Archive for October, 2017
Denominations, Conventions, and Networks, Join Us in Praying for America in 2018
While the churches of America are God’s footprints in our nation, denominations, conventions, and networks provide leadership, organization, and service to these churches. There are over 200 denominations in America. Additionally, there are many groups that function like a denomination, but do not label themselves as one.
While some of these groups may come together around their doctrine or mission, others come together around both. While the doctrinal, missional, and practical variances are real among these groups, is there anything we can do together?
There is at Least One Thing We Can Do Together: Pray for America
If Christians are going to have a big impact upon America, we need to speak less about how we are different and speak more about what we can do together to advance the name, power, and gospel of Jesus Christ across America. While it would be unwise to collaborate on some things because of these differences, there is for certain one thing it is wise to do together: pray for our nation.
I believe the next great move of God in America will lead to ways for evangelicals to work together for the gospel. While walls of doctrinal conviction will remain strong, doors will open to cooperate with one another for prayer and gospel advancement in our nation.
Therefore, denominations, conventions, and networks can at least do one thing together: Pray for America. The evangelical denominations, conventions, and networks in America should stand strong together on the National Day of Prayer on May 3, 2018. God has given us an extraordinary opportunity to proclaim that we believe in the power of prayer, including prayer for our nation. We need to become proclaimers of hope for our nation.
4 Requests for Every Denomination, Convention, and Network
A National Day of Prayer has been observed on the first Thursday of May since 1988. On Thursday, May 3, 2018, we will observe thousands of gatherings across America on the National Day of Prayer. Denominations, conventions and networks can stand together to pray for our nation on this day. Here are our four requests:
1. Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 3, 2018.
Plan now and prioritize this opportunity to lead your churches to provide leadership and be active participants in the National Day of Prayer. Please understand that the National Day of Prayer provides a unique opportunity to engage all kinds of people within the community who love America and hope for its best. This is a powerful opportunity to stand up and stand together in each town, community, and city in America.
2. Lead your denomination, convention, or network to provide leadership and be active participants in the National Day of Prayer.
Many churches will do what they are asked and encouraged to do if they know their own denomination, convention, or network is doing something together. Therefore, I appeal to all denomination, convention, and network leaders to lead the way and encourage this prayer initiative that calls upon each of us to pray for America.
3. Mobilize your employees, associations, and churches to pray for America.
The National Day of Prayer serves as an open door to be a great gospel witness in every town, community, and city. Yet, it is only as effective as the spiritual, civic, community, and business leaders make it as they call upon the people they lead to pray for America.
The National Day of Prayer mobilizes unified public prayer for America. Let’s join in this grand effort to mobilize as many Americans as possible to pray for America.
30,000 prayer gatherings last year drew an estimated 2 million people in America, and engaged eighty countries around the world through technology. Just imagine what would happen if denominations, conventions, networks, and churches would cooperate on this day to pray for America.
4. Determine to make a difference.
There are things we do that are good, but they do not make a difference in the community. Leading and mobilizing people to pray for America on May 3, 2018, will make a difference!
As I stated in my article last week, many people who will engage in a National Day of Prayer observance may not know Christ personally, but this service or observance can introduce them in a positive, non-threatening way to the things of God and the claims of Jesus Christ.
We Are Ready to Help You
Go to our National Day of Prayer website and learn more about how you can lead your denomination, convention, or network to mobilize churches to host an observance in their community in 2018. Determine to become a strong leader and participant in the National Day of Prayer.
Lisa Crump, our Vice-President of Mobilization and Dion Elmore, our Vice-President who works with denominations, conventions, and networks, stand ready to work with you. You may reach them at lisa.crump@nationaldayofprayer.org and dion.elmore@nationaldayofprayer.org.
Let’s plan now to stand strong, participate, and even lead in the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Until then, we will pray for America daily.
Now is the Time to Lead and to Pray for America,
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, founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry, and host of the Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today podcast.
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
Pastors and Churches, Help Us Pray for America in 2018
The churches in America are God’s footprints in our nation. God’s churches are blessed and anointed by Him, and the greatest network our nation has. As President of the National Day of Prayer and Senior Pastor of a local church, I am convinced that we cannot complete our mission of mobilizing unified public prayer for America without the support of the pastors and churches in America. Our priority must be to mobilize pastors and churches to pray for America.
Appealing to Pastors and Churches
I appeal to pastors and churches in America, will you join us in praying for America in 2018? A National Day of Prayer has been observed on the first Thursday of May since 1988. When Thursday, May 3, 2018 comes, we will observe thousands of gatherings across America on the National Day of Prayer.
Just think what would happen if each pastor and church in America established a service or observance on the National Day of Prayer. What are the options?
- Connect with and mobilize your church to an existing observance somewhere in your community.
- Create a new observance in your community in order to mobilize more people to pray for our nation.
- Realize you can create as many observances in your community as desired and there will still not be enough to mobilize your entire community to pray for America
There should be a day in America where at least 100,000 gatherings for prayer occur on the National Day of Prayer. It is my hope that every Christ follower would want to join with others to pray for America on the National Day of Prayer.
What I Wish I Could Tell Every Pastor and Church in America
If I had the opportunity to personally speak with every pastor and church in America, I would explain that the National Day of Prayer provides a unique opportunity to engage all kinds of people in their communities who love America and hope for its best. Some of these community members may not know Christ personally, but this service or observance can introduce them in a positive, non-threatening way to the things of God and the claims of Jesus Christ.
The people of America love our nation. They realize our nation is broken and in trouble. Most also realize it will take some kind of divine intervention to see our nation go forward together positively.
This is where the National Day of Prayer comes in – to provide the way to connect with one another in a positive, unifying way to pray for America. The National Day of Prayer belongs to all Americans. It is a day where this country can unify over what really matters: praying for America.
What’s Next for Pastors and Churches
Please mark Thursday, May 3, 2018, on your personal and church calendar. Determine to schedule the National Day of Prayer as a priority on your personal and church calendar.
Go to our National Day of Prayer website and sign up to host an observance in your community in 2018. Talk to your staff team or church leaders, and determine to become a strong participant in the National Day of Prayer.
Evangelical Christians Should Stand Strong
The church in America should stand strong on the National Day of Prayer in thousands upon thousands of gatherings, proclaiming we believe in the power of prayer, even prayer for our nation. We need to become proclaimers of hope for our nation.
I appeal to all pastors and churches in America: On Thursday, May 3, 2018, let’s plan now to stand strong, participate, and even lead in the National Day of Prayer in our communities. Until then, we will pray for America daily.
Now is the Time to Lead and to Pray,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, National Day of Prayer
*******
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, President of the National Day of Prayer, founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry, and host of the Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today podcast.
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