Bixby church prays around the clock for GC
Beginning at midnight, a tag team of Bixby-First members kept vigil for 24 hours on March 2, a day designated for all people of the Oklahoma Conference to pray for the General Conference (GC) and for the Oklahomans who will attend and vote.
Bonnie Pulver leads a prayer focus group at the Bixby church. She organized the vigil after learning about the special day through social media. A prayer ministry leading up to the conference is engaging United Methodists around the globe.
"I felt like the issues before the General Conference are more life-changing than ever before," Pulver said. "We need to take seriously our support of our delegates and the world."
She downloaded, printed, and placed materials on the sanctuary altar to assist those who signed up to pray in 30-minute stints. A three-ring binder held the thorough 2016 General Conference Guide, more than 50 pages.
The volunteer for the first prayer shift stayed until 2 a.m., Pulver said. He wanted to read all of that guidebook.
Also available were a list naming Oklahoma’s delegates and a liturgy written by retired deacon Ginger Howl at the request of Bishop Robert Hayes Jr.
Pulver said she continues to promote the global call to prayer for the conference and has kept the resources on the altar for further use.
Within Bixby’s "Grow–Serve–Connect" ministry structure, the prayer focus group is part of "Connect," she noted.
You can access that guidebook at www.umc.org/who-we-are/gc2016-general-conference-guide