I was blessed by the friendly people and atmosphere at Taylors First Baptist Church Sept. 11 when a group of about 35 people met in the fellowship hall for a “Reconnect” prayer conference.
Believers gather to pray for each other at the end of the SCBC Prayer Conference held at Taylors First Baptist Church.Tables were set up, and it was easy for me to strike up conversations with the people who were seated near me. Taylors was one of three churches to host the conference sponsored by the South Carolina Baptist Convention. A similar conference was held Sept. 13-16 at Millbrook Baptist Church, Aiken. Another will be held Oct. 9-10 at Langston Baptist Church in Conway.
After minister of music and worship Kevin Batson led in a few songs, pastor Frank Page spoke. He talked about the spiritual trouble that our country has fallen into but reminded us that 2 Chronicles 7:14 is still in effect and that America can repent and be redeemed. Page said he believes true repentance is what is lacking in today’s culture. He challenged listeners to take a look at their prayer lives to determine if they are deep or only superficial.
Citing Judges 2:1-7, Page reviewed the requirements God has laid out for Christians to experience true renewal. When believers are bogged down with sin and their prayer lives dry up, true renewal is what they desperately need, Page said. He said many Christians today have become calloused to the effect of their sins and rarely shed tears over them. He said the end result of heartfelt repentance and true salvation is fulfillment in Christ. God changes our “want-to’s,” he said.
James Walker, pastor of First Baptist Church of Alpharetta, Ga., took his turn behind the microphone and spoke on prayer from Nehemiah 4:1-23, the passage that talks about rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem.
Walker said prayer is often overlooked in the church amid the various activities and ministries. He pointed out that many Christians have put prayer on the back burner because of their busy schedules. He encouraged listeners not to forget prayer, as it is one of the most valuable weapons against Satan’s attacks.
The men rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem were equipped with armor and weapons; they were prepared for a fight. Walker challenged listeners to take up spiritual weapons and join the fight, but he also said that believers need to be prepared before going into battle. Walker shared several stories about the power of prayer.
Before everyone left for the evening, we broke into small groups and had a time of prayer. Hearing believers lifting their voices in prayer was encouraging to me. I was blessed and challenged by this conference. Both speakers made good points that I could apply to my own life and the effectiveness of my prayer life.