(Photo: The Christian Post/Sonny Hong)
Christian Post Report – Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, speaks on the opening night of 2014 SBC Pastors’ Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday, June 8, 2014.
SBC President Ronnie Floyd led prayers for the next spiritual awakening during the denomination’s annual meeting on Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio.
The night started with a worship prelude led by SBC music director and global worship pastor Julio Arriola. Leading the prayer, Floyd asserted the need for a spiritual revival in the U.S.
“The only thing that can reshape America is the next spiritual awakening and the next move of God,” said the senior pastor at Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas. “When you look at it historically, there is no great movement of God that is not first exceeded by the extraordinary prayer of God’s people.
Floyd added: “What is extraordinary prayer? It is praying beyond the ordinary. When was the last time you gathered with thousands on a Tuesday in the summer and prayed for spiritual awakening in the U.S.?”
The pastor also asked the audience to consider the phrase, “What if God,” which Paul said in Romans Chapter 9.
“We have full confidence in God and God alone,” said Floyd. “God can do more in a moment than you can ever do in a lifetime. Its not coincidental we are here, with God, all things are possible.”
The event lasted almost two hours with thousands of people praying for the next great awakening as well as for church growth, acceleration of the Gospel, and the unity of all people in the Gospel, among many other issues. Prayers of repentance for mistrust and pride in the church, prayerlessness, sexual depravity, abortion and the lack of cooperation amongst churches were also offered.
In a call to prayer specifically for racial reconciliation, pastors of differing races came together for a hug onstage. Floyd led a prayer for repentance from the sin of racism and prejudice and prayed for the commitment to come together in the unity of the Gospel.
“Pray for America, a country that is broken, fragile, divided, where racism and prejudice is ruling,” said the pastor. “We will lead the way, modeling true unity that’s really only found in the redemption of Jesus Christ. Let’s pray for our country to come together to seesaw the division caused by racism and prejudice.
“Lord, hear our prayer for our country tonight, in the name of Jesus hear our prayer for our nation — that our nation will come together and we, as the church of Jesus, will be the hope for cities, towns, and relationships. It is only possible because of your redemptive work. It’s only found in Christ.”
Speakers during the call for prayer included Ken Whitten of Idlewild Baptist church in Lutz, Florida; Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas; and K. Marshall Williams of Nazarene Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
Source : Christian Post