Since the last newsletter, the Lord has given me 3 wonderful opportunities to teach my workbook on prayer entitled, “The Biblical Path To An Effective Prayer Life” in Baptist churches in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina. I was very encouraged from the faithful attendance and spiritual hunger in all three. Usually when it is announced that you are going to teach 12 sessions on the subject of prayer; it can be like screaming “fire” in a crowded theatre! But, I was extremely heartened by the corporate commitment, as well as, the spiritual appetite for the teaching of God’s Word on this essential area of the Christian walk.

The most recent prayer conference was held at Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Easley, SC. In this Greenville-­‐Spartenburg area of SC, there are presently residing over 30,000 people from the nation of India. Church Planter, Suresh Jonnalagadda, is working under Mount Moriah Baptist Church as a missionary to these 30,000 souls. The Holy Spirit did a precious work in the heart of Suresh and his wife, along with many other believers, during this conference. Suresh shares the following words: “First and foremost we want to thank the Lord for making it possible for us to attend such an amazing conference. Bro. Ed, we want to thank you personally, for taking the efforts to come all the way from Mobile, AL to edify, educate and equip us in this conference on prayer. We want to thank the Lord also, for the love that He has given you for God’s children. We could sense the genuine concern and burden that you have for us; that we should grow in this vital area of our prayer lives. We were powerfully reminded that prayer is one of the 2 greatest weapons, which the Lord has placed in our hands. This conference was a soul searching, a soul stirring, and a soul surging experience. It has totally revolutionized our attitude toward prayer; and it has shattered many falsified and misconceived notions about prayer, that are widely prevalent in Christendom today.

I personally sensed the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart throughout the teachings. The Lord rekindled the fire in my heart to effectively pray in His will; and to intercede for the lost, with the burden and compassion of the Lord. Every part in this prayer series unfolded the art and attitude of prayer, in such a powerful way! By the end of the conference, we could all grab hold of these spiritual nuggets, to meditate on them daily, and apply them in our individual and corporate prayers. We now have every teaching that we need to mature in to the likeness of the image of our precious Lord, in this essential area of intercession. What a glorious conference this was. My words cannot describe the beauty of the gratitude that fills my heart toward my brother, for coming to teach us on this most vital, fundamental and foundational truth of “THE BIBLICAL PATH TO AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE”. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! May the Lord give you a long life; and continue to use you mightily for the edification of many souls across the globe ”.

There were also a number of other pastors and leaders from other congregations in that area, which attended the conference. One of those pastors was Bro. Rod Wilton. He is a dear friend in Christ, and the pastor of Living Grace Baptist Church. He wrote the following in their church newsletter. “Bro. Ed Lacy was used by our God to disciple believers at Mount Moriah, last week. The Word of God is still ringing in my heart from that conference. Frankly and sincerely, from my heart to yours, my most earnest spiritual desire would be to gather you all together for a solid week, so that the Holy Spirit may saturate us with the vital need to be a people who are ‘always praying-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐both individually and collectively’! Oh that we would be ‘Christ-­‐-­‐-­‐imitators’ in this one thing; namely, the fellowship of prayer with the Father, the Son and the Spirit. I implore you to go to the Mount Moriah website and listen.”

The prayer conference in FL was held at Fellowship Baptist Church in Steinhatchee, FL with Pastor Aaron Turner. Aaron has become a dear friend in the Lord, over the last few years. He is an awesome preacher; a man who walks with God; and a brother who is a faithful and loving shepherd to his flock. He shares these words of testimony about the conference on prayer. “God used this prayer conference in a very wonderful way; not only in the life of the church, but also in my own personal life! Our desire to pray and our excitement in anticipation of God’s answers have been greatly augmented. There is now a new freshness in our services that has greatly encouraged me. God has used this conference to make some “well needed” adjustments in my own life; as well as in the life of our church. We have already seen God do some awesome things in answer to prayer! We are so grateful that the Lord sent you my brother! I am also very thankful for the time of fellowship that I enjoyed with you. It refreshed my heart more than I can say. I feel like the Lord has knitted our hearts together. Since the conference, we have experienced a number of spontaneous prayer meetings among myself and members of the church, as well as with other pastors.” We came to realize the Lord’s perfect timing involving this prayer conference. Just days following the conclusion of the conference, Aaron was diagnosed with a very serious heart disease. He testified to me personally, that the Lord prepared him for this diagnosis in such a powerful way through the conference on prayer. He testified that his heart has been flooded with peace, even in the midst of some of the most difficult news that a believer could hear.

I also taught this study at Friendship Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. At this church we had two churches joined together for most of the sessions. One church is a predominantly white church and the other church is a congregation of black brothers and sisters in Christ. We enjoyed a tremendous time of blessing throughout the conference! There was great liberty to teach, from the very first session. Every night we enjoyed a terrific attendance; and there were many testimonies, of the Holy Spirit powerfully applying these truths on prayer in the lives of many! Glory to our Lord and Savior for His mighty working in our midst!