June 11, 2001

Texas Baptists pray the perimeter: Surrounded by prayer
___By Ferrell Foster
___Texas Baptist Communications
___Texas Baptists walked, rode in boats and on motorcycles, joined hands across bridges, sat in lawn chairs, climbed a hill overlooking the border and gathered around a pickup truck in an effort to "Pray the Perimeter" June 2.

Motorcyclists pray in Brownsville before departing for a prayer rendezvous at Port Mansfield.

___Large crowds gathered in some places, while only one or two people gathered in others. Through the combined effort, though, Texas Baptists attempted to wrap the state's borders in prayer.
___The Baptist General Convention of Texas worked with the state's 37 perimeter associations in planning the effort. A number of churches throughout the state also participated in a "prayerwalk" of church facilities Sunday, June 3.
___"I believe we broke new ground in the prayerwalk of the perimeter," said Ted Elmore, director of the BGCT office of prayer and spiritual development. "Initial reports are very good. Not only Texas Baptists, but other Christians participated in various areas of the state."

Bill Slaughter and Bob Parson pray on a fishing boat in the Aroya Colorado, near Harlingen. Slaughter is pastor of First Baptist Church in La Feria; Parson is a member of Aroya Baptist Chapel. Bob Swinnea piloted the boat.

___Pray the Perimeter was the first prayerwalk experience for Charles Wade, executive director of the BGCT. He joined 50 to 60 others, including Mexico Baptists, at Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates in Brownsville.
___"When you're walking, space changes," Wade said, likening it to the difference between traveling by airplane and by car. "Space gets bigger, and time gets longer. Your sense of being connected changes." And "as you pray, God gives you a passion, a heart for people."
___Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association, at the southern tip
__of the state, saw at least 58 of its 155 churches participate in a variety of prayer activities, said Rick Hagar, director of missions.

Participants in the Pray the Perimeter link hands in prayer at the Rio Grande River in Brownsville.

___About 150 people from Gethsemane Baptist Church in McAllen linked hands with Mexico Baptists at the Pharr and Hidalgo international bridges. Two men from Aroya Baptist Chapel in Aroya City prayed in a fishing boat as they crossed the Laguna Madre to South Padre Island, where they joined others walking on the island. A group of leather-clad men and women rode their motorcycles to a Port Mansfield prayer rendezvous.
___"I thought it was awesome," Hagar said of the prayer effort.
___All that on a day in which the temperature climbed to 104 in the valley.
___Random reports came in from around the state.
___ Five people from Karnack Baptist Church in East Texas, near Marshall, sat praying in chairs along State Line Road, said Pastor James Holland. "People stopped and asked us what we were doing, and we got to witness to them." One man in a pickup pulling a boat said, "Great, I need you to pray for me, and I want you to pray more."
___ Thirteen people from First Baptist Church of Vega in the Panhandle prayed for an hour and a half at a roadside park just across the border in New Mexico, said Pastor James Peach. They were joined by 32 people from Taylor's Valley Baptist Church in Belton who were on their way to Glorieta Baptist Conference Center. "It was really great." People confessed sin and "asked God to heal our state, ... to move the people to a new awakening."
___ Five adults, accompanied by a 3-year-old, prayed where Highway 49 turns into Louisiana 2 east of Jefferson, said Michael Walker, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church. They went through a prayer guide prepared by Randy Babin, director of missions for Soda Lake Baptist Association. They prayed for the BGCT and its leaders and also for the Louisiana Baptist Convention and leaders there.
___ Seven vanloads of Baptists followed driving instructions for six "zones" in Bowie Baptist Association, in the northeast corner of the state, said Director of Missions David Warren. "I'm getting good feedback." Participants "said it was a real blessing."
___ Nine people, ages 15 to 46, from Windsor Park Baptist Church in DeSoto started at the Oklahama-Texas border and walked 8 miles south as they prayed, said Michael Thigpen, chairman of the church's prayer committee. Two sons came with their dads. Some walked the church facilities Sunday morning. "What a glorious morning it was. Deeper walks with Christ are happening all over the church."
___Participation seemed greatest along the Rio Grande River, with smaller groups spread around the state.
___Elmore was pleased with the results, however. "The creativity used by some, the insight gained by others and the positive reports all indicate that it is worth doing again."
___He will discuss with associational directors of missions the possibility of repeating the effort next year. A tentative date of May 18, 2002, has been set aside.
___Prayerwalking "enables us to focus on the task God has for us and yet realize that it is only through Christ that we can do all things," Elmore said. "In prayerwalking, the eyes see, the mind engages, the heart feels and the spirit rises within to make petition to God. Almost everyone who has participated in these events goes home with an assignment from God related to their own home area."
___Wade likened it to how "the sun draws water out of the seas, and it comes back as rain." In the same way, "God draws prayer out of the hearts of his people and brings it back as blessing."

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