The nation’s largest Protestant denomination launched its 40/40 Prayer Vigil on Wednesday to seek spiritual revival and national renewal ahead of the highly-anticipated as well as historic presidential election in November.

All 16 million members of the Southern Baptist Convention, along with other Christians, are being encouraged to participate in the 40 days of prayer that begins on Sept. 24 and concludes on Nov. 2 – two days ahead of the vote.

“Our problems are God-sized problems,” said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). “They are problems of the heart. They are problems of the spirit. They are problems of the soul. And they are well beyond our ability to solve them."

“The only way they are going to be solved is if we have revival,” he said.

Land says a revival in America must first start with a revival in the hearts of individual Christians, in their families, in churches and then in American communities.

During the 40/40 Prayer Vigil - which is co-sponsored by the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and North American Mission Board (NAMB) - individuals, families and churches are invited to pray for themselves, the country and its public officials.

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The 40-day prayer vigil will culminate in a 40 hour, around-the-clock prayer session during the last three days, from Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. to Nov. 2 at 8 a.m.

More than 3,000 churches and individuals have already committed to participate in the vigil.

On the Web: http://ilivevalues.com/prayer