Earlier this week I was marveling at how different groups just keep announcing redundant pre-election efforts, so that there are now at least four separate groups launching prayer efforts heading into the mid-term elections: Pray and ACT, Cindy Jacobs and Generals International, the National Religious Broadcasters, and the Southern Baptist Convention.
But you know what was missing? An election-targeted prayer effort that is being orchestrated by a university. But fortunately, the University of Mobile has stepped in to fill that void:
A Christian university in Alabama is calling people to join together in prayer for a nationwide spiritual and cultural transformation as the mid-term elections approach.
The University of Mobile recently founded the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) to help leaders fulfill their responsibility to God as American citizens. Director Dr. Joe Savage tells OneNewsNow the first action the group is taking is launching The twelve23 Prayer Movement for America. The initiative is based on John 12:23, which says, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."
"Beginning October 1 through November 2, each day at 12:23 we're asking Christians to simply humble themselves and pray -- just for a moment," Savage explains. "Can you imagine if Christians across this land, at restaurants across this country, if people would stop for a moment and bow their heads and pray right there at the 12:23 hour?"
The twelve23 website makes the connection to the elections quite clear:
Beginning October 1, 2010 and concluding Tuesday, November 2, 2010, we are asking Christians around the world to pray for the United States and their own faithfulness every day at 12:23 p.m. and/or 12:23 a.m.
America’s mid-term elections are Tuesday, November 2, 2010. On this day, millions of Americans will exercise their constitutional freedom by voting for the candidate of their choice. This is a wonderful privilege! Knowing this is an extremely important election and knowing that our nation needs God more than ever, we invite you to commit to praying and to get others committed to participating as well!
And the accompanying twelve23 Contract lays out exactly how the godless liberals have been destroying this country:
Godless arrogance, at large among political leadership, has resulted in continued disintegration of effective and healthy state and national policies. Decline of religious instruction in homes and churches has led to clouded understanding of God and the embracing of Christian and pagan thought with equal standing.
A liberal political philosophy, historically weak in the face of evil, continues its influence at a time when we most desperately need protection from evil from within and beyond our borders.
Concepts of responsibility to God, responsibility to others, and self-sacrifice are lost in a national sea of greed and self-entitlement.
We believe these conditions constitute a spiritual and cultural attack upon the health and welfare of our nation.
