An organized effort of Christians in Fayette County

praying for their neighbors in preparation for the statewide mailing

of the "Jesus" video will get a kick start next month as

"the church of Fayette County" hosts a Unity Prayer Rally Feb. 7 from

6-8 p.m.

Nationally known speakers and intercessors Mary Lance Sisk

and Alvin Vander Griend will be at the rally, held at First

Baptist Church of Peachtree City, and will lead special training on

demonstrating God's love to our neighbors. Vander Griend's

ministry, HOPE Houses of Prayer Everywhere teaches people

how to pray for their neighbors through prayer walks, rallies, block

parties and other methods. Sisk speaks on loving your

neighbors as yourself. The two have been conducting "City Reachers"

conferences across the nation.

A foundation of prayer before the videos are mailed is

essential to the success of the project, organizers say. An estimated 20

percent more viewers will become Christians if prayer has

preceded their receipt of the tape. The Jesus video is a feature film-length

video based word-for-word on the Gospel of Luke, produced by

Campus Crusade for Christ. Georgia will be only the second state to mail

a copy of the video to every household when they are mailed

March 17. Alabama was the first, experiencing a great harvest of souls

for Christ two years ago. The Georgia project will cost $9 million.

Jesus Video Project organizers in Fayette County have

received commitments from at least 600 Christians from various

churches to pray for their neighbors' openness to viewing the video

and their salvation. So far 37 local churches are taking part in

the preparation and follow-up of the Jesus video mailing.

"Jesus stated that the second greatest commandment is to

'Love your neighbor as yourself,'" said Mary Frances Bowley,

prayer coordinator for the Georgia Jesus video project. "What better

way to show your love than by praying for your neighbors?"

A map of the county hangs in the "Joshua room" at First

Baptist, with colored dots marking the location of the prayer

partners throughout the county. Braelinn Baptist Church has new

software that will print out the names of each partner's neighbors, so

more personal and specific prayers may be lifted to God on their behalf.

The "Demonstrating God's Love" program involves

the prayer rally Feb. 7, and Christians doing random acts of

kindness Feb. 7 through May 23. A "love-your-neighbors" offering will

be taken Feb. 14 for the video project. Also, each intercessor will

be given a 40-day prayer calendar, from Feb. 17 through March

28, to guide the prayer efforts. Door hangers will be placed on

homes March 7, asking neighbors to look in their mailboxes for an

Easter gift of the Jesus video around March 17. Follow-up entails

50 days of proclamation, April 4 through May 23, telling the

story of Jesus and God's saving grace through faith in His son.

Braelinn Baptist Church in Peachtree City is funding 25

phone banks to be used for follow-up. Churches are hoping to be able

to man the lines around the clock to find out if people want more

information after watching the video, and perhaps to help

them pray the prayer of faith in Christ.

"We're dovetailing this whole effort into a much larger

effort called 'Arms Around Atlanta,'" said Barry Odom, pastor of

evangelism and missions at Braelinn Baptist Church. "It is a

six-month emphasis to really love Atlanta, to reach Atlantans through

the Jesus video, random acts of kindness, ... block parties, sports

clinics and community cleanups." That effort is in conjunction

with the annual Southern Baptist Convention, which will be held

in Atlanta in June.

The prayer rally, Jesus video events and Atlanta outreach

are just more examples of a movement of church unity

gaining momentum locally. Churches in Fayette and surrounding

counties are already gathering regularly for quarterly unity meetings.

"I'm excited about the churches coming together along

nondenominational lines," Odom said. "It's kind of historic.

Churches don't normally work together. Even Baptist churches don't

always work together."

A small group of intercessory prayer partners are already

meeting Mondays at 7:30 in the Upper Room at First Baptist Church

of Peachtree City. For more information or to get involved in

this prayer project, contact Bowley at 770-487-8133, ext. 215.

For information and updates on the Jesus video project, call

Odom at 770-487-6691, ext. 204, pastor Mark Baldwin at

770-631-2811 or visit the website, www.jesusprojects.org.

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