Laying a Foundation of Prayer

“Whatever God wants to do in our lives will begin with prayer,” says Marion-based author Jennifer Kennedy Dean. “That’s why spring revival preparation will have prayer as its cornerstone for Marion Baptist Church.”

Leading up to the May 3-6 revival, Marion Baptist Church will lay a strong foundation of prayer. “A successful revival will be measured in changed hearts and lives,” says Dr Mike Jones, pastor of Marion Baptist. “That is why prayer matters. Only God can change people. If people’s lives aren’t changed, then we didn’t have a revival. We just had a meeting.”

The prayer emphasis leading up to the coming revival is open to the community. “Revival is not church-bound,” says Jones. “Revival is about the community.” The church is inviting the community to three Wednesday nights of biblical teaching led by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. Dean will address the difficult questions about prayer and lay a solid scriptural basis. She will address the purpose of prayer, the promise of prayer, the process of prayer, and the practice of prayer. These three Wednesday night sessions will be held at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall area of Marion Baptist Church. The Wednesday nights will culminate in a Concert of Prayer on Friday May1 at 7:00 pm, leading into the revival.

“A Concert of Prayer is a corporate worship experience that blends worship through music and prayer. The prayer experience will be built around the pattern of tabernacle worship described in Scripture, “ explains Dean. “No one will be expected to pray aloud,” she adds.

“Giving up part of a Friday night to join your community in prayer sounds like a big ask,” says Dean. “But, if we want extraordinary power, then we need extraordinary prayer.”