Prayer campaign focuses on West Virginia’s 55 counites

Pastor Chris Skeens of Ravenswood Free Will Baptist Church is the Jackson County’s prayer leader.

“The pastor in each county shares the prepared prayer of blessing,” Pastor Skeens said.

Jackson County’s prayer time was at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 1. At the end of that, the blessing was passed on to the next county. In this case, it went to Jeremy Eastman in Roane County for Aug. 2. It was then to go on to Wirt County on Aug. 3 and Calhoun on Aug. 4.

Pastor Skeens is the coordinator for the mid-Ohio Valley region which also included Pleasants County (July 29), Ritchie County (July 30) and Wood County (July 31).

The prayer in part reads, “As an ambassador of the living God, I declare this county is free from the enslavement of sin…I command justice to dwell within the gates and rest upon those chosen for God’s authority.”

On Aug. 26, a prayer for the Appalachian region will take place at Ruffner Presbyterian Church in Charleston. The culmination will see all 55 counties represented in a prayer vigil on August 27 at the state capitol from 12 pm to 5 pm.

The guide for lifting his county, state and region in prayer for Pastor Skeens comes from II Chronicles 7:14, which reads, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

The Jackson County preacher says unity brings blessing and results.

“If we pray in faith, hope and love, then God’s goodness and purpose will be released on our congregations, communities and our state,” he said. “It is important that this prayer is shared across our state.”

For information, go to www.wvprayer.com/55-strong.