February 26-27, 2021
Athens Church
OFFSITE prayer starts Friday at noon and concludes at midnight Saturday. To sign up for a slot go to https://www.slottr.com/sheets/18259171
ONSITE prayer will be happening in The Mix Prayer Room, located in The Gallery (next to the green space, across the street from Starbucks) at Athens Church. You can come and pray for the students and leaders at The Mix any time the room is open – Friday from 6 to 9pm and Saturday 9am to 9pm.
Thank you for praying for The Mix 2021!
Like everything else this year, The Mix will look different than years past. As you pray, remember God knew this all along and is fully willing and able to move among these students within the many changes. This prayer guide is simply a tool and launching pad to help you engage with God in intercession for students across the Athens area. Use the Scriptures and prompts to assist you in following the Holy Spirit as you pray. God has already been at work preparing the way for students to turn to Him in repentance, surrender and salvation, let’s partner with Him to see each work in each student brought to completion!
Our primary purpose of The Mix is to provide a relevant and safe context for students across our city to come to a saving and growing relationship with Jesus.
One final note before launching in. The most effective and powerful way to pray is to ask according to the Father’s will and in Jesus name (Matthew 7:7-8, John 16:23-24, 1 John 5:14-15). The way we know His will is by tapping into His word and asking the Holy Spirit teach and help us (John 16:13-14, Romans 8:26). As you pray, let the scriptures be your cry, reminding God of what He has promised. Here lies the secret, praying His promises and the prayers of the Bible are a sure way to increase the effectiveness of your prayer! So, please use the scriptures noted in this guide (and others He may lead you to) and allow the Holy Spirit to take you from there!
Prepare the Way
In 2 Chronicles 5, Solomon had finished the work of building the temple and all the leaders came together before the people of God. They worshipped and “praised the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever,” then the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not remain standing to minister because of the cloud; for the glory and brilliance of the Lord filled the house of God.” (2 Chronicles 5:13-14) Let’s begin by worshipping God for preparing the way practically and spiritually for each student. Spend a few minutes praising God for the work He has already done to bring each student to this moment – aligning schedules, permission from parents, internet connection, friendships, even in brokenness, frustration, doubt, etc. God has been working. Thank God for preparing good works beforehand so that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). Ask Him to receive our worship and praise and hear our cries as we pray for The Mix, that He would make His glory and brilliance as evident among these students as He did among the Israelites in 2 Chronicles.
Deuteronomy 3:24 (NASB)
‘Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?
Psalm 77:14 (NASB)
You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples.
Throughout this weekend, we need the Holy Spirit to do the work of preparing students to recognize and respond to the move of God. This requires God to prepare the way in practical and spiritual ways. Practically, ask God for every student and leader to be awake, engaged, and undistracted. Ask God to make all the equipment work, internet connections remain strong, and students arrive and depart without confusion or harm. Spiritually ask God to open eyes, soften hearts, ready minds, clearing out wounds and fears to make room for the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:19) Ask God to remove every distraction, obstacle, comparison, self-assessment, idol, crush, or heaviness that would obstruct a student’s path to Jesus. Cry out that every argument, all arrogance, every lie, fear or accusation, everything raised against the knowledge of God would be fully destroyed (2 Corinthians 10:5). Ask Jesus to make Himself known, to bring salvation and redemption so students can build lives of obedience into maturity in Christ.
Isaiah 40:3 (AMP)
A voice of one is calling out, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness [remove the obstacles]; Make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God.
