By Pam Ford Davis, Special to the Message
DELHI – Pastor Kelly Wayne Clark of New Hope Baptist Church in Delhi received his Awaken 2012 information in early December.
It came from the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Evangelism and Church Growth team, which sent a sample copy to each of the LBC’s 1,600 affiliated churches.
“I immediately made a challenge to the deacons and congregation to participate,” Clark said. “We set a date on the church calendar for this special prayer emphasis.”
Clark encouraged New Hope members to pray, fast and gather for 21 consecutive nights.
Some might fast from food, others, from soft drinks, and still others from television, the pastor suggested during discussion of the possibility of participating in 21 days of prayer.
The membership’s initial response was supportive but non-committal. Some deacons anticipated perhaps a dozen people would participate in the hours of prayer. No one voiced opposition, however.
“Upon the arrival of the 21 Days of Prayer devotional booklets I just glanced over the topic headings; I did not distribute the books to members until January 1,” Clark said. As one way of broadening involvement, he placed numbers from 1 to 21 in a hat, and church members who chose to participate each pulled out a number. They led in the written 21 Days of Prayer devotional material of the night of the number drawn.
“This was not a committee-coordinated event but a Spirit-controlled encounter with Almighty God,” Clark said.
Prayer meetings began at 7 p.m. with intentions of finishing by 8 p.m. In the first services, it ran as scheduled. But as the Spirit moved, the pastor said, times of confession, testimonies of reconciliation and commitments to Christ extended the meetings an additional half hour.
Praise music prepared hearts for repentance during openings and affirmed members as they held hands before dismissing nightly with prayer.
The 21 Days of Prayer scripture focus is from 2 Chronicles 7:14 HCSB – “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
Results attest to the movement of the Holy Spirit, the pastor said.
New Hope, with a Sunday School enrollment of 40, averaged 33 people in attendance each night of the 21-day event, with people from all age groups represented. The pastor challenged those attending to tell someone they were praying for them.
Church members shared news of revival and visitors from other congregations began to attend. Testimonies of reconciliation were voiced. People were reading their Bibles.
Clark reported public decisions of re-dedication, re-baptism and request for baptism. The Lord further blessed the congregation through the visit of an unexpected guest the third Sunday morning. He lives and worships in West Monroe yet often vacations near Delhi at the Big Lake Wildlife Refuge area.
The man later said he felt God leading him to attend New Hope and to bring an encouraging word, though he had no knowledge of the 21 Days of Prayer event taking place.
It was God’s perfect timing, the pastor said. Like Barnabas of the Bible, the visitor humbly filled the role of encourager to a small, submissive congregation.
Jay Morgan, director of missions for Bayou Macon/ Madison Baptist Associations, was guest speaker for those participating on the climactic 21st night.
“New Hope anticipates continued renewal and revival,” Clark said.
“Consider 21 Days of Prayer for your church,” Clark suggested to other pastors. “It’s great, wonderful!”