By Tony Martin
Associate Editor
The Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) has launched a new online prayer ministry resource, located at https://www.mbcb.org/prayer/.
Rick Blythe, director of the MBCB Stewardship/Cooperative Program Promotion Department, is spearheading the effort. “Last year, Dr. [Michael] Lee, [MBCB associate executive director for church growth] approached me and said that it was the desire of Dr. [Shawn] Parker [MBCB executive director-treasurer] that we develop a ministry that revolved around prayer, and would I be willing to undertake it. I said, ‘Sure, I’d be glad to.’”
Blythe set about the task of determining the focus of the ministry. “I tried to think about what would be the most useful for pastors and churches, and immediately thought about having a presence on our [MBCB] website. From that, we began to brainstorm what it would look like and the resources we wanted on it.”
Blythe consulted Kevin Meador, president and director of Prayer Closet Ministries, Inc., in Hickory. “Kevin believes that’s the ministry God has given him,” Blythe said, “so he focuses on prayer.” Meador gave Blythe permission to post his materials on the website. “That was a lot of legwork already done for us as far as good resources are concerned,” Blythe said.
Next, Blythe turned to Southern Baptists’ International Mission Board (IMB) in Richmond, Va. On their website are guides such as a calendar of missionaries for which prayer is requested. Southern Baptists’ North American Mission Board (NAMB)in Alpharetta, Ga., provides similar resources. The MBCB website has links to both IMB and NAMB prayer resources.
“Having been a pastor for 33 years, one of the things I wanted to provide were sermons on prayer,” Blythe said. “I wanted it to be a resource to give pastors some ideas and help in their study time. I hope this is an area that can continually grow. We want this to be a site that pastors and laypeople can go to.”
The MBCB prayer site is designed for any believer who would like to know more about prayer. It isn’t just for pastors. “I believe the person sitting in the pew would benefit,” Blythe pointed out.
Plans for the MBCB site include an upcoming prayer guide. “In 2022, we’ll be facing another election,” Blythe said. “We want to have a guide available that will hopefully give some direction to our people in praying for that election. I really want to tie together the concept of prayer and spiritual awakening.
“I want our people to seek personal renewal through prayer. Biblical resources on prayer will be provided. Someone once said, ‘Revival will not come lest it be rocked in the cradle of the bended knee.’ If you look at 2 Chronicles 7:14, right out of the chute God says, “‘If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.’
“We all know there’s a need for revival. I, along with many others, have been praying for that revival in our lifetimes.”
Blythe may be contacted at rblythe@mbcb.org. The MBCB online prayer ministry is supported by gifts to the Mississippi Cooperative Program (https://www.mbcb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cp_bulletin_explanations_2021.pdf).
