NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 2012 PHOTO GALLERY

PASTOR BRIAN WILLIAMS, BROKEN CHAINS CHURCH

THE STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX - SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS

OPENING WITH PSALM 33

SENATOR SAM MCCANN CHALLENGES US TO PRAY

The Official National Day of Prayer Observance in the Capitol City of the state of Illinois is always a powerful time of outreach and intercession. Since the new era began in 2006, under direction of the Holy Spirit, we have progressed from a programmed prayer event to worship services in the past two years, to a full evangelistic revival type of atmosphere this year. 

PASTOR TONY FAETH. SEN. SAM MCCANN (RIGHT)

This format does not follow any pattern of other cities and we stay clear of any politicians, unless it is the Mayor of Springfield. This is the people's event....and this year, the people supported it and came out in the largest turnout in seven years! Thousands more heard the hour-long event broadcast later that night on Christian Radio on WLUJ 89.7 FM and over the internet. (Springfield's Mayor usually reads the City Proclamation. If I ever have a politician praying on the platform in the future, he or she will be a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.)

SOME OF OUR WORSHIPPERS

FBC PASTOR MIKE HENDERSON

The theme this year was "ONE NATION UNDER GOD", but the theme I set out for Springfield was "What do I do now?" based on 1 Corinthians 14:15. This theme was fleshed out for days on this blog and on Facebook to the many hundreds who read and scores on Facebook who signed up as attending. The Holy Spirit threaded a thick thread of Repentance; Deliverance; Unity; Love and Salvation.

The revival atmosphere came with the preaching of the raw Gospel because we wanted people to know that they MUST BE SAVED not just to go to heaven, but to help others here on earth to get there. Also, just as important is this fact - God does NOT hear the prayers of an unrighteous (or unsaved) person!

AGES RANGED FROM 3 AND UP!

MANY SOUGHT SHELTER IN SHADE

PASTOR MERLE BUERKETT, NO MOUNTAIN TOO HIGH

The Worship Music was simple, rich and anointed without a rock band atmosphere...as I wanted simple and straight down the middle. The fellowship was even sweeter and the saints were loving on each other! The press ignored us, but who cares! Several Christian State Senators joined us, including my Christian brother and Senator Sam McCann. 
Most of all, the Gospel was preached and several unsaved people I invited stayed for the entire program and seemed to even enjoy it! They heard the Truth, now they must ask themselves "What Do I Do Now"?! 

THIS INDEPENDENT EVENT IS A MINISTRY OF BUSINESS MEN IN CHRIST.

OUR CO-SPONSOR IS CHRISTIAN RADIO FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS, WLUJ 89.7 WHICH CAN BE HEARD FROM KEOKUK, IOWA TO BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL TO DECATUR AND SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

RUN UP TO NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 2012

DAY 1:  "WHAT AM I TO DO?"

KEY VERSE: What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.(1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV)


In less than 72 hours, American observes the Annual National Day of Prayer. Many events will be held around the nation, both in the public square and in churches. This is a good thing. Here in the middle of the heartland, in the Capitol City of the state of Illinois, we choose to acknowledge this day according to the wishes of God - by means of Worship.

We assemble at the Illinois State Capitol Steps for the official Springfield observance, as we have since the event returned to its Biblical roots in 2006, when Springfield/Decatur Business Men in Christ assumed leadership. (Click here for the more details on that event). We pray and press in to the Heart of God on behalf of the Community and Nation, but more importantly for families and our dear children who are under assault by an increasingly hostile secular establishment. I have a different focus than some others. My emphasis as the facilitator of this, and any event which I organize, is to have the people of God assemble to worship. I even invite those who are not saved, to come and fellowship, in hope that when I give the Salvation message, they will grab a hold of the Gospel and repent.


As both a street and formal evangelist, I am a student of Revival and know that Repentance is the Key to Revival. After Repentance, comes more and more crying out to Abba Father. We cry out in hope and expectation, and give Him permission to invade every aspect of our lives - both personal and corporate - in order that He may draw us closer to Him. To that effect, the prayer leaders I invite annually, will not be the politically-connected pastor or the activist or ministry leader. Prayer leaders who are filled with the Spirit of God, from any Christian denomination are the ones who can execute this assignment to "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING"!


The question above, from our Key Verse for National Day of Prayer week in America, at least here in the Illinois State Capitol is "WHAT AM I TO DO"?! Well, our first assignment is to pick up the mantle of prayer! First Thessalonians 5:17 exhorts us to "pray without ceasing". That simply means, from the original text "do not let there be a gap between your prayers, from one day to the next". This should awaken us to the fact that most Christians do not pray! The average christian man prays less than 2 minutes per day. Even worse, the average pastor prays only an average of 10 minutes per day! 


As the nation heads down the road to a coming Judgment, the people of God are called on to be, well, the people of God! Therefore, in order that we not neglect so great a salvation and calling from our Father in Heaven to maintain our daily relationship with Him, I suggest we adopt this key verse from today into our walk with the Lord.


In addition to our 2012 verse above, there is no better way to start the day with Jesus than to grab a hold of this Scripture and savor it " praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication".


The Kingdom of God is what's at stake for us and our children. Dig into this verse and keep watch, pray without ceasing this day and persevere not only in prayer, but in loving someone else to Jesus. Amen.

(image courtesy google)