Southern Baptists Call for Repentance, Revival

On Tuesday, the Southern Baptist Convention convened in Columbus, Ohio for its annual meeting. Stirred by America’s current hostility towards Christ, the convention paused business as unusual for a national call to prayer. All Southern Baptists present and watching on TV and online were asked to kneel and pray for the repentance of the denomination’s sins, humbly unify together and ask God to grant a spiritual renewal upon the United States.

“The only thing that can ultimately reshape America is the next Great spiritual Awakening, ” said president of the Southern Baptist Convention Ronnie Floyd. “When you look at it historically, there is no great movement of God that is not first preceded by extraordinary prayer of God’s people.”

From there, senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church Dr. Jack Graham recalled Nehemiah’s heartsickness upon learning Jerusalem’s walls lay shattered, city gates burned with fire. Resembling America’s spiritual condition today, we too should be heartbroken and moved to action. “When [Nehemiah] prayed with a broken heart, he prayed for the nation, but he started with himself and his own family.”

Like Nehemiah, we too have a mission. Christians must follow his example, encouraged Graham,  and begin our work by first repenting of their own failings “personally, as a convention, and as a nation.” Then, he explained, we can expect a next Great Awakening to unfold.  “For the Scripture says, ‘If my people who are called by name shall humble themselves, and to pray and seek my face and repent, turn from their sins, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their lands'” read Graham.

Various Southern Baptist church leaders then lead collective confession for the murder of the unborn, deterioration of the family unit, racism, hatred, social injustice and sexual perversion.

“Father and our God, many of us in this room have given in to criticism and mistrust of each other. God we ask your forgiveness and that you would renew us, revive us, and restore us,” prayed one pastor gathered upon the stage. Another pastor recalled a personal moment in his young adult life when Christ dealt with his racist attitudes towards his Black neighbors. Then, in an emotional display of unity, he embraced a fellow Black pastor and fellow Asian pastor.

Next, the estimated 5,000 Southern Baptist pastors and church messengers of all races and ethnicities broke into huddles of 7-10 to specifically repent of racism and commit to unify in the gospel, despite skin colors. The sight of thousands of Baptist men and woman nestled in prayer for unity racial reconciliation and spiritual renewal was, admittedly, deeply moving.

Before closing the National Call for Prayer, Floyd requested one more gathering of prayer huddles. This time, he instructed groups to pray for God’s healing of Americas division and brokenness. The Southern Baptist preacher encouraged fellow Believers to specifically ask for God’s strengthening of racial reconciliation efforts, restore family units, heal sexual brokenness, and grant each and every one in attendance the ambition to share the love of Jesus Christ with the world. Because that is what ultimately will “usher in the next Great Awakening.” Floyd said, “Because God can do more in a moment than you can ever do in a lifetime.”