Awakening Alliance Issues Prayer Challenge for 9/11

With strong conviction that America was in a devastating spiritual decline, a network of leaders from a broad coalition of evangelical, Pentecostal and charismatic ministries launched the Awakening America Alliance five years ago. Some of the fruit of that alliance is Cry Out America, a united, public moment of prayer for awakening that takes place every year on Sept. 11.

“In many ways what happened on Sept. 11, 2001 signaled what would take place in the 21st century,” says Billy Wilson, executive director for the International Center for Spiritual Renewal, Empowered21 and The Awakening America Alliance.

“We saw the collapse of things we thought were certain, of things we thought would never fall and we saw an invasion of darkness and fear in our nation that we had never experienced. Some days I wake up and ask myself ‘How in the world did America get in this shape? How did we become this dark in my generation?’ I believe that can change but it can only change if the people of God unite in prayer.”

Cry Out America has more 865 county coordinators, 31 state coordinators, and 1,700 churches, Ministries, and intercessors registered for 9/11 prayer gatherings across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands. The Awakening America Alliance expects more than 2.5 million people to join in crying out for a spiritual awakening in 21st century America.

“As we head toward 9/11 and a presidential election, we believe that our trust does not lie in the economy, not in military might and not in politics. Many Christians are lured into thinking that politics are the answer but the one and only answer is Jesus,” Wilson says.

“Cry Out America comes at a crucial time in our nation’s history. On a daily basis, numerous commentators express their shock at how far this nation has strayed from a spirit of freedom and public trust in God. American’s greatest need, even in this difficult season, continues to be their need to know Jesus Christ.”
 
Judy Seifert, COA Ohio State Coordinator,reports 29 county coordinators in the state’s 88 counties. Several of the counties without coordinators will be participating through churches and individual prayers.

“While things appear bleak for our nation, we must stop and remember the Scriptures that remind us, to see the whole matter, you have to examine things from God’s point of view. When we look behind the public scenes, and look at what God’s people are doing, it’s only then, that we see the vast moving of His hand at work in our behalf,” Seifert says. “And His hand is moving mightily in opening large venues of prayer throughout our nation. When God’s people pray, God moves!”
 
Wilson says we need God to hear our cry, forgive our sin and heal our broken land. He is calling every county in the U.S. to unite in prayer. He is calling sacred assemblies across denominational lines, from every race and every political persuasion to stand on the public square and say that Jesus is the only answer for America on 9/11.
 
Cry Out America will precede America For Jesus: A National Call to Prayer, which is planned for September 28-29, 2012 at Independence Mall in Philadelphia. To learn more about the Awakening America Alliance, how you can get involved in Cry Out America, to become an Alliance partner or to learn more about America For Jesus, please visit www.awakeningamerica.us.