Randall Murphree
AFA Journal editor
September 2016 – Bert Harper and Alex McFarland (photo above) cohost Exploring the Word, one of American Family Radio’s original teaching programs, heard Monday-Friday at 3:00-4:00 p.m. (CT). Since ETW debuted three years ago, they have taught more than 75% of the Bible’s 66 books. As an outgrowth of their radio program, Harper and McFarland have also begun hosting occasional prayer rallies in cities where AFR is heard.
Prayer for our nation
They are now urging listeners to attend a prayer rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, September 16 (details below) for a night of prayer, praise, and the reading of God’s Word.
“Fayetteville is one of our nation’s most strategic cities,” McFarland said. It is home to Ft. Bragg, the largest U.S. Army installation in the U.S. with more than 50,000 active duty personnel. It also includes Pope Air Force Base, home of the 82nd Airborne Division.
“There are many great churches there,” McFarland added. “In coming together for a night of prayer, we think it is symbolic that a city so key to our national defense can also play a role in America’s spiritual defense.”
He commended area churches, which are partnering with AFR to do the ground work preparing for the rally. Harper and McFarland believe a sweeping move of God’s Spirit is the only hope for saving this nation, and rallies like this Fayetteville event offer a time for Christians of all ages to gather and pray with one voice.
“Such times are truly life-changing, and have the potential to change this prodigal nation,” Harper said.
The Word for God’s people
Both men bring decades of ministry experience to the table. McFarland is a prolific author, evangelist, and apologist who frequently finds himself on college campuses sharing biblical truths. Harper pastored churches for more than 30 years before joining AFA as a fulltime staff member in 2011. In addition to ETW, he leads AFA’s ministries to families and pastors.
The format of ETW is to teach verse-by-verse through the Bible in conversational, easy- to-understand language. The second half of each broadcast hour is dedicated to fielding listener questions live on the air.
“Our listeners are some of the most enthusiastic students of God’s Word I’ve met,” Harper said. “They are passionate about truth, and committed to know the Bible so that they may live out the Word in their daily lives. Callers regularly testify about how the Bible teaching has impacted them or their family.”
McFarland compared ETW to an on-air revival meeting: “The Holy Spirit is very present in the broadcast as Bert and I simply read God’s Word, and each verse pretty much speaks for itself. God blesses the presentation of His Word. We have had people pray to accept Christ on the air during the broadcast. Bert and I know how desperately this nation needs the message of Jesus, and we believe that the broadcast is something God is using to impact countless lives.”
“John 17:21 shows how concerned God is that His church be unified,” Harper said. “Christ prayed, ‘That they all may be one … that the world may believe.’ As Alex and I prepare to come to Fayetteville September 16, we are asking pastors and leaders to urge their people to attend. Fayetteville and the nation will see that there is power and blessing when the people of God unite.” 
An Evening of Prayer for America
Festival Park
Fayetteville, NC
September 16
6:30 p.m.
For more information, or to learn how your church may be involved, contact:
Kristen Brice
kbrice@covenantlovechurch.org
910-323-1515 x212.
Exploring the Word can be heard online at afr.net.
