By Barbara Shoun
Contributing Writer
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) is taking the lead in a major prayer effort to support Missouri elected officials in the difficult task of balancing the state budget.
The action comes on the heels of a plea by a handful of key leaders, in bipartisan fashion, of the General Assembly who summoned MBC Lobbyist Kerry Messer to a private meeting where they asked for prayer. An organized effort by Missouri Christians to pray for the growing budgetary crisis was requested.
State revenues are about 12 percent less in 2010 than in 2009, and officials are predicting that the shortfall for the next few years will be about $1.5 billion per year. Gov. Jay Nixon recently made the painful announcement that the scope of the government would have to be downsized and some services curtailed.
The reality of the situation has put stress on lawmakers, who know that budget cuts will mean job losses.
Messer has walked the halls of the State Capitol for 25 years and has built relationships of trust with many legislators. Thus, he was approached by members of both political parties.
The lawmakers wanted a group of prayer warriors who would be sensitive to their tough situation and could be quickly alerted to pray as budget cuts become increasingly distasteful and difficult.
Among their concerns was the desire for the public to understand the difficulty of their situation and for lawmakers to work together without partisan infighting.
Messer quickly enlisted three people whose connections could expedite the establishment of the prayer network. They met at the Capitol March 3 to form goals, develop a communication plan, and determine how to know if needs are met.
The initial trio included: Bob Loggins, prayer and special awakening specialist for the MBC; Sue Stoltz, mid-Missouri area manager for Bott Radio Network and midwest national area leader for the National Day of Prayer; and Madge Atkinson, state coordinator for the National Day of Prayer.
The involvement by Loggins and the MBC is an extension of the Legislative Prayer Breakfast the convention sponsors every year at the beginning of the legislative session.
MBC Executive Director David Tolliver said, “It is a significant moment when they come and ask for prayer, and we will oblige. It will be an honor to pray specifically for our government leaders.”
Added MBC President Bruce McCoy: “We owe it to the Lord, Who gave us this great land, to pray for the leaders of our democratic republic.”
Messer and the others visited the offices of key leaders at the Capitol to inform them of the plan to provide prayer support during the budgeting process. Messer reported they were well received.
While it was decided not to publish names of those visited lest they be accused of grandstanding, officials did give assurances to the network team that Missourians’ prayers were needed and would be greatly appreciated.
“When we’re faithful and work together, miracles do happen,” said one lawmaker.
Another official asked for patience. “People of goodwill here will solve these problems. Once people lose patience with each other, then the problems become insolvable.
“The answers are tough answers, but generations before us have handled situations of this magnitude and gotten through it because they let God guide them through the situation.”
One legislator expressed his appreciation by saying, “Sometimes groups purport to represent a Christian perspective but they pursue a partisan or issue-related cause. How you’re going is the right approach. We all need to work together.
“So much of what this country has done was started in the faith community.”
Loggins, Stoltz and Atkinson are anticipating that other people will be added to the leadership group from churches and para-church organizations.
They hope to get a large number of Missourians participating in the prayer effort. They also want to develop the ability to distribute specific prayer needs or requests as various items of the budget come up for review.
“When God deals with the budget in Missouri, it will affect the nation. They will see God,” said Atkinson.
Stoltz noted that “in the past history of America, when there were times of trouble, the ones who were Christians sought the face of God.”
Loggins considered the budget crisis a rallying point for Christians. “This is a place to say we’ve got something in common,” he said. “We have an opportunity. Our government needs us.”
“We hope to create a tone and atmosphere where people talk about budget cuts instead of complaining,” said Messer. Referring to Romans 13, he stated, “We have an obligation to pray for them. They are obligated to pray for wisdom.”
“Our time is short,” Stoltz concluded. “They needed us last week.”