Church of God, Baptists to Unite for Ga. Prayer Gathering
On Thursday, January 16, Dr. Don Hattaway, newly elected President of the Southern Baptist movement in Georgia, and pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church, will host a unique meeting. David Franklin, leader of the Bartow Baptist Association will facilitate the meeting.
But the meeting is far beyond a Baptist gathering. It is a reflection of the growing interdenominational unity that characterizes congregations across Bartow County. Dr. Joe Edwards of Liberty Square, a Church of God congregation and his associate, Dr. Jacob King, have been advocates of community-wide collaboration. David Franklin, a successful Southern Baptist pastor who came to serve the county as the Baptist Associational Missionary, saw the opportunity for cooperation as a chance to do together what no movement could do by itself.
Last year, two significant things happened – more than 4,000 gathered for their national day of prayer event, and a surge of conversions took place among the youth population. This year, the national day of prayer gathering will focus not on Cartersville, but on every city in the county.
The name of the new initiative is Prayer-Connect Community Leadership Network (PC2LN).
P. Douglas Small, founder of Alive Ministries and head of the Church of God prayer initiative, and Claude King of LifeWay Resources, will be the primary presenters. Small will focus on the PC2LN process, with a specific concern for Bartow County, and yet the meeting is open to any pastor or prayer leader, and any city representative. King, nationally known coauthor of Experiencing God and revival specialist will focus on the spiritual aspects essential to the effectiveness of the endeavor.
Tabernacle Baptist Church is located at 112 East Church Street in Cartersville, Ga. The meeting will begin at 9 A.M. and conclude at 3 P.M. The only cost is $10 for lunch. Pre-register with Ann Tatum at 770-607-0300 or email [email protected]. Hotel accommodations at a discounted rate are available at Fairfield Inn & Suites, 20 Canyon Parkway, Cartersville, GA 30120, 770-387-0400.
Dr. Paul Cedar of the Mission America Coalition (MAC) believes this is precisely the kind of collaboration for common cause and the glory of God needed to see national revival. Recently, the MAC and the National Prayer Committee, led by Dave Butts, helped launch the PC2LN project with the assistance of Phil Miglioratti, facilitator for Mission America and the National Pastor’s Prayer Network.
Small, who also serves as national coordinator for the initiative describes PC2LN: “It is simple. National prayer and ministry leaders gather in nationwide venues at least annually and consider prayer and evangelism, but no similar construct exists for the local community. We are divided at the point of implementation and innovation. What we need are citywide prayer networks focused on national awakening. And that is purpose of PC2LN.”
There will also be a shorter version 7 PM-9 PM for bi-vocational and those who cannot make it for the daytime event. Updates about the event will be posted at www.bartowbaptist.org. To learn more about PC2LN, visit www.pc2ln.org.
