Once a month, a diverse group of pastors, businessmen and women, mothers with children and others gather to pray for Fayette County and its leaders, the schools and the children it educates, and a litany of personal petitions.

Scheduled first Thursdays and conducted at Sams Auditorium in the Lafayette Education Complex (formerly Fayette County High School), the one hour of devotion grew out of the National Day of Prayer celebrated in May.

“Why do it just once a year?” was the question asked by Gray Harwell of Cherith Ministries and other pastors last spring. “Our vision is that the body of Christ come together,” Harwell said. Referencing Chronicles 2:14, Harwell said, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn away from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

The result was a gathering of the prayerful in June which has grown steadily to number 50 in September. ”Ten to 15 different churches are represented,” Harwell noted. Priests and ministers from various denominations take turns leading the one-hour service, which opens with a 15-minute segment of praise and worship.

“The Lord is there with us and it's a time to worship Him,” said the Rev. Dr. John Hatcher, senior pastor of Rivers Edge Community Church. He also observed that the gathering has become more diverse in the months following the May Day of Prayer, drawing pastors from all types of churches from charismatic to Catholic. “There is also a good number of lay people attending,” Hatcher noted.

Thursday, Oct. 7, the monthly prayer meeting will focus on preparing the hearts of the community for the debut of the “Jesus video.” Scheduled for mailing between Oct. 4 and 14, the video, which portrays the life of Jesus Christ, will be delivered to every household in Fayette and Coweta counties. The arrival of the video will initiate “a time of spiritual awakening for the community,” predicted the Rev. Sam Colleiro, senior associate pastor at River's Edge Community Church. Sunday, Oct. 3, also will be marked as a day of prayer and preparation in area churches; a day when pastors will alert their congregations to the coming of Jesus in VHS format. “This will impact every church in the county,” Colleiro said.

Approximately 40,000 videos are ready for distribution, according to Mary Frances Bowley, a key organizer for the project, which has the support of 76 churches, J93.3 JOY FM radio and The Citizen newspaper. Bowley said a postcard will be sent out to all households in Fayette and Coweta counties, alerting residents to look for their copies of the Jesus video soon. Radio spots and billboard advertisements also are in the works as part of the overall plan to promote the video's arrival.

For information about the prayer meetings, phone Lynn at 770-306-0290.

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