Questions.

Do you have a prodigal? A son who left home and you don't know his whereabouts?

A daughter whose address you are certain, but she has left the values

and principles that you, as parents, taught her. Perhaps your prodigal

is your husband who abandoned you and your children. Maybe your prodigal

is father or mother who decided to drop off the planet, taking up a lifestyle

totally opposite he or she taught you as children.

Prodigals can

be sisters, brothers, and even dear, precious friends who have left their

faith, their family, and their friends to take up with folks who will

take them for whatever they have.

It will surprise

many of to realize just how many prodigals are out there. Moms and Dads

often go to bed in tears, praying they will hear from a son or daughter,

often to go Christmas after Christmas with out hearing from them.

I for just

one have a prodigal sister who turned her back on her mother, sisters,

and brother more than 50 years ago and has yet to come home. I have a

dear, precious friend who served in some of the greatest churches and

he turned his back on family, friends, and God to after the desires of

his flesh. He is yet to come home to the values which his parents and

the church taught him.

I am sure that

many missing children are prodigals, children who have run away from their

parents because they just didn't like the house rules.

One of the

most well loved stories Jesus ever told was about a prodigal son who took

his share of his father's estate, left home, and lived in a far country.

The story goes that once the boy ran out of money and he began to grow

hungry, he remembered how good the life was in his father's house. Jesus

said the boy "came to his senses" and started home. Of course,

what makes the story memorable was not the prodigal coming home, but the

father who was waiting for him. Upon the boy's return, the father draped

him with the robe of honor, shod him with freedom, returned his authority

in the household with a ring, organized a festive party with music, dancing,

and the serving up of the fatted calf. It was a grand celebration.

Would not you

like to see prodigals come home? How thrilled would be the hearts of fathers,

mothers, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, children, and friends. And,

of course, would it not thrill the church for its prodigals to come home.

Well, area

churches are moving right along in preparing a day of prayer to seek God's

face for prodigals. It's called "Bring Back the Prodigals."

Even though the event is being organized by churches and ministries across

the denominational spectrum, Fayetteville's New Hope Baptist Church has

graciously volunteered the use of its north campus for the Saturday conference.

In fact, Saturday, October 20 from 2 PM until 4:30 PM and then from 6:30

PM until 8:30 PM.

The praise

and prayer conference will be led by Ian and Pauline Cole of "Pray

for Revival" and the World Conference Center in Birmingham, England.

God has used this couple in a mighty way to stimulate churches and communities

to pray intentionally for prodigals and those they have left behind. The

Coles have proven that the most powerful force on earth to bring home

prodigals is prayer.

If you would

like more information, please call Marion Ferencz at 770-460-4851. You

will find Marion one of the nicest, most helpful people in God's Kingdom.

You never know, through believing prayer, some of our prodigals may be

home for Christmas.

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of River's Edge

Community Church in Fayetteville.

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