Our Mississippi Baptist Convention theme for 2011 is Covering Mississippi in Prayer (Acts 1:14). One of the focus events of this emphasis will be prayer rallies from January to March in each of the 82 counties in Mississippi. We hope to have a large group of prayer warriors at all of our prayer rallies.

The prayer rally is not limited to a Baptist event, but open to all churches and people who have a desire to gather to pray. We wish to invite and encourage you to actively promote and participate in the prayer rallies in your area.

The prayer rally focus is to simply ask the community to join us in prayer for the needs of Mississippi. There are many concerns we need to address in prayer this coming year, and our prayer rallies will help us get off to a good start to invite others to join us to commit to pray for God’s guidance, protection and wisdom.

The Adams County prayer rally will be at 4 p.m. Monday in downtown Natchez on the Market Street side of the Adams County Courthouse. Our alternate location, in case of bad weather, will be Parkway Baptist Church on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.

Franklin County will also host a prayer rally in Meadville at 2 p.m. Monday.

The Claiborne County prayer rally will be at 9 a.m. March 3, and the Jefferson County prayer rally will be at 11 a.m. March. 3.

The schedule for other counties is available on request.

At the prayer rallies we will have a short program with music and selected ministers asked to pray. Dr. Jim Futral, our Mississippi Baptist executive director will bring a brief message and extend a challenge for us to commit to pray daily throughout 2011. Commitment cards and prayer pins will be available at the rallies. Dr. Futral has plans to speak at all 82 prayer rallies.

Acts 1:14 challenges us to be of one accord in prayer. There is no doubt, there is a great need for prayer in Mississippi. We have a desperate need for revival in our churches.

We need to pray for families struggling spiritually and financially. Our church leaders and our government leaders need prayer. And we all need to pray for God’s direction in our individual lives. Please join us at your local prayer rally as we cover Mississippi in prayer and reinforce the bond of Christian love that flows through every believer.

The Rev. Dale Little is the associational missions director for the Adams and Union Baptist Associations of Adams, Jefferson and Claiborne counties.