Proverbs 3:6 (AMP)
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (MSG)
The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
Isaiah 57:14-15 (NASB)
And it will be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove every obstacle from the way of My people.” For this is what the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Holy Expectation
With many changes and differences in The Mix this year, there is both temptation to compare it to previous years and invitation to let it be whatever God wants. Let’s ask God to stir in us expectations based on who He is instead of what we want. Where students may face doubt or fear about all that is different, if the good or bad from other years will be repeated, ask God to reveal that He is steady, unchanging and remains the same forever. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8) Where expectations do not align with God’s will or student’s experience, ask God to draw near to individual’s personally to restore hope in Jesus in the midst of disappointment. In areas where students (or leaders) feel or believe God has disappointed them or let them down, cry out for revelation of Jesus to breathe new life into dry bones, bringing to life promises and hope that have been dead or discounted. (Ezekiel 37:10-12) Ask God to instill in every person faith and confidence He is willing and able to redeem, restore and be part of every story and situation (Mark 1:40-41). Ask God to speak in powerful and personal ways to stir hope that He is faithful.
Numbers 23:19 (NASB)
God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Psalm 19:14 (AMP)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 39:7 (NASB)
And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.
Psalm 71:5 (NASB)
For You are my hope; Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth
Isaiah 40:31 (AMP)
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.
Hebrews 10:36-38 (NCV)
You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. For in a very short time, “The One who is coming will come and will not be delayed. Those who are right with me will live by faith. But if they turn back with fear, I will not be pleased with them.”
Exponential Engagement
With 16 churches, there are many different ways of doing things. Let’s ask God to bridge every gap and reset every breakdown in communication. Ask God to bring every small group leader onto the same page with the Spirit, the speakers and the worship team. Ask God to fill every student pastor with humility, peace and confidence as they lead their students into new experiences with God. Ask God to encounter each pastor and do eternal work in their hearts that will overflow into weekly teaching, leader training and even hiring decisions. Ask God to speak new life into each leader, that they too would be refreshed by God’s spirit as they encounter Him in the worship, teaching and discussion. Pray for students to engage fully with God’s Word this weekend, connecting the dots between who they have heard God to be and how they have personally experienced Him. Pray that across churches and throughout groups, students, leaders and staff would champion one another toward Jesus without competition or comparison. Ask God to build connection between churches and across groups that would reflect the power and blessing of a united church.
Psalm 133:1&3 (NIV)
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! … For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.
Matthew 16:18 (NLT)
Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Even more than previous years, the online options and traveling plans of many churches mean parents are more fully involved. Take some time to ask God to encounter parents and bring them into more personal and intimate relationship with Jesus. Ask God to bring each parent-child relationship to new levels of effort, grace, trust and discipleship on both sides. Cry out in agreement with parents who have been praying for their child’s salvation, health, or decisions and children who have been desperately asking God to save, heal, or bring parents’ home. Ask God to grant endurance to those who are growing weary waiting for a move of God. Ask God to reveal and speak Truth into every heart that He is faithful every time.
Malachi 4:5-6 (ESV)
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.
Luke 15:17-20 (NLT)
When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
Hebrews 10:35-37 (NASB)
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
Offering an online option for the first time this year means more students can be involved, and there is new territory in which we need to pray! Ask God to prove Himself sovereign over all creation including weather, power and internet connections. Ask God to calm any storm- that there would be no loss of power, no damage to equipment or signals, nothing to keep His Word from going forth and accomplishing His will. Ask God to protect students who will be viewing from home- declare that every student will be safe from interruptions, hackers, viruses, or lies they weren’t part of what God is doing. Ask God to intervene in every family in which a student is trying to watch the Mix, that sibling rivalries, data overages, conflicts/fighting over computer/tv time, etc. would bow to the authority of God’s word and the glory of His presence even over distances. Ask God very practically to keep every student, leader, parent and volunteer healthy and safe throughout the weekend. Declare every taunt or threat or lie of satan and every hidden thing is destroyed as God’s Truth is spoken over these students all weekend long (2 Corinthians 4:1-6).
Isaiah 55:11 (NASB)
So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 66:1-2 (NASB)
This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, so all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But I will look to this one, at one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
Services/Schedule
Use this schedule to pray for students in the actual “live” sessions, as they worship, hear the messages and respond to the Gospel.
