National Day of Prayer

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray.” 2Chron 7:14

It is amazing to live in a country that values prayer and where the citizens have established a National Day of Prayer.  This is wonderful! In Kearney, prayer meetings have already begun this week. This evening we plan to meet above Yandas Music store to pray and intercede around the issue of the sanctity of life and the protection of life in this land (see www.abetterwayforkearney.com). We are at the middle or center of the week and this issue is placed here on this day as it is deemed to be the core issue for our nation’s future and health. Baptist pastor and founder of “Love Worth Finding”, Adrian Rogers (1931-2005), made the statement,

 “I believe as the West goes, so goes the world. And as America goes, so goes the West. And as the Church goes, so goes America. And as believers fast and pray, so goes the Church.”

The church must lead the way in defending life but research indicates that the church in America is under attack and weakening. Politically new pressures are asking the church to compromise on key issues of the gospel of life. From statistics gathered in the last ten years we have learned that in proportion to the U.S. population, there are less than half as many churches today as there were in 1900. Since 1950, there are 30 percent fewer churches for today’s population. Roughly 4,000 churches are begun every year, while 7,000 die and close their doors. North America, Australia and Europe are the only continents in the world where Christianity is not growing. All is not well.

As a church architect I get a unique view of the church of America. It is not always encouraging and we, of all Christians in the world, should feel the burden to pray for new resolve and strength to promote a culture of life and not death. Rather than simply opposing this culture of death we should want to be proposing God’s better way. Let’s also ask God to revive His people for the arduous challenges possibly coming our way. America is at the crossroads and needs our prayers.