As reported by Phil Anderson of the Topeka Capital-Journal, August 16, 2019 (link in original):
Praying for every single person in the United States by name may seem like an overwhelming assignment, but a group of local pastors and church leaders say they are committed to taking on that task.
Leaders from various Topeka-area churches have been meeting as part of the All America prayer initiative, which is being organized by an organization named “call2all.”
Organizers say the goal of the All America prayer initiative is to mobilize millions of Christians “to pray for and connect with their neighbors until all 127 million households and every school campus in America is adopted.”
As part of the initiative, which is starting in Kansas, organizers said participants will pray for their neighbors regularly, then “connect with them personally, connect them with Jesus, connect them with the Bible” and finally “connect them with a Christian community.”
New forms of technology, including the All.American phone app, are being used in the effort, organizers said.
A recent meeting in Topeka, which was held at First Assembly of God Church, 500 S.W. 27th, attracted about 200 people from the capital city and northeast Kansas.
The Rev. Doyle Pryor, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Topeka, was among attendees at the meeting.
Pryor noted the initiative includes a number of major Christian mission organizations.
“They all got together and said, ‘Why don’t we pool our resources and work together?’ because what we’re doing isn’t working,” Pryor said. “Let’s turn our eyes back to America. They all said, ‘Let’s start with Kansas.’ ”
According to information provided by the All America prayer initiative, nationally known ministries taking part in the effort include the International House of Prayer, the Luis Palau Association, Youth With a Mission, the Family Research Council and the American Bible Society.
Pryor said one of the main motivations of the All America prayer initiative is focusing on the United States as a mission field.
While other areas of the world are experiencing growth in the number of Christians, organizers of the All America prayer initiative said, the United States has seen a “rapid spiritual and moral decline.” Leaders said they believe God has granted the United States a “reprieve” for a brief period of time.
Hal Smith, pastor of Oakland Community Church, said the first goal of the initiative is to pray for every home and every individual in the United States, starting with Kansas.
Then, Smith said, the goal is to pray for every individual in the world.
Smith said “it’s a huge task,” noting that what is learned in Kansas will be taken nationwide.
Ricky Cruse, of Topeka, also attended the recent meeting at First Assembly of God Church. He said he hopes the prayer initiative “ignites a fire” and results in spiritual renewal.
“This is huge,” Cruse said. “There’s power in prayer.”
For more information, visit www.allamerica.org.
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