14 Consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly.
Gather the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.
15 Alas for the day!
For the day of the Lord is near,
and as destruction from the Almighty it comes. - Joel 1:14-15
According to the United States Census Bureau, there are approximately 11.2 million people in the state of Georgia. A little over 101,000 of those people live in Lamar, Monroe, Pike, and Upson Counties God has placed us in a mission field.
Pew Research reports that 63% of Georgians claim to be Christian. That includes Protestants, Catholics, and basically anyone who identifies as a Christian. We know from our interactions with people that not everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus truly knows him as Savior and Lord. The Georgia Baptist Mission Board estimates that the number of true followers of Jesus in closer to 1 in 7. That means that at best, there are approximately 37,400 lost people in our four county region. At worst, that number is 86,700.
It is fair to say that the fields are ready for harvest. We have the truth of the Gospel, and there are many who need to hear. We know you want to see people saved, baptized, and discipled. But where do we start?
We believe that if we are going to reach the lost of our area, it must be a work of God. Our hearts need to be broken for their souls. Our minds need to be renewed with a passion to share our faith. Our cry to God must be proclaimed. We believe he hears us when we pray, so let’s start there.
Beginning June 2, 2025, we are asking every believer who is part of a Centennial church to commit to fasting and prayer for the lost of our area on one day a month. We have chosen the first Monday to make it easy to remember. You can fast and pray for a specific time or for the full 24 hours. You can fast like the early church from sundown on Sunday evening to sundown on Monday. You can gather with a group or pray alone. You can organize a church-wide event or simply get on your knees in your home. Whatever you do, make fasting and praying for the lost a priority.
Pastors,
We are specifically asking you to make this a priority in your church. Help this movement grow by announcing this in your church on the Sunday before the first Monday each month. Open the doors of your church on Mondays so people can drop by on their lunch break to pray at the altar. Make a list of lost people and celebrate when they come to Jesus. You may even want to find a prayer warrior in your church and give the responsibility of promotion to him or her. CBA will send you a reminder each month right before that Sunday.
We believe God is moving in our communities. We also believe lost people are worth the sacrifice of our time and comfort. Set the example for your church and be the first to commit to fasting and prayer for the lost of your mission field.