- Friday: 7:00pm – 8:45pm
- Saturday (@ Home Church): 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Saturday: 7:00 – 9:00pm
- Sunday: Church at Home Church
Doors will open 30 minutes before each service. Pray that God would stir each student with expectation and wonder as they wait for the service to begin. Pray that God would seat them right where they need to be, right next to the person He has for them to be around.
This year, we will be having a sessions in two different auditoriums at Athens Church. This will allow us to provide physical distancing as well as program towards specific age groups. Please pray that students would listen, receive and respond to what the Holy Spirit is saying and doing in their lives!
On Saturday morning, every youth group will get to bring The Mix back to their home church! The Mix is providing a “Church Kit” for each group, that will include a video message, small group questions, games and other activities for their group to spend time together. We have never done this before. Please pray that students would absorb everything that is presented and to engage as if it was in the larger corporate settings.
Saturday afternoon is open for each group to spend it any way that brings their group together. Often groups find ways to serve throughout the city, spend time relaxing with their leaders, or join other groups for fun activities! Please pray that God would use this time together in memorable, fruitful and powerful ways.
Worship as Warfare
FRVR FREE will be leading us in worship again this year, and we want to ask God to tune their ears to hear His voice. Ask God grant each worship leader discernment to know where students are and wisdom to know how to lead them toward the throne of God. Ask God to protect each leader’s families as they lead these students into spiritual battle and victory. Ask God to reveal Himself as Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner to each worship leader, his/her family, and to each student as we wage war in the Spirit to see victory and freedom that endure forever. Ask God to turn every heart toward Him as music engages students minds and bodies- that each one would be able to forget themselves and fix their eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Exodus 17:15-16 (NIV)
Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
2 Chronicles 20:21 (NIV)
Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.” As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NIV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
From The Mix Small Group Curriculum:
If 2020 has revealed anything for our students, it has shown them their futures look uncertain, truth is elusive, identity is fluid, and people are crazy. Yet hasn’t this been the story of people since the beginning? There are always calamities waiting to derail our best-laid plans. There is still someone telling us that what we know to be true might be false. Who we think we are seems to be a moving target that never stops. And well, people might be crazy. In cultural upheaval, students have opportunities to trust in a God who has been faithful to His people throughout all of history. Over and over, people have forgotten what promises He made to them. Yet, when rediscovery happens, revival follows.
We want our students in Athens, GA, to know that “God is a Man of His Word.” He has made them promises. He has a plan to include them in His mission. And He is FAITHFUL. God keeps His promises.
Session 1: God Keeps His Promises
Session 2: The Bible is How We Know His Promises (Video Message)
Session 3: Faithful People Under God’s Promises Change the World
Speakers
As Gerald Fadayomi and D.A. Horton speak, ask God to make His voice and faithfulness known to them in deeper ways, to transform them in such ways they cannot help but declare the reality and nearness of God. Ask God to anoint their lips, that they would speak with the authority of heaven as messengers directly from God speaking words that are spirit and life (John 6:63). Ask God to amplify their testimonies to capture students’ attention and silence satan’s accusation in ways that last. Ask God to make Himself great, and destroy any pride or idolatry that may attempt to steal the glory He alone deserves. Ask each speaker grow in humility and wonder of God as he speaks. Ask God to make clear to each student the simple application and steps to obey Him in each of these truths- God is faithful to keep His promises (1 Thessalonians 5:23), Scripture is how we know what He promises (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and Faithful people under God’s promises change the world (Acts 1:8). Ask God to show each student He is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13), a man of His Word (Psalm 145:13), that He will do all He has said and finish every work He has begun (Philippians 1:6).
