Praying for Churches, Our Nation, and Another Generation

I am praying for my brothers who serve the Lord as pastors, as we seek to shepherd the Lord’s people and proclaim the Lord’s Gospel. Like you, I was shocked by the news of the assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus. These acts of evil ought to shock us. They grieve us and call for justice. I joined with many others last week in signing a joint statement in response. I am prayerful for those in roles of authority across our nation and for God’s hand on them. I am also prayerful for our brethren as we seek to minister. My good friend, Doug Echols, expressed the heart of many of us in his words to the church he pastors:

It is hard to believe that I am writing another one of these heavy emails. Over the last few years, I have written about devastating hurricanes, horrendous school shootings, and the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. This week we are all trying to come to grips with the senseless political assassination of Charlie Kirk. This event along with the brutal subway murder of Iryna Zarutska is yet another reminder of the brokenness of the world that we live in.

As I received news of the shooting and what turned out to be the assassination of Charlie Kirk, I was on my way to a college campus here in Virginia. In fact, last Wednesday, I actually was at three different college campuses. I first heard of the shooting from my son who is a medical student on a college campus. Later that evening, I was at a college sports event where my daughter was playing. As a father and grandfather, as a minister of the Gospel, I am also particularly grieved for this younger generation. I know we join together in praying for this generation, this nation, and those we serve.

As we pray…

1.     We cry out to God for comfort. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”  

2.     We recommit to point another generation to the Lord. Psalm 145:4 exhorts, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”

3.     We pray for justice and those who are charged with this duty. Isaiah 1:17 says, “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

4.     We must pray for peace. We are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).

5.     We recognize that we have hope in Jesus. Praise God for the hope that we have in the gospel.

6.     We are in desperate need of spiritual awakening. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and pray that He will send a fresh movement of His Spirit on our churches and our country. Psalm 85:6 “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”

This weekend, college students and young adults gather for the SBCV Young Adults Retreat. Please pray for this generation. May the Lord work through us to point them to the Lord. Father, thank You for Your mercy and compassion, they fail not. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, so we may be Your ministers to this generation. We pray for the widows, for the fatherless, for the confused, for those hurting and grieving. We pray for those who need to surrender to You as Lord Jesus. God help us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Southern Baptist leaders release statement on Charlie Kirk’s death, call for justice | Baptist Press