In different Old and New Testament passages of scripture, we read accounts of individuals who had unique experiences with God while they were on a mountain. Jesus often went up on a mountain to pray to His Father. 

Can you remember a “mountaintop experience” you had with the Lord? That is, a time when you experienced a sudden, unmistakable manifestation of God’s presence with you? That undeniable spiritual experience may have occurred in a church building, in a room in your home or somewhere else. 

You may have known God’s presence like this on more than one occasion, but wherever, whenever and how often it has happened, you cannot forget that spiritual blessing as a redeemed child of God. 

On Tues., May 5, beginning at 10 a.m., pastors and others from across North and South Carolina are planning to assemble at Vengeance Creek Baptist Church in Marble, N.C., and then walk up to a place where individuals have gone throughout the years to pray on top of a mountain that is located on the property of Fred Lunsford. 

Lunsford is a retired pastor, a former director of missions for Truett Baptist Association in Murphy, N.C., and he remains a mountain preacher. Luns-ford was raised on a little mountain farm on Vengeance Creek. He was saved at age 13 and was baptized in Vengeance Creek that flows off this same mountain. 

Today, at 95 years of age, Lunsford is still serving the Lord faithfully and mentoring younger pastors. He strongly believes in the power of prayer and is burdened for a fresh move of God across our land. At numerous times in his life and ministry, Fred and his late wife, Gladys, have gone to his special prayer place on this same mountaintop to pray. 

Recently, Pastor Greg Mathis from Mud Creek Baptist in Hendersonville, David Horton, president of Fruitland Baptist Bible College, and some other ministers visited with Lunsford to talk with him about his fervent prayer life. Lunsford shared with those who were there that day that he believes the reason he’s still alive is because God has left him here to pray for a spiritual awakening. 

“Two years ago, I thought I was going to die at the age of 93,” Fred told those who met with him that day. “I was very sick and asked the Lord to let me die. I wanted to go to heaven, but God said, ‘Not yet.’” 

Lunsford said he then asked the Lord, “Why are you leaving me here?” He said that the Lord replied that He was “leaving him here to lead others to pray for spiritual awakening!” 

Lunsford has been faithful to do that these past two years. In fact, he said the upcoming mountaintop prayer gathering on May 5 was born out of God impressing him to call 100 preachers to gather together on the mountain to pray for a spiritual awakening in our state, nation and world. 

Will you consider joining this prayer gathering and encourage others to come with you? Anyone who wants to come pray is invited. 

You can learn more about the gathering and register for the event by visiting the Mud Creek Baptist Church website at mudcreekchurch.org. 

On the site, click on the “events” tab at the top of the page, and then click on “Praying On The Mountain.”

There is no cost to attend the prayer gathering, but registration is requested for a head count.