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Collection 176 Records of the National Prayer Congress

 Collection
Identifier: CN 176

Scope and Contents

Audio tapes and 1 film of 30 addresses given at the National Prayer Congress held in October 1976 in Dallas, Texas. Tapes were prepared as part of a series for radio broadcast. Topics cover both theoretical and practical aspects of prayer, including its role in evangelism, national revival, biblical teaching, and impact on the family. Speakers included Harold L. Fickett, Paul Toms, Rex Humbard, Jack McAlister, W.A. Criswell, Cliff Barrows and Billy Graham, William Richardson, Bruce Cook, James Kennedy, B. Clayton Bell, Corrie ten Boom, Paul Eshelman, J. Edwin Orr, Bill Bright, Ben Armstrong, Billy Melvin, Pat Boone, Pat Robertson, Vonette Bright, Charles Colson, Lloyd Ogilvie, Howard Hendricks, E.V. Hill, Robert Bowman, Samuel Coker, Harold J. Ockenga, Louis H. Evans, Jimmy Owens, Charles Stanley, and Frank M. Barker, Jr.

Dates

  • Created: 1976-1977

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Historical Information

The National Prayer Congress was a call to Christians in America to "turn to God in repentance and prayer for our nation." The Congress convened in Dallas, Texas, October 26-29, 1976, to hear addresses from thirty-two prominent Evangelical leaders.

Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ was the active force in bringing the Congress to fruition. As he put it, "As far as I have any knowledge, there has been no great prayer Congress of this kind since Pentecost." It was perhaps not an accident that this Congress convened in the nation's bicentennial year, when patriotic fervor was high. It was also not unique in equating patriotism with Christian commitment. Six weeks earlier, on September 17, 1976, 700-Club host Pat Robertson emceed the Christian Broadcasting Network television special "It's Time to Pray, America." This program called for Christians in America to unite for forty days in intercessory prayer that God would bring a spiritual and moral rebirth "to our beloved land." The fortieth day of this vigil fell on the opening day of the National Prayer Congress at Dallas.

The closing day of the Dallas Congress was also the first day of a twenty-four-hour "Call to Prayer and Fasting," spanning the night of October 29-30. This was sponsored by "Food for the Hungry" and urged America to pray and fast for the impoverished of the world. Like the Dallas Congress, it took as its theme II Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by me 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 will heal their land."

The thirty-two speakers were each assigned a topic--a facet of prayer. Their addresses ranged in length from twenty to forty-five minutes; each message was followed by a time for prayer. The overriding theme of the Congress was to seek God's favor on America. To this end, the addresses were to speak to a concern for the well-being of the church, and to the concept of church unity (not to say ecumenism), and were also to fan the fires of "revival sweeping the country."

The Congress was viewed not as an end, but rather as a beginning. It was hoped that films, videotapes, and audiotapes of the addresses would be used across America to foster local prayer efforts. Attendance at the Congress itself fell far short of the anticipated number.

Extent

16 Audio Tapes

1 Film : 16mm, color ; Ca. 30 minutes

Language of Materials

English

Accruals and Additions

These tapes were transferred to the Billy Graham Center Archives in August, 1980, from Special Collections, Buswell Library.

Accession 80-100

May 20, 1981

Galen R. Wilson

J. Nasgowitz

Title
Collection 176 Records of the National Prayer Congress
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Roman Script

Repository Details

Part of the Evangelism & Missions Archives Repository

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