David Pratt of Aberdeen stood in a banquet area of the motel as over 40 members of various churches arrived. A banner hanging from a table displayed these words:
“PrayMOORE: Positioning Moore County for Revival Through Strategic Prayer.”
Pratt, founder of the prayer-promoting, para-church organization called PrayMOORE, serves as an associate pastor at Grace Church in Southern Pines. He opened the breakfast meeting by asking his audience to join him in quoting II Chronicles 7:14:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” The crowd responded, repeating words King Solomon of ancient Israel said God gave him after Solomon finished building a temple in Jerusalem.
Pratt’s wife, Linda, then sang, “Pray On.” A Vass-Lakeview Elementary School teacher, she used her rich alto to deliver these lyrics: “Pray on, for you are who the Lord is looking for…Stay on your knees; for this is where the battle is won…You are soon to win the victory; pray on.”
Pratt asked attendees to discuss their personal prayer times and their churches’ corporate prayer efforts.
Lucille Christie, a public middle school teacher, led in praying for “the nation.”
“Forgive us for falling away from the faith this country was founded on,” Christie said. “We pray for President Bush, that he clearly aligns himself with Israel…We plead the blood of Jesus over the United States of America…God bless America.”
Pratt, acknowledging pastors in the audience, said, “As the leadership goes, so goes the body (of believers).”
Linda Pratt prayed for pastors, saying, “Deliver them from busyness…we declare the favor of the Lord upon leaders…we take authority over every negative word spoken over their lives….”
Pratt asked groups to discuss “what attracts the presence of God,” and they listed concepts such as: repentance, obedience to God and authorities, unity in congregations, humility and purity.
One lady told the group about praying with a waitress in a restaurant; a woman told of praying for a friend who finally “accepted Christ” six weeks before he died.
A pastor led in prayer for Sandhills youth, and before the meeting ended, Pratt prayed for the Moore County School systems, its students and their families.
“And bless each teacher; give them favor; may Christian virtues come back again (to the schools),” Pratt said.
Steve Crain may be reached at crain207@nc.rr.com.
