CALLING ONE MILLION METHODISTS
TO BE UNITED IN PRAYER
We are asking 1,000,000 United Methodists to join us in praying for revival
in our denomination by the year 2,000. Many seek to bring political and/or
financial pressure for change and that has its place; however we believe revival can and
will come only if we humble ourselves and pray before Almighty God.
Will you join us and help recruit other United
Methodists to also join us? Our denomination has been losing 1,000 members per week for
almost three decades. For over 200 years, we have been a great force for God but the words
of Revelation 3:1, "To the angel of the church of Sardis
write...I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead,"
accurately describes many of our churches today. Our answer lies not in another seminar,
changing labels or programs, but in responding to God's call to:
"...return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to
the Lord your God..." (Joel 2:12-13a).
No red tape! No politics!
No programs! Just prayer. Duplicate this letter, send it to ten or more
United Methodists, locally, nationally, and internationally. This is a grass roots appeal
that is dependent upon your ACTING IN FAITH. If you send ten or more, and your friends
send ten or more, we can have 1,000,000 Methodists people across this country and around
the world connected in prayer. We are a connectional church. Let's get connected in
prayer. God is already moving in many places. Let us join Him.
Some guidelines:
Use Isaiah 58 as a guide and let's claim Isaiah 58:8-14 for the UMC.
Pray every day but especially on Fridays for revival
until the year 2000. John Wesley prayed, Lord, send us a revival without defects, but if
that is not possible, send us revival, defects and all."
Pray every day for your church, its pastor and
leaders. On May 5, 6 &
7, 1998, Pine Forest United Methodist Church in Pensacola, Florida will be hosting its
second conference for pastors and church leaders seeking revival. Pray for this
conference. Send for information and plan to help someone to attend. (Brochure available
Jan. 15, 1998)
Pray for our high schools and colleges. God is
bringing revival to high school and college students.
Form prayer groups to pray. It only takes you and one
more. 5. Remember not all seeds fall on good ground, but we keep sowing. Every time God
brings someone to mindù write them a little note and mail them this Call to Prayer
Letter. If you are a pastor or an organization with a mailing list or publication, please
include this letter. Use your influence to encourage people to pray. Several district
superintendents have included it in their mailings. This has been very helpful in
encouraging local pastors to involve their congregations. Provide duplicate copies of the
Call to Prayer for your membership. Adapt the letter to fit your situation. But report
back so that we can FOCUS OUR PRAYERS TOGETHER. Let us know you are praying and report
results as you see your prayers answered:
Contact
Methodists United In Prayer
2800 Wilde Lake Blvd.
Pensacola, FL 32526
Telephone: 904/944-0197
FAX: 904/941-2111
E-mail: pfumc@biblepacesetter.org
Visit our web site for prayer reports:
http://www.biblepacesetter.org/CalltoPrayer
Perry M. Dalton, Minister
Pine Forest United Methodist Church, Alabama West-Florida Conference.
Tim Jones, Minister
Wesley Foundation at Florida State University, Florida Conference.
{8} Then your light shall break forth
like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
{9} Then you shall call,
and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help,
and he will say,
Here I am.
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger,
the speaking of evil,
{10} if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.
{11} The LORD will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
{12} Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.
{13} If you refrain from trampling the
sabbath,
from pursuing your own interests on my holy day;
if you call the sabbath a delight
and the holy day of the LORD honorable;
if you honor it,
not going your own ways,
serving your own interests,
or pursuing your own affairs;
{14} then you shall take delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
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