Arizona Southern Baptist Convention

"The last 40 years represent by far the biggest moral and spiritual collapse in American history," said Gregory Frizzell, prayer and spiritual awakening specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

Frizzell led a prayer conference titled "Restoring the Foundations of Empowered Church" at First Southern Baptist Church, Scottsdale, Feb. 11-12. There were 28 prayer leaders from several Arizona associations and churches who attended.

In the two-day conference sponsored by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention, Frizzell addressed key reasons why in spite of more Christian education, various evangelism strategies and innovative methods, this moral and spiritual collapse plagues our nation today.

His studies indicate that in the 1950s churches discontinued "prayer meetings." Other activities at church on Wednesday evenings crowded out the prayer time that empowered many churches, he said.

Another reason for the spiritual collapse in our nation is that the "quiet times" of believers have become too brief, he said.

Frizzell identified seven priorities that empower believers and New Testament churches:

(1) Powerful personal and corporate prayer,

(2) Powerful personal and corporate repentance,

(3) Loving fellowship and relational reconciliation,

(4) Evangelism/missions,

(5) Discipleship/Preaching/Biblical Preaching/Small Groups,

(6) Ministry/Church and Community,

(7) Worship.

He stressed that priorities 4-7 can't be done effectively without priorities 1-3 happening.

Another subject addressed at the conference was "Embracing Powerful Personal Prayer."

Our quiet times are often far too brief, and, in America, we have gotten used to confessing things but not forsaking them, Frizzell said. He spent time explaining how we can abide and live in the fullness of Christ through a powerful personal prayer life.

Frizzell addressed the topic of "The Necessity of Powerful United Prayer."

In virtually all great awakenings, he said, corporate prayer was a central and crucial element. While in the past, prayer meetings in our churches were replaced by other activities, the good news is there is an indication that in some churches prayer meetings are re-emerging, he said.

Another subject addressed was the danger of shallow evangelism.

"Revivals fizzle out because there is no discipleship, no ongoing cleansing, and repentance is shallow," Frizzell said. Too often our churches have "decisions" rather than true "conversions."

The last session dealt with recognizing the urgency for change.

Frizzell cautioned those attending the conference that "things will not just work out." Real change in the prayer life of individuals and churches will take place when personal and corporate cleansing takes place, he said.

Frizzell's lifelong research is on prayer, evangelism, and spiritual awakening. He has written more than 20 books. These books and other resources are distributed through a non-profit ministry and are available through the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma website.