Annual meeting focus of ‘Rise & Pray’
By Brian Koonce
Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS – For nearly two months, hundreds have been gathering at nine “Rise & Pray” meetings to bathe this very moment in prayer.
Missouri Baptists focused their prayers on the Oct. 26 Solemn Assembly at the site of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) annual meeting, focusing heavily on confession of sins and asking God to bring unity and peace to the MBC proceedings.
The prayer gatherings occurred in Second Baptist, Springfield; Katy Park, Sedalia; First, Cameron; First Scott City; First Houston; Union Hill, Holts Summit; Hannibal-LaGrange College; Summit Woods, Lee’s Summit; and First Joplin. David Tolliver, MBC interim executive director, Bob Loggins, MBC spiritual awakening consultant, and Steve Tanner, director of missions for Grand Crossing Baptist Association have traversed the state leading up to the Oct. 26 meeting.
Participants followed the A.C.T.S. model of prayer, beginning with adoration, then confession, thanksgiving and supplication, but a good deal of the meeting time was spent on corporate confession.
Oct. 2 at Union Hill, Tanner compared Missouri Baptists to God’s chosen but stubborn people, suggesting readers could substitute “MBC” for “Israel” in the ninth chapter of Daniel.
Tanner read, “Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel — those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where You have dispersed them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward You. Lord, public shame belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against Him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following His instructions that He set before us through His servants the prophets.”
St. Louis marks the second consecutive year for an MBC Solemn Assembly. Last year’s meeting was held in Osage Hills in conjunction with the annual meeting at Tan-Tar-A.