By Guest Columnist Chris DeWelt

Our Lord and Savior has gained the victory! Prayer is the key daily element that connects the believer to that victory. Through him that victory is ours as well. 

This year’s North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky (July 9-12) will provide many opportunities for God’s people to come humbly before the Father, seeking as one body, “Thy kingdom come! Thy will be done!”

Here are a few of the prayer components of the 2013 NACC.

A Passion for Prayer

Prayer testimonies will be given by international Christian leaders during each main session and will be tied to the main theme of that session.  Each leader will describe some of the powerful ways God has answered prayer. These moments will provide an opportunity to pray with and for brothers and sisters serving Jesus in very difficult places around the globe. 

A Place for Prayer

This year’s prayer room will be easily accessible and highly useful. Here you will be able to pray with and for program participants, particularly the international leaders who are giving their prayer testimonies. The prayer room will be available to all who wish to have moments alone with Jesus, or to pray with others. Directional banners will lead attendees to the prayer room.

A People of Prayer

The “Unleashed for the Unreached” prayer wall will be present at the NACC. The prayer wall focuses attention on the unreached people groups of the world. Convention participants will have opportunities to pray for specific ethnic groups. Workers will be available to assist participants. Print materials will be provided for those who make an ongoing commitment to pray for the completion of the task of taking the gospel to the whole world.

You can make a difference in this year’s convention. Here’s how.

Pray before the convention. Lift up the speakers, the program, and the many events that are a part of the Louisville gathering. Your prayers will pave the way for God’s blessing!

Pray during the convention. Take advantage of convention prayer opportunities. Yes, you will be busy! But please take time to connect your heart with brothers and sisters in prayer. Use the prayer room. Visit the prayer wall. One of the great blessings of the NACC is that thousands of people gather together and, inevitably, much prayer takes place spontaneously. 

Pray following the convention. Bring home some elements from the convention that will connect your experience there with your prayer life under your own roof. What a wonderful way to see the victorious blessing of God continue beyond the few days that we are together.

The victory of the cross of Christ today begins with his daily victory in our hearts. This is best seen in a life of prayer. May NACC 2013 raise up a people of prayer who fully abandon themselves to their victorious King!

In addition to serving as director of missions and professor of New Testament studies at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, Chris DeWelt is the 2013 national prayer chairman for the NACC.

Shawn McMullen’s regular column will return next week.