It had the concept of an old-fashioned tent revival but with the contemporary flare of a simulcast, more than 40 well-known speakers and no tents.
The Gathering: A National Solemn Assembly, held Sept. 21 had one purpose: “to unite the body of Christ in America — all believers, regardless of race, age or denomination — in prayer for forgiveness, wisdom and provision for our nation,” according to its website.
Religious leaders
Hosted by Gateway Church, Southlake, Texas, The Gathering featured speakers Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas and former Southern Baptist Convention president; Priscilla Shirer, author and leader of Going Beyond Ministries; Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas; Kay Arthur, Bible teacher, author and co-founder of Precept Ministries International; Les Steckel, president and CEO of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Anne Graham Lotz, author and evangelist; and many others.
According to Floyd, America won’t be saved by a “political awakening.”
“Many of us, as believers, at times if we’re not careful, we’re more committed to some kind of political awakening,” he said.
“That’s not the answer to this nation. The answer to the nation is the next great awakening with the Holy Spirit of God. And He wakes up the Church and He shakes the Church.”
Personal repentance
Thousands of believers gathered to pray for personal repentance, their marriages, families, communities and for Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, The Christian Post reported.
National awakening
According to The Gathering’s website, “Whenever a solemn assembly or sacred gathering has been called in Scripture, it has usually been called by those in leadership — whether that be a priest, prophet or king — and it has usually been called for leadership first. Even in America, our historical records verify that prior to every national awakening, the spiritual leadership of the day has placed a heavy emphasis on gathering in small groups for fasting and prayer which then led to larger gatherings and greater change.”
The Gathering also held a session specifically for pastors and church leaders, where participants gathered to intercede for individuals, families and the nation.
Author and speaker Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas, described the Church as “an immune system” to help fight the ills of society.
‘Divine repellent’
“The Church is … designed to keep cultural colds from becoming societal pneumonia,” said Evans, who served as the main organizer of The Gathering. “So if you’re seeing our nation succumb to pneumonia, it’s because the immune system of the Church is not up to snuff. It’s not acting as the divine repellent.”
Evans said the hope for a long-term outcome from The Gathering is that Christians would no longer be “secret” and that believers would work together as churches doing good works so the world will see what the Church is all about.
Other Christian leaders known by Alabama Baptists who participated in the event included Southern Evangelical Seminary President Richard Land; pastor and author Max Lucado; National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson; pastor and author Greg Laurie of Harvest America; and Cokiesha Bailey Robinson, a graduate of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham. (The Christian Post, Neisha Roberts)
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