WINSTON COUNTY - An urgent plea is being made for prayer across Winston County in the face of troubles facing the nation, as well as what is being described as a pivotal general election in just a few weeks.
Churches across Winston County are urged to step up as prayer warriors and begin the 21 Days of Prayer campaign, to unify those of different religious backgrounds in the concept of prayer in the face of troubled times, stressed Dawn Tucker, ministry assistant for the Winston County Baptist Association.
Although the Baptist Association is sending our a plea for prayers, the concept needs to be shared across all different denominations or all types of religious groups, organizers stated.
The 21 Days of Prayer campaign began Monday, Oct. 13, at the annual Winston County Baptist Association meeting at Arley First Baptist Church and will continue until Sunday, Nov. 3, when the public is invited to a community prayer assembly and meal at the Baptist Association building on Highway 195 in Double Springs, organizers said.
The prayer campaign will conclude the Sunday before the general election set for Tuesday, Nov. 5, according to organizers.
During the 21 Days of Prayer, participants are urged to contact Tucker either at the Baptist Association at 205-489-5137 or by cell phone at 205-272-0652 to obtain a chart giving a line by line space for those praying to keep a daily log of their prayer activity.
“Please choose a day and commit to everyone in the church praying on that day for the upcoming election and our country as a whole,” read information placed by organizers under the chart.
Tucker stressed the 21 Days of Prayer was started with the concept of praying for the state of the nation, but is also for strength and guidance for local leaders, law enforcement, etc.
“It’s people who are in positions of authority, who don’t want to honor the things of God,” Tucker noted, concerning what she described as the present state of the nation.
“It doesn’t matter what party you are. There is evil in our government that needs to be revealed and removed,” Tucker emphasized. “We end up becoming so busy with worldly things and our lives that we try to compartmentalize prayer, and you can’t do that.
“We’re supposed to seek (God) first,” Tucker continued. “Prayer should be the first thing we do, before we do anything.”
The Holy Bible passage of II Chronicles chapter 7, verses 14-15 reads, “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 heal their land.”
Religious people should not, Tucker pointed out, sit idly by and allow untruths to plague the nation or any area.
“Our country is in a mess, period. We’re very isolated here in Winston County. I love that, but at some point, it’s going to trickle down, even to the smaller communities, the troubles we’re seeing,” Tucker further pointed out. “We are seeing it on a small scale, but we’re going to see more.”
The Baptist Association sent out a message to churches across Winston County, urging them to take part in the ongoing 21 Days of Prayer.
Churches are being urged to take part in the observance by organizing prayer from a group or individuals or to have a public assembly urging others in the communities to come in and take part, according to organizers.
“I pray each church will discuss and participate in this challenge,” wrote Tucker, who has been joined in the plea by Phyllis Watts, ministry assistant of the Baptist Association.
“I am guilty of sometimes rushing my prayer life,” they wrote in the letter.
“It is important to start with the top of our country’s leadership and pray a change into this world, not only for our comfort, but for the One who might be reached by our actions.
“Often, we do not consider ourselves warriors,” the letter continued. “But the scripture tells us to rise and put on the whole armor of God.”
This statement was referring to a passage found in the book of Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 11-18 in the Holy Bible.
“It is a heavy weight to think of our children and grandchildren not being able to enjoy the freedoms we have taken for granted,” Tucker and Watts submitted in the letter. “Please join us in this challenge and let it start with us.”
“It’s a turning back to God,” Watts noted. “We’re just asking that you spend time in prayer. Set aside time to pray.”
Winston County Sheriff Caleb Snoddy noted he was looking forward to the prayer campaign.
“For not just our leaders, but the county as a whole,” Snoddy stated. “Winston County and Americans have been given the spiritual tools to help with the realignment of this country, and the most powerful of these is prayer.
“I firmly believe,” the sheriff added, “that this is one of the most important functions we have as citizens and as members of this free state.
“And the term free state is significant to me, as I also believe like the Constitution says, we have certain rights endowed to us by our Creator, and freedom to me is the most cherished of these,” Snoddy continued.
James Rickett, member of Arley First Baptist Church, is urging everyone to come together to pray in order to make a difference in the future of the nation.
“We’re in pitiful shape right now,” Rickett pointed out. “If the voting doesn’t go right, I don’t see us surviving it, to tell you the truth. I don’t see us getting out of it.
“This is probably the most important election in my lifetime,” Rickett further pointed out. “This will determine what happens in this country, no doubt in my mind.
“(Prayer) is the only thing that’s going to make things right. There’s nothing else,” Rickett pointed out. “That is what’s going to help get everything fixed.
“Don’t make any hasty decisions,” Rickett added. “And don’t go with the crowd. Just because a crowd does something that’s not right. Pray about it. If it’s not right, don’t do it.”
“Let’s get back to putting God first,” Tucker concluded.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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