“Brothers and sisters, when elected officials start asking us to pray, it is time to pray!”

It was powerful! Last week, over 150 Redemption Ministries pastors, ministry leaders and wives joined Virginia House Majority Leader Delegate Kirk Cox in standing in the gap and praying for our nation.  Redemption Ministries is the eastern Virginia and North Carolina arm of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church denomination and includes over 100 churches and affiliates.

Redemption Ministries Bishop Dayton Birt attended a powerful PrayUSA event in Williamsburg, Virginia last month and was so moved he contacted a PrayUSA volunteer and asked if he could have a Call to Prayer Proclamation ceremony at his pastor conference in October.  The volunteer went to work and secured Delegate Cox to attend and call the pastors to prayer.

Delegate Cox, a deacon at a local Baptist church, called on the pastors to stand in the gap for our nation and to take the message of prayer and the PrayUSA proclamation back to their congregations.  He referenced a recent series of messages that his pastor is currently preaching and quoted James 2:17, saying it is time to put our faith in gear because “faith without works is dead.”

Bishop Birt shared how moved he was by the PrayUSA event in Williamsburg and wanted the pastors under him to experience the same dynamic.  He then introduced the presiding Bishop over the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Dr. Doug Beacham.  Dr. Beacham gave an impassioned plea for the pastors to cry out to the Lord for our nation and to take a proclamation with them and schedule a PrayUSA Sunday at their churches.  He said, “Brothers and sisters, when elected officials start asking us to pray, it is time to pray!”

After Dr. Beacham spoke, there was an extended time of prayer for the nation while all who were present were invited to come to the front to sign the proclamation.  Afterwards, dozens of pastors came to the table in the back of the auditorium to pick up a copy of the proclamation to take back to their churches and call their congregations to repentance and prayer for our nation.

Your church can participate as well—the process is easy. If you are willing to become engaged and help promote this Initiative, a three-minute video and downloadable resource kits are available at www.PrayUSA.com. Everything you need is right there, including: instructions, bulletins, flyers, posters, a PowerPoint slide, sample emails, social media tips and much more! Will you carry the torch with us?