Find out how you can support the campaign in prayer
By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League
It’s Friday — have you prayed for marriage today?
That’s the question the Rev. Rocky Carpenter would love to plant in the minds of Christians across the state as they spread the word and trust the Lord for His result in the Marriage Protection Amendment referendum coming this May.
The pastor of Harmony Community Church in Peachland, Carpenter is the new chairman of the Prayer Committee for Vote FOR Marriage NC, the statewide effort to amend the Tar Heel Constitution to confirm marriage as between one man and one woman.
“At the first Vote FOR Marriage NC meeting I went to, Tami Fitzgerald (Vote FOR Marriage NC chairwoman) asked for a prayer leader. God quickened my heart, and after praying for a week, I called her to let her know that I was the man to lead the prayer effort,” said the Rev. Carpenter. He said his beautiful wife of 27 years, four children and two grandchildren were also among the reasons he stepped up to the plate.
“We must preserve marriage God’s way,” he added. “God is calling his elect to boldly and lovingly stand for the preservation of marriage according to his word in this great state of North Carolina!”
He said to be victorious in this battle, Christians should “pray without ceasing” and “enlist as many as possible to pray.”
For that reason he is calling on pastors and their congregations to use their e-mail and social networking sites to spread the word about the importance of defending traditional marriage and the need to call on God for his help. He said it will take pastors to lead the charge, but that all believers should be joining in prayer since James 5:16 promises that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
The Rev. Carpenter is also designating Friday of each week as the Vote FOR Marriage NC corporate prayer day since the sixth day of the week corresponds to the sixth day of creation when, according to Gen. 1:26-28, God created man and woman.
In his recent e-mail to Christians across the state, the Rev. Carpenter listed specific issues that should be lifted in prayer.
- “Pray for the salvation of our gay and lesbian neighbors (Isaiah 59:1,2),” he wrote, reminding recipients of the message that homosexuals are not the enemy (Ephesians 6:12).
- He also asked for prayer for Vote FOR Marriage coalition leaders (1 Tim. 2:1,2), for workers (Matthew 9:37, 38), and for financial provision (2 Cor. 9:7).
- Most of all, he challenged marriage supporters to pray that “God would be glorified in this effort! (Rev. 4:11)”
The Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, echoed the appeal reminding CAL supporters that time is short with just 12 Fridays between now and the May vote, but also that God is faithful to those who seek Him wholeheartedly.
“We must call on the One who created marriage to preserve marriage, and we must ask for wisdom and courage to do what He calls us to do in this effort,” Dr. Creech said. “After years of having this issue languish, our legislators have now put it in the hands of the people. We can’t drop the ball.”
The Rev. Carpenter said marriage supporters should not feel outnumbered or overwhelmed as opposition to the One Man/One Woman definition heats up, but encouraged.
Take Christian Action:
To find out how to get involved in the Vote FOR Marriage effort, log onto http://www.voteformarriagenc.com/