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Pastor's Page

Posted on October 13, 2004 ...

In less than three weeks Americans will go to the polls to elect numerous officials into places of government leadership. I believe that Christians should be the very best citizens. Therefore, I encourage you to do several things in these important days leading up to November 2. First, work diligently to BE INFORMED on the issues. In doing so, do not neglect the state and local issues regarding elections that are 'closer to home.' Second, commit that you will VOTE. The right to cast a ballot is fundamental to our form of government and a tremendous blessing from the Lord. It grieves me that only about one-half of eligible voters exercise this right on Election Day. But the most important word of advice I can give you is to PRAY. We may believe that our single vote is small and makes little difference. But there is no such thing as a 'small prayer.' Francis Frangipane recently wrote that the prayer of a Christlike intercessor is the most powerful force in the universe.

To that end, numerous prayer emphases are being organized across our nation. Some churches are orchestrating unbroken 24/7 prayer chains. I recently received an email from a retired missionary who told of a call for people across America to pray for one minute every night at 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) from now until Election Day. This followed a model organized in England during World War II.

In our church, a simple season of prayer is taking place in our Annex every Tuesday evening beginning at 6:30. This will be a time dedicated to praying together for our nation, our military, our elections, and for our own congregation's influence upon our community. The sole objective of these prayer times is that God be honored and glorified in everything we do. An extra special prayer emphasis will take place on Election Day, November 2. I urge you, both individually and collectively, to join in these days of prayer.

The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil everywhere. Prayer, in one phase of its operation, is a disinfectant and a preventative. It purifies the air; it destroys the contagion of evil. Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence. It is a voice which goes into God's ear, and it lives as long as God's ears open to holy pleas, as long as God's heart is alive to holy things. God shapes the world by prayer. E.M. Bounds.