As we approach Passion Week, we remember the central role of prayer in Jesus' life. John 17 offers us the content of what we know as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Jesus acknowledges the urgency of the hour and asks for God to be glorified, even by granting eternal life to people.

In this urgent hour of demographic growth in Texas, the increased numbers of people who do not know Christ, and the brokenness we see around us nationally and globally, we, too, are compelled to pray. We pray for the lost. We pray for an awakening among Texas Baptists churches.

There are two exciting opportunities for Texas Baptists to unite in prayer for those who are far from God and for a Great Commandment, Great Commission awakening. I invite you to join in both of these and to invite everyone in your circle of influence to join as well.

Praying for a GC2 Awakening is a 50-day prayer emphasis from Easter to Pentecost. Texas Baptists are joining global Baptists in prayer for spiritual awakening, as together we seek to finish the task of the Great Commission in our state and beyond.

You may use this guide for your personal daily prayer time. We also encourage you to use it in your church, class, group and at home to pray for a Great Commandment and Great Commission awakening. You can use this link to let us know you are praying and to subscribe to a weekly email with the emphasis and daily prayer points.

Each week includes a theme and focus, six points for use throughout the week (allowing for a day of rest and reflection) and a related Texas Baptists ministry that you support through your generous Cooperative Program giving. Additional prayer points are provided for the week following Pentecost Sunday, as we conclude with prayer for Holy Spirit empowerment.

How appropriate that between the celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit to the church, the same period of days which the early church spent praying in the upper room, we would pray for a spiritual awakening and for power to make disciples of all nations!

We are also glad to see that even more Texas Baptists churches are praying for their neighbors using the BLESS App. Since we began the BLESS emphasis, churches lifted up 48,813 prayers for neighbors, an increase of 29.1% from February to March. In the same month, 1,047 people prayed using the app, an increase of 28.1%. There was also an increase of 25.9% in the number of homes prayed for, totaling 40,523 since October 2025. That represents only 53 churches–imagine if more churches joined!

If you are already using this app and praying for your neighbors, we encourage you to continue to do so. God is at work! If you have not done so, it is not too late to join this prayer effort. Texas Baptists is providing a free subscription to churches now through our annual meeting in November.

You can access links to sign up for the app here, as well as a “how to” sign your church up video.

Jesus prayed fervently before his crucifixion. The early church prayed expectantly between the resurrection and Pentecost. Let’s join our hearts and spirits in prayer in our day as Texas Baptists and with Baptists around the world for a Great Commandment, Great Commission awakening among our churches in Texas, in North America and around the world.

You can follow the prayer season with a 13–week Bible study around the theme of a “GC2 Awakening.” GC2 Press is publishing a study that explores “GC2 Strong: A Great Commandment & Great Commission Awakening” to be released for summer use. Stay tuned!