Churches may be answer to their own prayers, Pritchard says

HOUSTON—“After we’ve prayed, then what?” Jimmy Pritchard, SBTC president, asked convention messengers at the outset of his message Monday evening, Nov. 9. The question was posited after hours of workshops, worship, and prayer that began the evening before. But, he asked, was there an ingredient missing from the efforts made to that point, something that would inhibit the work of discipleship?

Pritchard harkened back to the roots of modern U.S. missions—the Haystack Prayer Meeting of 1806. Five college students had been discussing the merits of foreign missions when their conversation was interrupted by a thunder storm. After taking refuge in a haystack they continued their deliberation and prayer. It was in that makeshift shelter that the men felt the burden to act upon what had been, up to that point, a moralistic debate and topic of prayer. Pritchard asked if the impetus to act upon a desire to see the lost saved and discipled was missing from the work of Texas Southern Baptist churches?

“It’s almost like we’ll pray and cross our arms and say, ‘Okay, God, now do something really wild because we’ve prayed,’” Pritchard said. “He might. But it is more than likely we need to add to our praying a bit of resolve like those five young college students who said, ‘We can do this, if we will.’”

Once the praying is done Pritchard challenged the messengers to consider that they may be the ones to perform the task they have asked God to do. Citing Paul in 1 Cor. 15:58, Pritchard charged the messengers to be likewise steadfast, immovable, abounding in the Lord’s work. In doing so they will be equipped and empowered to step through the wide door of opportunity that God will open, he said, referencing 1 Cor. 16:8-9 and Acts 19-20.

Pritchard was clear—stepping across the door’s threshold not only instills the believer with the power of Christ but also draws the ire of the Adversary. With the former the Apostle Paul was able to “fight the wild beasts” of the sent by latter. The beasts of 21st century America are little changed. They attack from inside and outside the church and even within ourselves.

But the one who sends always empowers. Stepping through the door God has opened connects Christians to the power of Christ.

“And so the promise of him being with us is connected to us being involved in the work,” Pritchard said. “God said, ‘I’m am going to be with you in power as you’re fulfilling the task I have given you.’”

The task before SBTC congregations remains the same as Paul’s—making disciples who will in turn make disciples. Pritchard repeated the conviction of the five college students who, after praying, stepped out on the conviction of “We can do this, if we will.”

Similarly, Pritchard said, after praying, SBTC congregations should consider they may be the answer to their own prayers.