For more than two months Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) leaders, directors of missions and Alabama Baptists have gathered at or near every courthouse in the state as part of Praying Across Alabama (PAA). From Mobile to Jackson to Houston to Lauderdale counties, Alabama Baptists have covered the state, literally and figuratively, in prayer.
The statewide prayer initiative began Feb. 24 and ended in Blount County on May 2. Rick Lance, SBOM executive director, and other State Board leadership helped lead and coordinate each county’s prayer event. The emphasis included three regional prayer rallies as well as the daily email resource “A 60-Day Prayer Guide for Revival and Spiritual Awakening.”
Mike Jackson, PAA prayer coordinator and SBOM director of leadership and church health, said PAA was a “huge success.”
“God has used [PAA] to call His people to a season of prayer,” he said. “My hope is that the end result will be that Alabama Baptists gather on a regular basis to seek God through prayer for the promises of 2 Chronicles 7:14.”
Lance said PAA has been “an encouraging time” for state Baptists.
“As many as 7,500 people participated in the more than 75 venues. … People from all walks of life assembled for this special time of intercessory prayer.”
Jeff Gardner, pastor of First Baptist Church, St. Elmo, attended the Mobile County event. While there, he noticed a woman walk toward the group, he said.
“This lady ‘just happened’ to be walking down the sidewalk pulling a cart with some of her belongings (in) it,” Gardner said.
“We were singing ‘How Great is Our God’ and she stopped, obviously moved by the singing. … After a moment, a young lady from the crowd moved over to her and spoke with her. I saw the woman (with the cart) give an affirmative nod and then she began singing with us,” he continued.
“If Praying Across Alabama touched this one woman’s life then it has been worth the effort.”
Lance expressed his gratefulness to “Alabama Baptists for making [PAA] a priority.”
“Now we need to continue to ask our Lord for a spiritual awakening in our nation. May this effort be a step in that breakthrough.”
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