Pray for the Young Preachers
In less than 48 hours the first of 120 young preachers will begin to arrive in Louisville. Some of these are preaching in a congregational Festival at the weekend worship services of the Middletown Christian Church; most are coming to preach at the 2012 National Festival of Young Preachers.
A few of these Young Preachers live in the area and are eager to help us welcome all the rest to the Seelbach Hilton Hotel and the Cathedral of the Assumption on Monday, January 2nd.
We have spent all year planning this National Festival, and we are spending this final week hard at work with a million details. But what we really need now is prayer; so I write this article to ask you to pray for these young people, to ask your church or organization to pray for these young people, to ask you to galvanize your friends far and wide to join you in this prayer ministry.
We have planned good things; and these Young Preachers have worked hard on their sermons; but only the blessing, inspiring, provoking, surprising Holy Spirit of God can turn all of these plans into something transformational. This is what we need the most.
Pray that these young ministers, ranging in age from 14-28, will preach through their fears, will embrace their own voice, will articulate their own gospel message, and will at the same time remain open to the influence of their peers.
Pray for the conveners and mentors and evaluators who come at their own expense and work out of their own sense of vocation. Each of them needs discernment and wisdom and compassion and humility. The old as well as the young need the inspiration that is possible through such an event.
Pray for the senior preachers and talented musicians who come to lead our plenary gatherings. It is highly unlikely they have even spoken to such a diverse group of young ministers. Pray that they may speak with confidence and sing with courage and do so in a way that invigorates every person in the room.
Pray for me, and for the AoP team, that we may trust the goodness of God to do powerful, permanent work in the lives of these young people, and also in our lives. We need it as much as they need it. Glory be to God!