Inaugural Week of Prayer, Myers-Mallory offering set for September

The inaugural Week of Prayer for State Missions has been set for Sept. 11–18, and churches across Alabama are preparing for the historic launch.

“We’ve been really impressed with how well the idea has taken hold,” said Rick Lance, state missionary and executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM). “Our churches realize the great need for God to move in our state, and the momentum is growing to make this Week of Prayer a real landmark occasion for the state of Alabama and for our Alabama Baptist churches.”

‘Get excited’

Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) Executive Director Candace McIntosh feels the same. “When I think about the thousands of Alabama Baptists who will be agreeing together in prayer, I can’t help but get excited about how the Lord will respond to our petitions,” she said.

Every pastor in the state received a mailer about the Week of Prayer that coincides with the inaugural Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering, and the requests for promotional material and education pieces began to arrive soon after the mailing.

“The staff of Alabama WMU and SBOM joined together to fill hundreds of orders for promotional materials in early August, and the second batch is on its way now,” McIntosh said. “We will be mailing out prayer guides, posters and offering envelopes right up to the Week of Prayer and even beyond because some churches choose to observe it at a different date.”

Although the Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering coincides with the Week of Prayer, funds are received for the state missions offering throughout the year. Each day of the Week of Prayer guide focuses on one of the Great Commission Ministries that stands to benefit from the Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering.

In addition to a daily prayer guide that can be inserted into worship bulletins, churches also have access to five videos, including a short promotional video, a feature about the Myers-Mallory offering namesakes and three features about some of the people and ministries introduced in the prayer guide.

Doug Rogers, state missionary and SBOM communications director, said, “The Week of Prayer videos make perfect companions to the prayer guide, whether viewed personally or in a worship service or prayer gathering. The power of video to make stories come alive will allow Alabama Baptists to see and hear from several people who lead ministries which directly benefit from their prayers and offering gifts.”

Lance noted, “We will never have another opportunity to observe the first-ever Week of Prayer for State Missions and Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering. That’s why it’s so exciting to see it taking root and really permeating our churches. We are truly part of something historic in the life of Alabama Baptists. I hope every single church will get involved and really commit to praying fervently for these Great Commission Ministries during the Week of Prayer for State Missions.”

(SBOM)