Power in Prayer

By Roderic Bishop

Following the ascension of Christ, Acts reveals that praying together was indispensable to the early church. Over and over, wording such as “being devoted” described the believers’ attitude toward approaching God together.

Embracing this concept of oneness, the Texas Conference Prayer Ministries committee chose J17:21 Together As One as the theme to highlight this area of ministry. J17:21 refers to John 17:21, which says, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You.”

The team envisions a conference mobilized and motivated to pray together for specific spiritual and strategic objectives consistent with the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Prayer Ministries committee has met weekly by Zoom to pray together and solicit God’s guidance in encouraging others to pray.

A wonderful 10-day season of prayer in support of our Texas Conference schools and Christian education began Aug. 17, 2022, and concluded with a 24-hour prayer vigil in both English and Spanish.

To help us focus our prayers, a Texas Conference Prayer Map lists all of our churches, schools, departments and ministries so that people can pray each day for a specific one. Designed like a subway map, this interactive tool allows individuals to check off in Acrobat Reader when their prayer is complete.

Throughout the year, we have supported churches and the Southwestern Union Prayer Conference by attending and providing training about Prayer Ministries Sabbaths. It is wonderful to see so many excited and united in prayer.

We are grateful for those who participated in the prayer events, and we encourage each to join the Ignite intercessory prayer team. Find more information about the daily, weekly, monthly and annual events and sign up or share prayer requests on our website at TexasAdventist.org/Prayer.

BISHOP

I want to thank the local church Prayer Ministries leaders, the Texas Conference Prayer Ministries committee, the Texas Conference Communication & Public Relations team and our Texas Conference president, Elton DeMoraes, for the commitment to unite in prayer. The Holy Spirit has worked in a mighty way through Texas Conference Prayer Ministries, and we know He is only getting started.

J17:21 Together As One envisions the Texas Conference as united and ignited by the Holy Spirit, praying passionately, powerfully and perpetually. We believe that as we realize the prayer request of Jesus in John 17:21, the Latter Rain will fill our homes, schools and churches throughout the Texas Conference.