
-Trey Kent, Senior Pastor, Northwest Fellowship, Austin, Texas
“The NDP Leadership Summit was a spiritual event with great worship, passionate prayer, informative sessions, and genuine excitement about this year’s theme -‘Love 1 Another’ I loved it!”
-Kie Bowman, Senior Pastor, Hyde Park Baptist/The Quarries Church, Austin, Texas
“The theme of Love One Another touches the great issue of our divided nation. The church needs a nationwide baptism of love for God, for each other, and for those far from God.”
-Bill Elliff, The Summit Church, North Little Rock, Arkansas
I hope you can tell from these few statements how powerful the Summit really was. God was here. It was special. Share this with friends and let’s plan now to make the 2019 National Day of Prayer grand to the glory of God!
The theme is already impacting unprecedented numbers!
Millions have already been exposed to the 2019 theme, LOVE ONE ANOTHER. According to specialists in the communication field, the 2019 theme for the National Day of Prayer is off to an excellent launch. Let me remind you to advance, forward, plan, and live out this theme. You can download the graphic here to share everywhere. You can watch the presentation of the theme right here. Share it!
Thank you for all you are doing to mobilize unified public prayer for America.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, National Day of Prayer
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, President of the National Day of Prayer, and founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.