Historically Speaking. Today, Thursday, May 6th, 2010 marked the 59th annual observance of the National Day of Prayer. Signed into law on April 17th, 1952 by President Harry S. Truman, this national call to prayer serves as a reminder to one of the first documented calls to prayer by the government of the United States in 1775. Knowing the critical nature of their deliberations and the legacy it would establish for all future generations of U.S. citizens, the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom on their behalf.

Although not signed into law until 1952, there are numerous calls to national prayer throughout our nation’s history. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer.” In fact, from 1789 to present, there have been over 136 calls to national prayer by the President of the United States.

Personally Speaking. I am glad for the Christian heritage and legacy of our nation as represented each year by the National Day of Prayer. However, if a day comes where our President refuses to “declare it”, or our judges try to remove it, it will not negatively effect our right or our ability as believers to gather for prayer and worship. The fact of the matter is, we don’t gather enough as the entire “Church” throughout our region(s)… and nothing is stopping us the other 364 days of the year - nor, should it stop us on the first Thursday in May of each year.

Biblically Speaking. There is only one Biblical prescription for what to do when a nation is in apathy, in need, in turmoil, in famine, or in drought. We find it in 2 Chronicles, Joel, Nehemiah, and Esther (to only name a few prominent ones). We have to come up out of our normal activities (even if it’s your wedding day, or you’re taking care of an infant - see Joel 2), and we have to gather for fasting, prayer, and repentance. The result? HE will hear our prayers, and then do what’s best for us, to try and bring us back into closer relationship with Himself. (2 Chronicles 7; Joel 2)

Crawford County! I was incredibly blessed by this year’s National Day of Prayer. Thank you local pastors for stepping up and doing much of the planning and leading for this year’s event. Thank you, JanaLou Devers, for the vision, organization, and unseen hard work that you sow into this gathering each and every year.

Why was this year so special? I was anticipating (dreadfully) some speeches about the recent court decision ruling the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional, and people expressing outrage or like sentiments. Instead, I saw pastors and the people of our area gathering around local family members, church leaders, government leaders, business leaders, media workers, and education system workers to speak BLESSINGS over them. We have a choice “to bless or to curse,” and I am so glad when I see followers of Jesus choose to BLESS! Anyone who came today expecting to see some upset Christians in controversy, hopefully “knew us by our love.”

And, yes, I am the goatee guy playing the guitar that’s been on the news reels from previous years’ gatherings while talking about this year’s National Day of Prayer - and the one that Jared Broyles of Channel 5 interviewed on the Van Buren courthouse lawn today (along with my beautiful daughter, Israel)!

As many of you know, we had to temporarily stop our consistent Saturday prayer gatherings due to leaks in the roof of the prayer room.  It turns out, that this was a much needed time in mine and Robin’s lives to spend some more time with just us and the Lord, and with our family.  The Lord has really been blessing us with rest and refreshing us.  We’ve also had some great opportunities to serve some other local ministries through prayer and worship that our schedule may not have allowed for in previous times.

The Lord has given me some exciting vision for a new season, and I originally thought it was for 2010 - but, I need more clarity on the “when”.  The “what”, “why”, and “how” are amazing, and the Lord just completely downloaded them to me in a matter of minutes while spending some time in personal prayer out at the Youth With A Mission Base in Ozark (YWAM-OZARK - Thank you Jim & Barb Nizza and the YWAM hospitality team). It was funny how it happened, and I’ll leave you with this “life lesson turned devotional thought”:

I thought I was going on this prayer retreat to “get vision for the next step of the prayer ministry.”  This time away was GOING to be productive - spiritually… I was determined.  I get there, unpack my things, move some stuff around the room to make it more conducive for my devotional needs, and then start right into praying and asking.  IMMEDIATELY, the Lord stopped my prayers and said, “this time is just for Me and you to hang out together - just love on me… worship… adore… read My Word… read a book about My goodness… no asking this time.”

I spent the next 32 hours or so doing nothing but those things.  The night before I left, I started putting the room back the way it was and packing my things up; I was ready to go to bed and put to rest this really glorious and sweet time I had with the Lord.  Just as I was about to lay down, the Lord reminded me of something, which then lead to an entire vision, plan, and strategy for the local church regarding prayer and worship.  Then I wrote my first EVER complete worship song, and two more pieces, all in a matter of minutes.

If you will let Him fill you up, you will overflow.

Aaron

p.s. Oh, yeah, this post was about the status of the prayer room.  Join us in prayer as we seek that answer together.  Honestly, the financial support isn’t enough to be able to be faithful in paying rent to anyone (we average about $250 per month).  Rent on most of the buildings that are of adequate size and type are typically $800-$1500 per month.  We don’t ever want to be a bad testimony to a property owner - so, maybe your answer to the “what now” is a consistent monthly gift?  If so, please visit mine and Robin’s ministry website www.likedaviddid.com where you will find a partnering link where special gifts can be given, or monthly reoccurring payments can be established through our tax-deductible ministry: “Like David Did.”

http://www.likedaviddid.com/partnering

I’ve been asked several times since April about our new schedule now that we have our own central meeting location - so, here it is - along with some vision for future plans:

EVERY Saturday
6pm to 9pm

That’s it - simple, and a great place to come and begin to cultivate a lifestyle of gathered prayer and worship. In partnership with other prayer & worship gatherings in our area, we will always ask people to please prioritize attendance of other prayer gatherings over ours - but, we will remain consistent, so as to try to keep anyone from ever showing up at an empty building when they’re expecting a prayer meeting.

