Praying Together for 170 Days
By Ken Nabi, Converge Great Lakes Regional President
Over one hundred seventy years ago, a handful of Swedish immigrants stood by the banks of the Mississippi River near Rock Island, Illinois. With hearts full of faith and little else, they baptized three believers in the name of Jesus — and a gospel movement was born. From those humble beginnings grew what we now know as Converge.
Through every name change and every new chapter — from the Swedish Baptist General Conference to the Baptist General Conference and now Converge — one thing has never changed: our mission to bring the gospel to people who need to hear, and our complete dependence on God to do the work.
From June 23–25, 2026, our Converge family will gather just outside Washington, D.C., for Converge Together 2026 — a celebration of 170 years of life change through the power of the gospel. It will be a family reunion of churches and leaders, filled with worship, stories, training, and connection as we look to the next chapter of what God is doing.
But before we celebrate, we must seek Him. Renewal always begins with prayer.
That’s why, beginning January 4 — exactly 170 days before the conference — we’re launching a movement called “Praying Together for 170 Days.” It’s a united call across our churches to humble ourselves before God, asking Him to renew His work in us, our congregations, and our communities. Over these 170 days, we’ll pray for a fresh move of God’s Spirit: that He would renew our courage, deepen our dependence, and strengthen His church for the mission ahead.
In Isaiah 45:8, God Himself speaks, declaring His intention to bring righteousness and salvation upon the earth:
“You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the Lord, have created it.” — Isaiah 45:8
This is not the cry of a prophet but the promise of God — a reminder that renewal and righteousness are His work, not ours. He alone sends the rain that softens the hard ground of our hearts. Our part is to humble ourselves, pray, and prepare the soil for what He will do.
Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5
Those words come from one of the most intimate moments Jesus shared with His disciples. In John 15, He calls us to abide — to remain connected to Him as branches draw life from the vine. To abide is not a passing act of devotion but a daily posture of dependence. It is to live aware that everything fruitful and lasting in our lives flows from His presence.
When we abide in Christ, His life flows through ours. When we drift from Him, our efforts — even our best ministry plans — become dry and lifeless. That’s why this season of prayer matters so deeply. We are not simply asking for blessing; we are seeking the abiding presence of Christ to renew His people and empower His mission through us.
So I invite you — and your church — to join this effort. Visit 170daysofprayer.com to learn more about the movement and access current and upcoming prayer resources that will guide us towards Converge Together 2026. Mark the key dates on your calendar and call your people to pray with the rest of the Converge family.
Let’s humble ourselves and pray for renewal — that God would move among us again, just as He did 170 years ago, for His glory and for the good of those still waiting to hear the gospel.