wfn.org | Lutherans Invite People To Prayer On The Internet

[NEWS@ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 1, 2004

Lutherans Invite People To Prayer On The Internet
04-131-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A new interactive online resource -- "A Call to
Prayer" at http://www.elca.org/prayer -- invites the 5 million members of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and others to pray using
Scripture, music and art.  Launched this month, the site also features a
"praying church network."
     "There is no doubt more and more people are using computers on a
regular basis," said the Rev. Robin McCullough-Bade, Baton Rouge, La.
McCullough-Bade and her husband, the Rev. John McCullough-Bade, created
the site.  They oversee evangelism and prayer Web sites, ELCA Division for
Congregational Ministries.
     "Imagine going to the ELCA prayer Web site first thing in the
morning, at a break in a busy day at the office, or as the last thing
before turning off the computer at the end of the day," said Robin.
"Hopefully [the prayer site] will become a favorite, providing inspiration
and opportunities for personal devotional time," she said.
     Prayer requests can be submitted on the prayer site, said John.
"These requests are then forwarded to participating congregations and
prayer groups in the ELCA 'praying church' network, who have committed to
pray for these requests for 30 days.  Interested congregations who want to
register to be part of the ELCA 'praying church' network can do so online
at the prayer site," he said.
     Other components of the site include prayers for healing and prayers
for peace, daily Bible readings, simple ways to pray, and "Prayer 101,"
John said.
     "Pastors wanting to call congregations to prayer through sermons are
invited to review lectionary tips" on the site, he said.
     The online resource was developed in response to the "Call to Prayer"
issued in the ELCA Evangelism Strategy, "Sharing Faith in a New Century:
A Vision for Evangelism in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,"
adopted at the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
     "The goal identified in the first objective in the strategy is to
'activate and mobilize this church to pray for renewal that is grounded in
the Word,'" said Robin.
_ _ _

     The Web site -- http://www.elca.org/dcm/evangelism/ -- contains the
text of the ELCA's evangelism strategy, resources,
frequently-asked-questions, assessment tools for evangelism and more.  It
provides a link to the prayer site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news