Archive for the 'Pastors' Category
God is Raising up Pastors With a Heart to See Revival and Awakening: A Report on Atlanta
God is up to something special in America. As I leave our prayer gathering, I am convinced more than ever that the Lord is stirring up men of God all across this nation.
What I witnessed
I witnessed several hundred pastors and ministers:
- Crying out to God for revival and awakening
- Lying on their faces in humility, pouring out their prayers not just for others, but for their own spiritual condition
- Praying for one another
- Interceding for the churches of America
- Developing a growing burden for the world to be reached for Jesus Christ.
- Worshipping with all their might
- Pleading with God for spiritual awakening in America
Words cannot describe all we each witnessed in our time together. If you want to read more reports than what I am able to give here, search Twitter for #prayingpastors.
Why I am encouraged
The only answer in the church and in our nation is a major move of God and He is placing a strong burden and growing desperation in our midst. While I saw this in our Dallas gathering in the fall, God intensified it in Atlanta this week. This is occurring because of extraordinary prayer.
When the men of God gather to pray, faith is developed and hope is restored. As the song says, we begin to “believe again.” Jesus said,
“And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” Matthew 13:58 (ESV)
God is raising up a generation of pastors who are biblically-based, theologically-balanced, spiritually-empowered, and are committed to see revival and awakening in their generation. We are the revival generation.
What’s next
Many pastors were asking, “When is the next prayer gathering? What is next?” We have no plans for another gathering at this point. We did not when we left Dallas. You have to understand, we were just gathering a few pastors together to pray, and the Lord blossomed it beyond our expectation. The Atlanta gathering was twice as large as the Dallas gathering.
What I have encouraged pastors to do, is to go home and pray. If they believe God wants to do something in their region, they know the principles that have been taught them. Therefore, if God creates the burden in them, lead it in their own region and state. God will see them through just as He has us.
We need a spiritual movement to arise in every state in our great nation, led by pastors, to move God’s people to extraordinary prayer. God is doing something. Therefore, if you are a pastor reading this today, pray and lead. God will see you through.
We must
We must reach this world for Jesus Christ. The hour is critical. The time is short. This is why we need to practice extraordinary prayer.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Wherever You are Located, Will You Join Us in Praying for Revival and Awakening Monday Night and Tuesday Morning?
Be encouraged: We are moving towards 400 Southern Baptist Convention Senior Pastors and Ministers in attendance in Atlanta to pray for revival in the church and spiritual awakening in America.
Why we are gathering
While we are encouraged by reports of God’s work in many churches in America, we are all aware of the great need for spiritual revival in the church. We need a fresh, mighty moving of God that awakens the church from spiritual slumber and moves us into an aggressive mobilization to see America and the world come to faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone for their eternal salvation.
When the church is experiencing revival, spiritual awakening can occur in America. This awakening is so needed. When God comes upon the church, the church is mobilized, resulting in great numbers of people coming to Jesus Christ. When this occurs, regions are impacted, families begin to live differently, cultures can be changed, and cities can be shaken for Christ.
Nothing can move the heart of God like people crying out to Him in prayer. This is what we will do in Atlanta beginning Monday night and again on Tuesday morning. It is not a conference, but a prayer gathering. It is not a preaching event, but a prayer movement experience.
Where these Pastors and Ministers are coming from
As of this moment on Monday morning, we have 354 registered from 28 states, coming from at least 172 local churches and 18 conventions, entities or ministries. Wow! What an impact. God is creating an enormous burden for revival and awakening in the lives of spiritual leaders. Many others have shared regrets that they are unable to attend due to unchangeable commitments or prohibitive travel expenses.
Pastors, Ministers, and Laypeople, PRAY with us wherever you are
God is not contained by space and location. We need thousands of believers to pray with us for revival and awakening. We will be praying from:
Monday: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (EST)
Tuesday: 8:15 am. – 12:00 noon (EST)
Would you take a few minutes or the entire time to join us wherever you are? Pray for a mighty move of God.
When you read these words, hopefully your heart will be encouraged:
And in movements of the Spirit the first thing that happens and which eventually leads to a great revival is that one man or a group of men suddenly begin to feel this burden and they feel the burden so much that they are led to do something about it. (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, REVIVAL, p. 163)
This is why we are gathering to pray.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.