Let me explain.

This Thursday, May 2, is The

National Day of Prayer, as many of you already know. And we here in Fayette

County and along the Southern Crescent will observe the day with several

important activities.

Our youth will be drawn to

the fountain that morning at 6:30 a.m. by their burning desire for prayer

at dawn ­ AND the free Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits won't hurt either,

I'm sure. Their peers will lead them in musical praise and worship, and

they'll pray.

Did you catch that? THEY'LL

pray. I'm sure a couple of youth pastors will be allowed a word or two,

but this is your time, youth! This is your dance! This is your

prayer time for your nation and your leaders. I know you'll

come! Please talk about it at school and make plans to hook up with your

friends early that morning.

And parents, let's be sure

to provide rides for our non-driving students. We know they'll all want

to be prompt to school and ready for the fun of that first-period class.

Then, that evening, beginning

at 6:30 p.m., we'll all gather on the beautiful lawn of First Baptist

Church, across from The square and Old Courthouse in Fayetteville. Again,

Chick-fil-A sandwiches and pizzas and other eats and treats will be available,

only this time not for free. But available nonetheless!

As I said, we'll all gather

on the lawn ­ so bring your lawnchairs! Then some great musical praise

and worship will take place, led by musicians and worship leaders from

around the county. Last year the music was a superb highlight, and I know

it will be again this year as well!

I've said several times that

we'll "all" gather, haven't I? The question is, I guess, will

we? We sure hope so. And I have another question. Will you come and represent

your part of the Body of Christ? Will you come and pray for your

nation and all our leaders and elected officials?

And we're not talking about

just the pastors gathering to pray. Did I mention that the pastors won't

pray? (Not long "pastoral prayers" from the microphone anyway!)

We're talking about the people coming to pray. Because that's the plan.

We'll have small clusters of lawnchairs with prayers being offered to

God by the people in the circle. Oh, we'll have a couple of pastors helping

direct our prayers, but it's the people gathered who will actually be

saying the prayers. This is not a stage show! It's a prayer meeting. A

real one!

Please! Don't get scared off

vocalize your prayer or not, according to your comfort zone. Just be there

so this event may represent the strong spiritual nature of our great community.

And one more thing: next Saturday,

May 4, our community will host Celebrate Jesus Day. The day will begin

with a parade of walkers, trucks, and floats (formerly known as the March

for Jesus) leaving from Fayette County High School parking lot at 10 a.m.

and arriving at the Stonewall complex across from the mural in downtown

Fayetteville. The festivities will continue with an afternoon fair at

the fountain, including fun activities for the whole family, and information

and activity tables representing many of our local churches and ministries.

A concert of great Christian music will follow at 4 p.m.

Churches still wanting to participate

should call 770-461-7390.

Our whole community is invited

to come! Those of you without a church home at the present time are especially

invited to come and find out about what our churches have to offer you.

What a great week it is going

to be!

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