SBC, Alabama Baptist leaders call for prayer

SBC, Alabama Baptist leaders call for prayer

United States air strikes targeting Saddam Hussein early March 20 in Baghdad launched a military campaign that Southern Baptist President Jack Graham called a “last resort.”

The U.S. attack came at about 5:30 a.m. Baghdad time with the use of missiles and bombs in an effort to take out Hussein, thereby removing the head of the Iraqi regime and hopefully minimizing the length and casualties of war. U.S. authorities were uncertain of their success, leaving open the possibility one of the dictator’s body doubles actually appeared on Iraqi TV after the initial military action.

The attack began about 90 minutes after the arrival of the 48-hour deadline President Bush had given  Hussein and his sons to leave the country.

Speaking from the White House about 45 minutes after the strikes began, Bush said United States and coalition forces were “in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger. Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force,” the president said.

“And I assure you, this will not be a campaign of half measures, and we will accept no outcome but victory.”

Joe Godfrey, president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention and pastor of Taylor Road Baptist Church, Montgomery, urged Baptists to pray.

“I certainly encourage all Alabama Baptists to continue praying for our troops, our president and his advisers,” Godfrey said. “But remember that our success in war or peace is in Jesus Christ, not in our military or economic might.”

“Removing Saddam Hussein from power is a just and necessary action after 12 years of lies and deception,” Graham said in a written statement. “This war is ‘just’ because its cause is liberation not occupation, protection not aggression, peace not appeasement.”

Graham, pastor of the Dallas-area Prestonwood Baptist Church, said he, “along with millions of Southern Baptists, support our president’s decision.”

Recalling the terrorist attacks  of Sept. 11, 2001, Graham said, “America will continue to respond to threats of evil with courageous resolve. Southern Baptists will embrace and engage this global challenge with faith and renewed commitment to evangelism and missions. We will unite in prayer and faith.”

Graham called for pastors and churches “to designate days of prayer and fasting.” He also encouraged families to “join together in personal and private intercession.”

Southern Baptists “will enlist prayer warriors as special forces to pray for our troops and their families,” Graham said. “We pray for peace and the possibility of a better world where tyranny and terrorism are eliminated.”

Graham also wrote a letter to Southern Baptist chaplains serving the U.S. forces in the Iraqi campaign. Graham offered his support “with that of the entire Southern Baptist family as you proclaim Christ and minister in His name during these difficult days.”

(BP, TAB contributed)