CALL TO DESPERATE AND EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER

The work of Christian ministry on the Navajo nation is slow, tough and seemingly impossible; however, we are called to be consistently faithful. The leadership of Church Rock Family Life Baptist Church realizes that Biblical truth cannot be compromised, and that we must be faithful and totally dependant upon the power and leadership of God's Holy Spirit to bring about His transforming work in the lives of people. We hold our traditions loosely as we seek God's Holy Spirit leadership in how we can communicate the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with the Navajo people most effectively.

As Southern Baptists, we recognize that the people in our churches talk and teach about the Holy Spirit, but there is a great tendency to discourage a strong focus on the Holy Spirit, fearing that the church will become too “Pentecostal.” We must realize the most crucial and important role of the Holy Spirit. Remember the words of Jesus in John 15:7-15.

7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 12 I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you (NASB).

We are asking the church leadership, the people attending the church at Church Rock, our friends, our supporters, and everyone who are to be involved in the ministry of this ministry in the coming months, to commit to an extended time of daily, desperate and extraordinary prayer. We must not see desperate prayer as something strange or weird, but we must see desperate prayer as a most pleasing act of worship before the one and only holy God of the universe.

We need to come together and seek God's Holy Spirit leadership and power in every aspect of the ministry here in Gallup and Church Rock communities. We need God's Holy Spirit power and leadership in every aspect of Church Rock Family Life Baptist Church every day. Each of the mission teams must be desperate for His leadership in every decision that is made and in every activity that is conducted. Every person involved with the church and the ministries of the church needs God's Holy Spirit leadership and empowerment in everything that is done. Each person needs to learn to put away their personal preferences, likes, dislikes, and habits and to ask God to show them the exact words and activities that are needed so that Jesus Christ can be lifted up effectively. Out of desperation, we must teach ourselves to get out of God's way and simply lift up Christ so that God's Holy Spirit can go about His work of convicting people concerning their sin, righteousness and judgment.

The ministry with the Navajo is overwhelming. The needs of the people are so extreme. The families are so broken and overcome with hurts. The addictions seem so permanent. The need to lift up Jesus among the Navajo people is so great! As Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father in all power and authority, we ask that God would glorify Him in the Gallup and Church Rock communities in a mighty way. We desperately desire that many persons will experience a real and life-changing encounter with the living God in the coming months.

We need to remember the words of Jesus in John 15:5 when He said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING (NASB).” We all need to cling to Jesus and be desperately dependant on God's Holy Spirit to do His work while we each remain faithful to lift up Jesus Christ in everything we say and do.