DALLAS—As Texas Hope 2010 moves into the last stretch before Easter 2010, Texas Baptist leaders have set Jan. 31 as the Day of Hope and Prayer to encourage churches and individuals to continue their efforts to reach every Texan with the hope of Christ and to care for the hungry and hurting in the state.
The Day of Hope and Prayer will be a time when Texas Baptists can pause for a few moments during a worship service or family time to pray for the needy and to ask God for ways to help them.
“The foundation for Texas Hope 2010 has always been prayer,” said Randel Everett, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
“I am unfamiliar with any significant awakening that was not preceded by a significant commitment to prayer by God’s people. We are calling our churches to join together for a time of prayer on Sunday, Jan. 31.”
The vision for the Day of Hope and Prayer began in September as Gus Reyes and Jane Wilson, Texas Hope 2010 prayer team leaders, realized the 240 Texas county leaders who agreed to help with the goal of distributing Scripture—specifically multimedia compact discs including Scripture and testimonies—to all 8.8 million homes in Texas have a monumental task ahead of them.
Because Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas is known for its commitment to prayer, Reyes and Wilson contacted Nelda Seal, interim executive director-treasurer of Texas WMU.
They invited Texas WMU leaders to spearhead an effort enlisting individuals and churches to adopt the county leaders and pray daily for their efforts and Texas Hope 2010 as a whole. Seal contacted WMU groups and enlisted prayer leaders for these county leaders and their endeavors.
Reyes, Wilson and Seal decided the prayer emphasis should be continued beyond the prayer leaders, so the Day of Hope and Prayer was established to support and encourage churches to continue their Texas Hope 2010 efforts by praying for the lost, caring for the hurting and hungry, and sharing the hope of Christ.
“We are asking that people focus on two things—the lost and the hungry,” Seal said. “We are praying for nourishment for the soul and the body.”
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The day is not designed to be an elaborate undertaking but a time to pause during worship services, small groups, choir practice, Sunday school classes or other activities on that day or in the week before to pray for the lost and the hungry in their communities and in Texas, Reyes said.
“We believe God will speak to leaders and pastors on what to pray about and how to pray,” he said. “They know their community and the needs in their community.”
Everett encourages churches and individuals to use this day to pray for ways to share the hope that Christ offers.
“Pray for God to give boldness to his people as we seek to share the good news to everyone in Texas,” Everett said.
“Pray for God to prepare the way for those who will be receiving the message of the hope of Christ. Pray for God to be honored through all we do in Texas Hope 2010.”
The Day of Hope and Prayer also is a time for churches to energize or begin efforts to reach their communities with the hope of Christ as Easter 2010 approaches, he added.
Texas Hope 2010 prayer guides, names of county leaders and prayer topics to be used for the Day of Hope and Prayer can be found at www.texashope2010.com.
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