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Revelation 12:10-11 (NASB)
Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
Small Groups
Ask God to prepare students to hear, process, discuss and apply the session teachings and small group times. As groups share, ask God to bring each student to a new depth of relationship with Him and the community He placed around them. Ask God to protect the time spent in small group, to provide a holy covering that nothing can penetrate. As settings and time may be different than previous years, ask the Holy Spirit to foster safety that allows vulnerability as students share, confess, encourage and strengthen one another. Pray for students to have deep supernatural engagement and focus in these concentrated times of processing. Ask God to grant leaders discernment and wisdom as they facilitate discussion. Ask that each leader would have spiritual sight and sound to sense the heart/root of student responses and direct them to Jesus for all they need. Ask God to move among leaders to stir a greater fear of the Lord, awareness of the weight of this calling of leadership, and greater integrity moving forward in discipleship with Jesus.
Fruit that Remains
Our primary purpose of The Mix is to provide a relevant and safe context for students across our city to come to a saving and growing relationship with Jesus. The Mix can act as a catalyst, quickening the spiritual work of discipleship that parents, leaders and student pastors foster and sow throughout the year, but that is the work of God. Let’s ask God to move in ways only He can move so that the seeds of the Gospel and discipleship can yield fruit 30, 60, 100 times. (Mark 4:20) Ask God to bring many students to saving faith through genuine repentance and response to the message that Jesus is our Savior. Ask Jesus to stir our hearts to obey the Father the way He obeyed the Father (John 5:19). Ask Holy Spirit to convict students regarding sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16:8). Pray students would hear the voice of God with purity and humility, that they may walk in His ways and receive His promises in faith (John 15:15). Cry out to God for the salvation and revival of this generation- that not one would perish (Matthew 18:14), but each one come to the knowledge of the Truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Ask God to stir among these students a desperation to see on earth as it is in Heaven- true revival among their families, friends, churches, and schools. Ask God to build momentum during the Mix that will help carry students until they have built the endurance needed to receive what was promised (Hebrews 10:36).
1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 (NASB)
for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sakes. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word during great affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
Psalm 7:12 (NCV)
If they do not change their lives, God will sharpen His sword; He will string His bow and take aim.
Jeremiah 26:13 (NCV)
Now change your lives and start doing good and obey the Lord your God. Then He will change His mind and not bring on you the disaster He has told you about.
Ezekiel 18:32 (NCV)
I do not want anyone to die, says the Lord God, so change your hearts and lives so you may live.
Romans 12:2 (NCV)
Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to Him and what is perfect.
Colossians 1:21-25 (NCV)
At one time you were separated from God. You were His enemies in your minds, and the evil things you did were against God. But now God has made you His friends again. He did this through Christ’s death in the body so that He might bring you into God’s presence as people who are holy, with no wrong, and with nothing of which God can judge you guilty. This will happen if you continue strong and sure in your faith. You must not be moved away from the hope brought to you by the Good News that you heard. That same Good News has been told to everyone in the world, and I, Paul, help in preaching that Good News.
James 1:2-4 (NASB)
Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The Church participating in The Mix 2021
Covid-19 has required us to do things quite a bit differently this year. We have less than half the churches who participated last year, participating this year. But still we are believing that this year could be one of the best, most fruitful ones yet. The emotional and spiritual climate in our world has really prepared the students and leaders. There is a real hunger and desperateness in our communities. Please be praying for God to use The Mix as a catalyst in the churches (listed below) as well as in the schools and neighborhoods where these students live and spend their time. Ask God for revival / awakening / reformation / transformation in these churches and student ministries that will shake their churches, campuses, our city and the world.
Alps Road Presbyterian
Athens Church
Briarwood Baptist
Classic City
Cloud’s Creek Baptist
Cornerstone Church Athens
Faith Presbyterian
Friendship Baptist
Harmony Baptist
Lexington Baptist
Living Hope
New Covenant Worship Center
Prince Avenue Baptist
Salem Baptist
Tuckston UMC
Watkinsville First Baptist
~~~
Thanks again for joining us in praying for The Mix 2021, for the students, the leaders and for a catalytic movement of God to come out of it!!! Your prayers really do have a powerful impact on The Mix! And thank you Kelsey Parham (Watkinsville First Baptist Church) for helping put this prayer guide together!!!
