National Day of Prayer


 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14





Dear Praying Friends:
From now through November, we are likely to see more serious, focused, deliberate, organized prayer efforts among American christians than in our lifetimes. Those in the "Intercessory Prayer Movement" will organize and participate in private and public church and community prayer meetings, prayer rallies, solemn assemblies, prayer conference calls, 40 day fasts, prayer walls and prayer conferences: small and large. The burgeoning prayer movement may be the brightest light on America's horizon because God promises us that heartfelt repentant prayer and seeking His Face is the key to our nation's healing. We intend to apprise you of significant prayer endeavors in the coming months. We cannot follow them all, but there are three that we will repeatedly highlight: National Day of Prayer, May 3, Call2Fall, July 1, and The Summons, October 4-7.
National Day of Prayer, Thursday May 3, 2012 - Just one week away, Thursday, May 3rd, believers across America will observe America's 61st annual National Day of Prayer (NDP). Over 50,000 NDP prayer events will take place across America. If you have not made plans, visit the official Task Force site to Find an Event in your area!
The National Observance on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, will take place from 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon EDT, and will be broadcast LIVE via webcast and through GOD TV and Direct TV (Channel 365). Presenters will include NDP Honorary Chairman, Dr. David Jeremiah, Dr. James Dobson, Shirley Dobson, Bishop Harry Jackson and others.
FRC will host NDP's private men's prayer meeting on Wednesday, May 2. Leading the meeting will be Dr. David Jeremiah, Judge Francisco Firmat, Tony Perkins, Dr. Kenyn Cureton and John Bornschein. The by-invitation-only meeting, will be webcast live, allowing men across the nation to participate (the video will be archived).
The National Day of Prayer (NDP) is an anchor for the prayer movement (see History). It has played a huge role in restoring prayer to our churches and nation. Congress passed a resolution to establish the National Day of Prayer in 1952 and President Harry S. Truman signed it into law. In 1988, due to the lobbying efforts of Vonette Bright (wife of the late Dr. Bill Bright and founder of the National Prayer Committee), President Ronald Reagan signed a law designating the first Thursday in May as the official day to observe NDP each year. Later, Shirley Dobson (wife of Dr. James Dobson) became chairman of the NDP Task Force, which has facilitated NDP events across the nation, and helped catalyze a prayer movement that has powerfully impacted America's churches and given a public face to the nationwide prayer movement.
  • May God stir his people to make the National Day of Prayer a solemn assembly unto the Lord. May it grow in numbers and power and may God hear the united prayers of his people! Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to live in a nation whose Forefathers were praying men. Thank your for those who labored to make this event possible! May God now use this great day to stir America to prayer and, ultimately, to make every day a National Day of Prayer for our nation!!! (2 Chr 7:14; Joel 1:14; 2:15-17; 1 Tim 2:1-8; Re 8:3-5)
Call2Fall, July 1, 2012 - The Family Research Council functions in part as a Christian "think tank" headquartered in our nation's capital. Our credentialed experts research the best social science available to inform the public and especially those in leadership - pastors, educators, elected officials, etc. We are also active advocates for "Faith, Family and Freedom" in local churches, communities, the media, and the halls of learning and political power. We serve as a voice for Biblical values like human life, American families and religious liberty. We stand with pastors in their efforts to be salt and light in their communities. We are deeply aware that our ministry's effectiveness is tied to the vitality and effectiveness of America's churches, and that the destiny of our nation is tied to our response to God's call in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
In 2009, in a very unique and specific way, God led FRC President Tony Perkins to initiate the Call2Fall. Together with his Pastors Council, leading pastors from across America, they urged pastors and churches to take part of their regular Sunday worship service (the Sunday nearest Independence Day), to call the members of their Congregation to repentant prayer for America, spending at least 5 minutes on their knees to declare our nation's dependence upon God - before we celebrate Independence Day with picnics and fireworks. Several thousand churches did so the first year and last year there were over one million people on their knees in churches in all 50 states. Throughout our history, America has known God's blessing like no other nation. We owe all to Him! That's why FRC is calling on churches to observe Call2Fall again this year, on Sunday, July 1, 2012.
A Nation on Verge of Economic and Moral Collapse - Clearly, we are watching all seven power centers in our culture (Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church, and Family) in moral and economic decline. An overreaching government, in its efforts to replace God as provider, is now imposing policies upon churches and families that violate their religious faith and liberty. The sanctity of life, marriage, family, even the control of our physical health from cradle to grave are under direct attack by operatives in government that have a clearly anti-Christian agenda. The psalmist asked: "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Ps 11:3). We must repent from looking to government to save us. We must return to GOD!
God Will Intervene to Heal Our Land if We Meet His Conditions - Please join us and enlist your pastor and friends. Call2Fall is another step toward a church-wide response to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Individuals whose churches do not participate can still enlist their prayer group or family. Point your pastor and friends to the Call2Fall Website, read the Blog and study the rich content yourself, then join believers across America in Call2Fall!
  • Pray that God will use Call2Fall to birth a new spirit of prayer and repentance in churches across America. May He help pastors to lead their churches in repentant prayer! May a new season of prayer and solemn assembly that moves God's heart begin across our nation! May God send revival to His Church and another Great Awakening to America! May our children inherit a land where Christ is honored as Savior and Lord. May America yet become a "city on a hill" to the nations (2 Chr 7:14; Jer 3:12; 4:1-4; Joel 1:13-15; 2:12-19; Mal 3:7a; Mt 4:5-6; Acts 3:19; Jas 4:10; 1 Pet 5:6).
I will tell you more about the The Summons in the weeks ahead. This is the year of God's favor. May He give us grace to take hold of the Horns of the Altar! The blood of Jesus Christ has been shed for our salvation and deliverance! Thank you for praying!

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