It was perfect weather gracing the corner of Oak Street and Fourth Street outside a city building where about 50 community members gathered for The National Day of Prayer (NDP) which occurs yearly on the first Thursday of May.
Pastor Peter Urnst from Family Bible Church and Pastor Grif Vautier, emeritus from Kingman Presbyterian Church headed up the NDP. Things got underway at 12 p.m., as Urnst announced that he would be calling evangelical pastors up to the front to lead in prayers. He then said that, after their prayers there would be an open microphone for others to pray as well.
A midst the prayers, one speaker brought out the bible scripture, 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 which reads: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.” In light of that scripture, last Thursday afternoon, many individuals prayed for God to restore our land.
Urnst said about the prayers offered at the meeting, “Probably about 22 different areas were lifted up in prayers, everything from our president, to marriage, to family, and to first responders.” He continued, “We are supporting The National Day of Prayer because the bible says blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
Vautier added to Urnst’s statements, “I think one of the major things we’re talking about is the prayer of repentance, for we who are called to pray for our government have failed to do so.” He continued, “We kind of figure that we can do it on our own, and we can’t. We need God.”
Terri Olson, secretary of Family Bible church said, “It’s nice to see members of the community, who may not get together for other things come out for this.”
Pastor Denis Cronkright, from College Park Community Church and a prayer participant added, “The National Day of Prayer is an important day for our nation. All over our land, people who believe in an all powerful God will seek Him and call out for divine help for the many needs of our country.”
Indeed, the people of America have been calling out to God through a series of events beginning in 1952. In that year, a bill was introduced by Conrad Hilton of Hilton Hotels to set aside a day for national prayer. Events over the next 36 years took place until in 1988 President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into public law officially designation the first Thursday in May as the date for observance of The National Day of Prayer.
Adhering to the establishment of this day, last Thursday, prayers filled the warm spring air for an hour, at which point, Urnst ended the event in one last prayer. That prayer was for God to help us not to make this the only time that we pray for our nation, but that we would faithfully pray for it everyday.
