Editor,
About 80 Bella Vista folks attended the Mayor's Prayer at the Bella Vista Community Church on Saturday, May 5. In addition to Mayor Christie, about six ministers, three from Community Church, attended. All effectively led prayers asking for the following: unity in America; unity in the church in America; in our families; unity among all ethnicity's; and that we agree clearly, unite visibly and pray extraordinarily for the next great spiritual awakening in America.
God has clearly asked his followers to pray earnestly and continually. Recognizing that we have in excess of 20 churches in Bella Vista, I was especially disappointed that only a handful of pastors chose to attend this significant annual event. The presence of all or most of our Christian leaders would have visibly demonstrated widespread church unity for prayer and Christ.
Further, there should have been at least 200 to 300 people in attendance. It is also well known that only a few of the Bella Vista pastors attend and participate in the Bella Vista Ministerial Association. This also fails to exhibit Christian unity. Are pastoral interests so centered on one's own church that they are afraid to participate in a few events to show Christian unity and help stimulate a great spiritual awakening in our community? I am very disappointed and hope this lack of unity might be reversed.
I implore all pastors and Bella Vista citizens to do all in their power to glorify God via personal and corporate prayer in addition to keeping His commandments and helping non-believers to come to faith in Christ.
Harlan Phillips
Bella Vista
Editorial on 05/16/2018