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Web site calls Rowlett to prayer
By BRIAN PORTER/Managing Editor
Everything just seemed to fall into place in January from the vantage point of Kason Huddleston.
The pastor of The River Church in Rowlett was in the midst of a 21-day fast. The day former Rowlett mayor Shane Johnson’s resignation was accepted by city council was the day he was to offer the invocation for the city council.
He had prayed for the city on his own accord since July, when over the course of 10 days in the summer a family slaying and the shooting of a good Samaritan caught his attention.
He asks the membership of his church to fast for 21 days beginning on Jan. 1. Near the end of his fast he was asked to offer the invocation for the city council and had a vision during a film honoring the tenure of Johnson.
“I just starting writing down my vision to pray during the presentation,” Huddleston said. “I thought we could put our hands to something we all could agree on through prayer n the election and the leadership of Rowlett. I announced it that night.”
He presented a call to prayer for all citizens. What would follow is the establishment of www.PrayRowlett.org, a site devoted to uniting church membership in the city.
Huddleston founded The River Church, 8601 Liberty Grove Road, in 2002. The city of Rowlett had a population of 47,000 and 36 churches. The city has grown in five years by about 8,000 in population, but Huddleston indicates 11 churches have closed.
“I was discouraged,” he said. “Something was wrong. Even now, if every church had 2,000 regular members that’s only 50,000. That means 5,000 people have no place to go.”
To begin making an impact, Huddleston visited Lake Cities Baptist Church and presented a $1,500 check to pastor Shawn Bitner, who he witnessed in need. The following Sunday the church exceeded 51 people in attendance for the first time in quite a while.
Then he made an offer to preach at New Life Fellowship Church and the offer was accepted.
“That is so unusual that it would happen,” Huddleston said. “It’s a vision of putting people, churches and pastors together.”
The vision of www.PrayRowlett.org is focused in the short term on the May election, when three candidates will vie for the available mayoral seat and three other council seats are up for election.
“We won’t push people,” Huddleston said. “We will pray for all candidates. We have no political agenda. People ask me why I don’t run for office. I can do more as a praying pastor than as a politician.”
The Web site is designed to do more than focus on the short term. The election season will close May 12. Huddleston wants the Web site to focus on the elections as it applies to Rowlett.
He believes there are biblical principles which apply to the state of the city, beginning with the rash of crime he noted across 10 days in July.
So, each last Saturday of every month he has organized a city-wide prayer meeting at his church at 7 p.m. Those prayer sessions will take place March 31 and April 28 before the election.
He has also organized a pastoral prayer meeting on the first Tuesday of every month at 11 a.m., also taking place at The River Church in Rowlett. The next two sessions on April 3 and May 1 will precede the election.
“God was concerned about cities in the Bible,” Huddleston said. “We have a burning desire to see our city change. I know I’m one person, but there is power in one. I’m just one preacher, but we can bring our churches together.”
He believes the election is a turning point for the city. When Huddleston looks at previous voter turnout, he’s concerned that so few make a decision he deems so important for so many in the city. He has goals of at least 10 percent voter turnout.
The election is part of a seven-tiered prayer format used during prayer meetings. According to Huddleston the format includes “Opening the heaven of our city, praying for a drug-free city, have 80 percent of residents with a home church in Rowlett, see crime go down in 2007, praying for the economy and local business, praying for families to find a moral compass and finally prayer for the election.”
A Day of Prayer for the city has also been planned for May 3. It is tentatively scheduled for noon in downtown Rowlett. Huddleston says the www.PrayRowlett.org site’s goal is expressed by Jeremiah 29:7 which reads “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” The verse is adorned on the Web site.
The short-term focus is the upcoming election and www.PrayRowlett.org is planning a mayoral candidate forum, in which Huddleston pledges a fair and unbiased approach.
“We felt it was going to be important to know who the candidates are. We thought about a debate, but we don’t want debate,” Huddleston said. “We are for all candidates.”
To keep with the forum idea, Huddleston and other pastors will accept questions through www.PrayRowlett.org and by calling 972-475-8009. The questions will be prayed on by pastors and selected, but not released to the candidates until the forum at 7 p.m. April 30 at a site to be determined.
“We want answers straight from the heart,” Huddleston said. “The debates of the past have not been very good from what people have told me. It was a one-sided thing and we support all three candidates.
“Our voter turnout is awful. Let’s have a voter turnout that will be an eye-opener. It’s a great time to live in Rowlett, but let’s make it a time where good things are spoken about our city.”
The forum will also offer an opportunity for all candidates for all places to meet citizens. For current information visit www.PrayRowlett.org.
Contact Brian Porter at bporter@acnpapers.com or to comment on this story visit www.MesquiteNews.com.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Sam Theckamuriyil wrote on Mar 23, 2007 6:50 PM:
" Rowlett needs this....Rowlett needs prayer...Rowlett needs Jesus. We have to come together....We have to stand together....Its not about denominations or banners....Its about being one for the Kingdom coming....Lets do it....Rev. Huddleston, we stand in unison with you. ALL for the glory of GOD. "
pastor kason huddleston wrote on Mar 23, 2007 7:00 PM:
" brian,
you have done a great job!!!!!
may God bless you work and the paper see an immediate measurable increase.
blessings!
pastor kason "
Tom and Cindy Lewis Combine Texas wrote on Mar 23, 2007 8:02 PM:
" I thank Kason Huddleston for his views and his outlook for the city of Rowlett. It is about time someone stood up and seen more than just the landscape of the city. It is very obvious that there is more than meets the eye when you look at the city. I will join with Huddleston and all the other Pastors whom have finally decided to take a stand for GOD and His intentions.
"
Brent Palmer wrote on Mar 23, 2007 9:41 PM:
" Great article. I know personally that Pastor Kason has a passion for helping people and getting people to come together for one common goal. Future articles about this would be greatly appreciated. Please stand on God's word and great things will happen in your city. "
Kendall Bridges wrote on Mar 24, 2007 11:49 AM:
" Brian,
I just want to let you know that I think you did an awesome job writing this story. This is the kind of news that we need to hear more about. This is about good people, doing good things, for a good cause. I like it! Keep the good stories coming. "
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