Agree ‘17 Prompts Testimony from SMCH

Sevierville, TN—The staff of the Church of God’s Smoky Mountain Children’s Home participated in the Agree ’17 initiative earlier this month.

The experience was recalled in a letter from SMCH Executive Director Walt Mauldin to General Overseer Tim Hill. Mauldin thanked the general overseer for, “the spiritual insight relative to launching the denomination’s recent prayer initiative.” Agree ’17 worked hand-in-hand with the promotion of the 21-day fast and Bible reading initiative, READ 2017.

“The best part about the prayer project was that it allowed us to connect with what was going on at the Church of God International Offices via live streaming,” Mauldin stated. He went on to explain how the SMCH staff was involved in the initiative:

Every staff member was invited to participate in a 21-Day Fast from January 3 to 23. This was on a voluntary basis and could include a total fast, Daniel fast, or a wide variety of fasting choices.

The second part of the prayer emphasis was referred to as the SMCH Prayer Convocation, AGREE ’17. For each morning of January 10-12, SMCH staff officially closed the offices while they and residents met in the Moffett Dining Hall to watch the live stream from the Church of God headquarters.

“We were amazed at how attentive our young people were for this hour and fifteen-minute service,” Mauldin stated. “Dr. Mark Rutland certainly held their attention. Many who attended made positive comments about the experience.”

For the evenings of January 10-12, the SMCH family met for specific prayer times that included staff members went to all ten of the SMCH cottages and held a special prayer for the residents. Several youth requested prayer for their family members, friends who were ill, or for upcoming court dates and hopeful return to their homes.

On January 11 the SMCH youth service, Radical Generation, included songs about prayer, a brief message on prayer, and a prayer emphasis at the end of the service. Laminated copies of the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23 were distributed to make it easier for the youth to memorize.

On January 12, the entire campus met in the gymnasium and held a candlelight prayer service. At the conclusion, participants focused on a prayer for God to continue to, “open our minds, open our hearts, and open our spirits and for Him to ignite a revival on our campus.”

“We were thrilled with the opportunity to provide our staff and youth just a small glimpse into just how much the Church of God cares for the work of the Kingdom,” Mauldin concluded. “Thank you again!”

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