Pray 7:14 event draws hundreds online
Aug 19, 2020
More than 570 Arizona Southern Baptists participated in the Pray 7:14 Statewide Prayer Meeting held online July 14 at 7:14 p.m.
“With all that’s going on in our state, and even our nation, we realize just how much we need to call on God in prayer now more than ever,” said Ashley Evans, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention president and pastor of 22nd Street Baptist Church in Tucson, as he opened the event.
Quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14, he said, “That’s what we’re praying for tonight. We’re praying for God to bring healing in so many areas.”
A number of Arizona Southern Baptist pastors and leaders prayed during the hour-long event, and musician Adam Agee led in worship through song from his home in Tennessee.
Simone Lake, a member of Church on Randall Place in Pine who also teaches in the areas of prayer and spiritual discipline and works with women’s ministries, led in a prayer of adoration and praise.
Chad Garrison, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lake Havasu City, led in a prayer of confession and repentance.
Five people led in prayers of intercession.
Josue Castro, AZSBC Hispanic ministries facilitator and pastor of Tierra Fertil in Yuma, prayed for those affected by COVID-19 and for a cure.
Shannon Jennings, children’s pastor at Aletheia Church in Sedona, prayed for teachers, educators and students as they are getting ready to go back to school or making decisions about going back to school.
Mark Martin, senior pastor of Calvary PHX, prayed for unity and healing.
Jackie Allen, lead pastor of Cross Church in Surprise, prayed for government officials, law enforcement officers, first responders and health care workers.
Brian Hook, pastor of Aspire Church in Tucson, prayed for revival and our churches, with the reminder that what people really need is Jesus.
David Johnson, AZSBC executive director, closed the evening, noting that AZSBC President Ashley Evans cast the vision to make 2020 a year of prayer among Arizona Southern Baptists. “We’ve been praying this whole year,” he said, and “we need it now more than ever.”
Johnson also thanked Jackie Allen for suggesting the statewide prayer time.
Psalm 46 — which begins, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear” — is a passage he has been drawn to over and over during this time, Johnson said.
“I want us to know, Arizona Southern Baptists, that God is with us through this time of trial and that God is going to work in our midst,” he said. “God is doing something among us that could not be done otherwise. He has a purpose and a plan for this to bring Him honor and glory and to draw us closer to Him.”
Before closing in prayer, Johnson said, “Let’s pray for one another. Let’s bind together and let’s see what God has in store for us through this time.”