Christian Union Day and Night Hosts Fast

‘Turning from Our Wicked Ways’ / 6 Zooming in / 8 John Piper / 10 Q and A with Professor Timothy Flanigan / 11 Shock and Awe / 14 Our Refuge and Strength / 15 Christ and Crisis / 17

Responding to COVID-19

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. —2 Chronicles 7:14

‘Turning from Our Wicked Ways’

Christian Union Day and Night Leads National Fast

by catherine elvy, staff writer

Christian Union Day and Night their wicked ways, then I will hear from recently called believers across the heaven and will forgive their sin and heal United States to an extended time their land.” of prayer, fasting, and repentance in reIndeed, the Old Testament includes sponse to the COVID-19 pandemic. various accounts of God miraculously in

During the spring, tervening on behalf of His 4,700-plus individuals people after they humbled signed up to fast and inthemselves and confessed tercede in the wake of the their sins. global health crisis. As for contemporary Though the fast originalbelievers, we are likewise ly was scheduled to run called to examine ourfor 40 days starting on selves genuinely and reMarch 18, Christian pent of individual and Union Day and Night collective sins. “This is extended instructional what we are to do when programming through there are calamities that May to support more Chuck Hetzler, senior associate come upon the country or concerted prayer. leader with Day and Night our families,” said Ben

In launching this ininett. “God is amazingly tiative, leaders with Christian Union Day merciful.” and Night highlighted examples of lengthy Dr. Chuck Hetzler, senior associate fasts throughout church history, especialleader with Day and Night, echoed those ly in response to plagues, pestilences, and sentiments. other plights. Many of the major figures “We want to take God at His Word. If of the Old Testament, including Moses, we will draw closer to God, He will draw Nehemiah, and Esther, committed to eloncloser to us,” said Hetzler, who holds a gated fasts. doctorate in New Testament. “Our fore

Christian Union Founder and CEO fathers in the faith here in America knew Matt Bennett called for believers to respond those promises, and they put those to the to the coronavirus outbreak with sincere, test. He will do it again if we will unite, if deep groaning, and prayer. “We believe we will pray with fervency and persistence this is what is needed at this time,” said according to God’s Word.” Bennett, Cornell ’88, MBA ’89. In 2016, Christian Union launched Day

“Our hope is in our God who can turn and Night to mobilize Christians to pray all of this around. God is sovereign, but fervently for sweeping spiritual transformaHe has elected, out of His sovereignty, to tion in the United States. Nearly 22,000 let us play a role in seeing things change.” people have committed to pray fifteen min

Bennett highlighted the powerful words utes per day as part of an ongoing intercesof 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who sory effort for a powerful move of God. are called by my name humble themselves, In response to the coronavirus, Day and pray and seek my face and turn from and Night released morning and evening video devotionals via its Web site, e-mails, YouTube, Facebook, and other social media. Day and Night’s Facebook page had 80,000 views per week during the pandemic.

“We’ve seen good receptivity,” said Whit Hazelton, Christian Union Day and Night’s marketing director. “People acknowledged the sinful condition of our land. They are eager for spiritual awakening. We are asking for a move of the Holy Spirit.”

Hazelton also noted that many people have sent in testimonies about how participating in the fast has encouraged them and strengthened their faith.

“We need God to help us through this trying time,” he said. “This could be an opportunity for a new Great Awakening. We’re ripe for spiritual renewal.”

In a series of video devotionals, Bennett called upon believers to repent of sins besetting the United States, including self-indulgence, greed, sexual immorality, unforgiveness, and idolatry. He also highlighted the overarching imperative for contemporary believers to honor and fear the Lord.

MINISTRY DURING A PANDEMIC

For updates on COVID-19's impact on Christian Union, go to:

ChristianUnion.org/ coronavirus

Over four thousand people, from cities and towns across the country, fasted and prayed with Christian Union Day and Night in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of a recurring theme, Bennett urged listeners to center their foci and priorities upon seeking God. Likewise, he cautioned against the sins of self indulgence, and spotlighted the myriad ways Western believers are lovers of pleasure, rather than God.

In contrast, members of the early church were faithful to gather for morning and evening prayers as an extension of their spiritual zeal. “You cannot be what you are called to be without these times with God,” he said. “You need to be strong in the Lord.”

Bennett also showcased the nature of prayer and repentance in paving the way for revival. Extraordinary seasons of prayer involving humility and repentance preceded each of the Great Awakenings in Amer- ican Christian history. Such events include the Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s; the Second Great Awakening of roughly 1795 to 1835; the Third Great Awakening, which included the Businessmen’s Revival of 1857-58; the Pentecostal Awakening of the 1906; and the Jesus Movement of the 1970s. Hetzler echoed similar sentiments regarding repentance during a video devotional in April. “One of the primary purposes of the Bible is to bring correction,” said Hetzler, also the pastor of Bethesda Grace Church in Midtown Manhattan. “Be a person who is open to rebuke, and you will become more complete. You will be equipped for every good work.”

Bennett urged American believers to heed God’s urgent call for His people to examine individual and national conduct. “This is a time to repent for the United States,” said Bennett. “This is what the Lord expects of us. We need to turn to God and repent of everything that is displeasing to Him.”

Christians need to respond with humility, prayer, and sacrifice during the unprecedented global pandemic. “May we not miss this time and may this nation return to Him,” said Bennett. “We’re grateful for all of those seeking the Lord. We’ve had thousands of people across the country joining us.”

Ultimately, “He hears our cry together. We need prayer more than ever during this time of national crisis.” | cu