Baptist World Alliance, BWA News Release

Baptist World Alliance Issues Global Call for Prayer

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


(FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA – March 25, 2020)

In response to the growing impact of COVID-19 around the world, the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) calls on the global Baptist family to join together for a 24-hour prayer marathon, launching with an audio conference on Monday, March 30, at 9:15 a.m. EDT.

The launch call will feature updates from several of the most impacted regions as well as dedicated times of prayer for specific groups, including pastors and ministry leaders, healthcare providers, educators, relief workers, and communication professionals.

“In this challenging context, it is imperative that we seek God together in prayer,” said Elijah Brown, BWA General Secretary. “The one-hour opening prayer conference will provide an amazing opportunity to hear from ministry leaders in Italy, to learn how refugee camps are being impacted in the Middle East, to discover how Baptists have risen up in Wuhan, and to hear voices from around the globe united in prayer.”

In addition to the opening audio conference, the BWA is asking Baptists everywhere to sign up for half-hour time slots to facilitate 24 hours of uninterrupted prayer on behalf of those impacted by COVID-19.

The BWA has created a microsite with instructions and resources for the prayer marathon. Additional content will be added in the coming days.

“We see this 24-hour prayer initiative as a beautiful opportunity to stand together during this global pandemic. I hope it will galvanize our commitment to pray together daily as Baptist sisters and brothers during this crisis and beyond,” said Merritt Johnston, BWA Director of Communications and Media and COVID-19 Prayer Coordinator. “We are grateful for technological resources that can connect us virtually during this season of physical isolation, and we will continue to utilize these resources to mobilize prayer efforts and offer pastoral encouragement during these difficult days. I look forward to seeing how God moves during this time and sharing those stories with our global Baptist family.”

To find out more or to sign up for a prayer marathon time slot, visit: bit.ly/BWAPrayerMarathon.

To sign up for the weekly “Baptists One in Prayer” email, visit bit.ly/BWAEmail.

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Baptist World Alliance Issues Global Call for Prayer

The Baptist World Alliance issues a global call for 24 hours of prayer to begin at 9:15 a.m. EDT on Monday, March 30, 2020.

Baptist World Alliance Issues Global Call for Prayer
Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Elijah Brown responds to the COVID-19 pandemic with a call to pray.

The Baptist World Alliance, founded in 1905, is a fellowship of 253 conventions and unions in 130 countries and territories comprising 51 million baptized believers in 176,000 churches. For more than 100 years, the Baptist World Alliance has networked the Baptist family to impact the world for Christ with a commitment to strengthen worship, fellowship and unity; lead in mission and evangelism; respond to people in need through aid, relief, and community development; defend religious freedom, human rights, and justice; and advance theological reflection and leadership development.

Media Contact:
J. Merritt Johnston
Director of Communications & Media
Email: [email protected]