On the Second Saturday of every month, our meeting format is a little different than on the other Saturdays. On the Second Saturday, our meeting is modeled after one of our mottos: fiery worship; bold teaching; fervent prayer - because, that’s exactly what happens on that night, and in that order.  Unlike all of the other Saturday meetings that are 3 hours of constant intercessory worship, with a “drop-in” schedule (come and stay for as little or as much as you want) - the Second Saturday will start with about an hour of uninterrupted worship, after which a short & concise teaching will be given that is aimed at fueling a life of prayer and worship, which will flow into a time of response and intercessory worship for the remainder of the evening.

The Prayer Room is located on the corner of Alma Blvd and North 20th St in Van Buren, AR.

We will have an internship beginning August 1st, and will aim to have morning and lunch-time prayer & worship sets up-and-going as many days as possible, as soon as possible.  These meetings will probably be from 6am to 8am, and from 11am to 1pm, and, will be of the “drop-in” variety.  Because it will also (most likely) be difficult to put full worship teams together (at first) for these meetings, they will probably be one or two singers & musicians, along with one or two dedicated prayer leaders facilitating corporate prayer & worship.

The Prayer Room is not directly financially supported by any specific congregations, nor do we intentionally seek-out this time of “budget item” support.  Our rent and utilities are paid by individual believers (and their families) who have a heart-for and understand-of the need for saints to gather themselves together and pray for our region.  Right now, a small handful of us are covering these costs with great sacrifice.  We eagerly invite you to join us in helping to provide this cross-denominational, multi-congregational place of prayer and worship.

Your gifts can be sent via traditional mail to:

Like David Did
1000 Flat Rock Dr
Van Buren, AR 72956

Or, one-time, or recurring monthly giving can be securely established on-line via PayPal at our directors’ website: http://www.likedaviddid.com/partnering.  All gifts are tax deductible.  A PayPal account is NOT needed, and gifts may be given using most bank cards.

We hope to pray and worship alongside you very soon.

Aaron & Robin Jackson

Although I serve with the board of the Crawford County National Day of Prayer - it kind of snuck up on me.  You probably saw a tee-shirt at one of the NDoP events and now you’re visiting this site.  Well, there’s a lot of great articles on here, but, most of them were actually intended for the personal blog of our directors, Aaron and Robin Jackson.  (They just exported them over so we could get some content in here to see what the site would look like.)

However, we will be putting up articles about The Faith of Our Fathers, and items about what all the Lord is doing in our region to establish us, His Bride, as a praise upon the earth.

So - check back soon!

The river valley now has its very own prayer room.  We are located on the corner of Alma Blvd and North 20th St in Van Buren.

We are currently meeting every Saturday from 6pm to 9pm.  Everyone is welcome to attend and participate. Come for the entire meeting, or just for a few minutes.  Spend time in Bible reading, prayer, personal devotional, or engaging with the ministry team in praying & singing Scripture over our region.

We look forward to praying and worshiping with you soon!

On Friday, January 3rd and Saturday, January 4th a combined ministry team from the Fort Smith, Arkansas river valley and the International House of Prayer in Kansas City will be ministering in Bowling Green, Missouri.  Morning Star Fellowship will be our host.  We would like to thank Pastor Gary Green for his obvious heart to believers in the entire Bowling Green region continually equipped for more effective ministry.  The gatherings are open for anyone who would like to attend.

Friday night we will start with fiery worship as we, like King David, long to encounter the affections of the Lord, and ask Him to come and establish a dwelling place for His presence in the midst of His people.  As the Lord allows, our team will minister through the bold teaching of Holy Scripture, and using whatever giftings the Lord graces us to use that will strengthen and equip the believers present.  

After a time of ministry, we will then engage in fervent prayer using an intercessory worship structure that the Lord has given us.  During this time of prayer and worship, key intercessors will help lead the entire room in Biblically-based prayers, and invite anyone else who wants to participate to come and join in (either on the microphone, or just from their seats).  We encourage the use of “the Apostolic Prayers”, since they are Holy Spirit inspired prayers for all believers, found directly in scripture.  Who better to be in agreement with as we pray?

As each person prays through their verses, the psalmist singers will sing, echo, and develop the Scriptures being prayed.  This helps engage hearts, minds, and souls, like you may have never experienced before.

That service begins at 6pm.

On Saturday morning at 9am, we will open with a simplified worship time, and then minister in whatever way the Lord has asked us, or the local leadership has requested from us.  When believers come together, it should always be about one (or both) of two things:  equipping people, or ministering to the Lord.  We plan on doing both.

So join us as we start off the New Year.  There’s no better way to get 2009 going… I assure you.

Manifest Blessings!

Aaron & Robin Jackson
http://www.likedaviddid.com

Tuesday, December 16th, anyone wishing to be involved in the leadership team for the Second Saturday gatherings is welcome to come to Heritage Church at 6pm for a leadership meeting.

We will be in the Welcome Center.

This is the third Saturday, so our meeting with be at Heritage Church in Van Buren, Arkansas.

6pm to 9pm