Select an atheist friend or relative and pray for them by name each day during the month of April, 2010 (and beyond!). It’s easy and could make an eternal difference for someone you love.

According to American Atheists there are over 30 million Americans who claim to be atheists. April 1st has been referred to both National Atheists Day and April Fool's Day but Christians are not fooling around when it comes to praying for atheists.

Recently, Christians started a "Pray for an Atheist" Facebook initiative with the intent to encourage other Christians to pray for atheists and become better equipped to sharing their faith in a respectful manner with atheists.

The initiative has opened up dialogue between Christians and atheists and

become somewhat controversial as opposing religious sides are challenging each other.

Some social critics wonder if Facebook is the proper forum for converting people to Christianity? What would Jesus think of these new religious tactics for sharing your faith? What approach should opposing religious views use for effectively communicating both sides?

Jim Spiegel, author of The Making of an Atheist and professor of philosophy and religion at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, claims that although atheists present arguments against belief in God, "Atheism is not at all a consequence of intellectual doubts. These are mere symptoms of the root cause—moral rebellion. For the atheist, the missing ingredient is not evidence but obedience," says Spiegel.

Holly Ordway, the author of Not God's Type, is a highly educated, former atheist and professor of English, who represents a demographic supposedly beyond the reach of the church in postmodern America. Ordway was once hostile toward Christianity but through a series of conversations with a wise and patient mentor, Ordway not only became convinced of God's existence, but embraced Christianity.

Members of the "Pray for an Atheist" initiative agree to do the following:



PRAY for an atheist by name for one month

UNDERSTAND how people become atheists through resources so you can pray more effectively

INTERCEDE through prayer for an atheist

ENCOURAGE participating Christians through email and prayer

Jim Spiegel (http://themakingofanatheist.com/) and Holly Ordway (http://www.Hieropraxis.com) are available for interviews.

###