Archive for January, 2014
This Week at Cross Church | Cross Church is Here for You and Your Family
Cross Church is here for you and your family. This is why we have created a new, helpful, biblical series that will address one of the biggest issues in family, government, and culture.
CHAINED: Breaking Free Financially Continues
This new series will continue this week with a very exciting message, “Creating Financial Margin.” I cannot wait to share it with you. As we address this heart issue, we pray God will use it in your life greatly. Remember, we are doing this series for you and your family. Each of us needs every message and challenge. Bring people with you. Lots of people are interested in receiving help with their finances – whether they regularly attend church or not.
A Report from the Atlanta Prayer Gathering
Thank you for praying for our SBC Senior Pastors’ and Ministers’ Prayer Gathering for Revival and Awakening. We had a total of 374 Pastors/Ministers registered from 28 states, representing 180 churches and 19 national SBC entities, conventions, or ministries. For those who prayed for us and with us, thank you. God met with us powerfully. Here is my report from yesterday if you would like to read further.
Cross Church Maine Launches with 208 Present
Dr. Aaron Werner reported early Sunday afternoon that Cross Church Maine in Portland launched with 208 people present, even with icy conditions! This is absolutely miraculous. Leaders have told Aaron this is the second or possibly the largest SBC church launch in the history of New England! Wow! Just think what would have happened if these weather conditions had not existed on Sunday. Praise God for answered prayer.
1,000 Thank Yous for Praying…See you Sunday!
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
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.