Notla River Association to join National Prayer Event Feb. 15

BLAIRSVILLE — In a couple of weeks women of North Georgia have an opportunity to be part of the national prayer event.

The “She Loves Out Loud” prayer movement began with Diane Strack, the group’s president, began to feel God calling her to gather women to pray. Last May at the State Capitol for the National Day of Prayer, Strack spoke of her late mentor, Vonette Bright, who encouraged her in her last days to “Gather the women to pray. They are the only hope for our nation.”

Strack began gathering a diverse group of women who likewise felt a strong call to prayer. They began meeting and praying to execute this time of corporate prayer for women. That day will come Feb. 15, when women nationwide will be joining in prayer via free livestream broadcast.

Notla River Baptist Association is sponsoring the event with a livestream simulcast. Nationally, the event is sponsored by LifeWay Digital Resources, Life Today, The North American Mission Board, One More Child, and Student Leadership University. This event is being held at the North Georgia Technical College Conference Center.

Cindy Bailey, Notla River Baptist Association’s Women’s Ministry director, encourages women to register for the event soon. The cost is $15, which includes lunch on-site and snacks. However, Bailey does not want the registration fee to be a barrier for any woman wanting to come to the event. Anyone finding the registration fee a burden should contact Bailey at cindy@word4women.com.

On Feb. 15 registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Morning hours will focus on “a time of learning about and praying for the issues of mental health and suicide, community outreach, and ministering to military families,” she explained. “There will then be a break for lunch with the national livestream scheduled to begin at noon and end at 4:00 p.m.”

Opportunity to learn to pray through Scripture

The afternoon session will be a time of testimony and praying through Scripture in seven areas. Some well-known speakers include Sheila Walsh, who will address overcoming anxiety and depression, and Priscilla Shirer, speaking on race relations and friendship. Other topics to be discussed include healing from abuse and trauma, crisis pregnancy/adoption and fostering, prayer for America and military wives, marriage betrayal/pornography, and families and children. There will also be worship times led by Christina Reynolds.

Bailey said that while there may not be any formal teaching time during the event, there will be women attending who have never been taught to pray through Scripture and will learn by observing and listening.

When Bailey took the position of Women’s Ministry Director in October of last year, her goal was to revitalize women’s ministry in North Georgia through the “ministry bookends” of Bible literacy and prayer. In November, she discovered the She Loves Out Loud movement through a friend’s Facebook post and immediately began working to offer women of North Georgia this opportunity as the first outreach event for this new ministry.

In December, Bailey implemented weekly prayer calls for the local and national event. Each week, the prayer call focuses on one of the ministry areas to be discussed during the simulcast. Bailey also asked Union County’s sole commissioner, Lamar Paris, to declare Feb. 15 as a National Day of Prayer for the Women of Union County, which was presented to Bailey on Jan. 16.

Opportunities for local ministries

After the livestream ends, the day will wrap up with a time for “community connectedness.” Local agencies and non-profits will have the opportunity to share what ministries they offer, to be followed by a time of prayer for these groups. A community connectedness area will present additional information about the groups. Attendees will also have the opportunity to collect donations.

Organizations set to attend include The Women’s Enrichment Center, Georgia Mountain Pregnancy Center, Healing Hands Community Clinic, Hope House, Goodies from the Heart, and S.A.F.E. – an emergency shelter for abuse victims, as well as national women’s ministry Revive Our Hearts.

Bailey says anyone interested in further information or how to get involved should visit the She Loves Out Loud North Georgia Facebook group. Volunteers are still needed on the day of the event, and there is a schedule provided for anyone wishing to join in the remaining prayer calls. Bailey is hoping that from the women attending, a prayer task force can be formed to share and lift up needs within the community and beyond.