PRAYER . . . IN 2009:  WHO’S GOT TIME?

NASHVILLE –August 5, 2009– Pray without ceasing?  Really .  In 2009, with my schedule, what does that mean?  Who can afford to pray all the time?

Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church and executive producer of the Georgia congregation’s runaway hit films FACING THE GIANTS and FIREPROOF easily turns that question on its head:  “ In 2009, who can afford not to?”  He’s got grounds to talk.  The church that seeks to pray over every ministry and decision has managed to “reach the world from Albany GA.”  Latest evidence is its latest movie, FIREPROOF, currently in 56-plus countries and at least a dozen languages. And that’s the iceberg’s tip.

With the Sept. 1 release of Catt’s newest book, The Power of Persistence (Breakthroughs in Your Prayer Life ), readers can read about not what but Who put Sherwood on the map.  From a real and practical pray-without-ceasing kind of church, Catt illustrates liberally what can happen when people kneel and trust God for every outcome.

The Power of Persistence is the second in Catt’s three-book “Power of . . .” series, the third of which will be The Power of Surrender.

How does a person pray?  In particular, how do you do it “non-stop”?  Praying isn’t as easy as it sounds.  What does the Bible say about it?  As for God’s response—do people really hear His voice?  Weaving personal anecdotes and stories from scripture, Catt engagingly guides readers into prayers of opening (or re-opening) communication with God, learning from the Psalms (written by a man “after God’s heart”), praying for other people . . . ultimately to a breakthrough with God, who rushes to meet us like the Prodigal’s father in Jesus’ parable.

Catt’s way-outside-the-lines trust in God’s power has landed him in The New York Times, on The 700 Club, The Dr. Phil Show, and FamilyLife Today, to mention a few.  His liberating work with Sherwood Church, in a town of approximately 80,000 residents, has led to sales of more than 2 million copies of The Love Dare (the “plot device” in Fireproof )—along with movie novelizations and other books, all pointing to the simple and life-changing power of knowing God through Jesus Christ.

Michael Catt has served as senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany GA since 1989 and executive produced the surprise hit films that originated in his congregation. He is author of Prepare for Rain, Fireproof Your Life , and The Power of Desperation .  He founded the ReFRESH revival conference and blogs at
www.MichaelCatt.com

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