Thirty three percent of clergy and thirty six percent of laymen report having visited a sexually explicit web site. Christianity Today survey, August 2000

The divorce rate of born-again Christians (32%) is higher than that of atheists and agnostics (30%).
Barna Research Group 2008

We rarely find substantial differences between the moral behavior of Christians and non-Christians.
George Barna, Founder, Barna Research Group

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Jesus, Matthew 5:13

Aren’t you tired of seeing statistics like the ones at the top of this page?  Tired of the church having so little impact on a lost and dying world?

We, the body of Christ, are supposed to be salt.  Look around.  How are we doing?  By and large, instead of the church making the world thirsty for the Living Water, we have become so worldly ourselves that we are in danger of losing our savor altogether.  The Western church, the American church, Louisiana’s churches, BAGBR churches, maybe even your church—is in desperate need of revival.  Not a revival meeting.  Revival.

Revival is not a special event to win the lost.  It is a time when God’s people, both individually and corporately, humble themselves, cry out to God in repentance and return to a fresh, empowered, obedient love relationship with Him.

The main focus of the BAGBR prayer ministry is praying for revival in our individual churches.  And, we need you to labor in prayer alongside us. 

Starting in mid to late January 2010, we will be kicking off two new prayer initiatives that your church will want to get in on:

Bride Awake Prayer Meetings

Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. Matt. 25:5

The Bride of Christ in America is falling asleep.  (Sometimes, literally.  Ask any pastor.)  We’ve become numb to, or even defend, our own worldliness.  Some estimate that over 80% of churches are in decline or plateau.  Our impact on society is rapidly deteriorating.  We, the church, are ripe for another Great Awakening.

To that end, and with an eye to the fact that most great moves of God begin with corporate prayer, we are beginning the process of scheduling weekly prayer meetings for the purpose of praying for revival in our city, association, state, and nation.  Each week, a different BAGBR church will host the prayer meeting, which will be open to every member of every church in the association.  This will not be a worship service or Bible study, but simply one hour a week for God’s people to come together and spend time in prayer.

House of Prayer Conferences

...I will... make them joyful in My house of prayer...For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. Is. 56:7

In poll after poll, pastors and church members alike say that the number one need of the church is more prayer.  Is your church a “house of prayer”?  Would you like it to be?  Need a little help getting started, or maybe a refresher course?  Do we have a deal for you!

The BAGBR prayer ministry wants to bring a House of Prayer conference to you.  Would you like to have a one hour seminar on prayer during your Wednesday night prayer meeting?  A half-day workshop one Saturday morning?  A guest speaker at a small group meeting?  A breakout session during a retreat?  Let us know your needs, and a 1-3 person team of prayer coordinators from the BAGBR prayer ministry will come to your church and share with you about becoming a House of Prayer.  (No speaking fee or honorarium.)

If your church would like to host a Bride Awake prayer meeting (our facility needs are minimal) or a House of Prayer conference, please contact Michelle Lesley, Associational Prayer Coordinator, through the BAGBR office for further details.  As always, information on all prayer initiatives, as well as other helpful information on prayer can be found at www.bagbrprayer.blogspot.com.