Local Pastors Invite Public National Day of Prayer Event
Local Pastors Invite Public National Day of Prayer Event
A group of active and retired pastors from the Grant County area have joined together to plan a nondenominational public gathering to pray for the nation with a localized emphasis.
All are welcome at the community-wide service set for Thursday, May 1, at 7:14 p.m. The gathering will be at Central Church, located at 201 S. 5th St., in Milbank.
Thursday, May 1, is recognized as the National Day of Prayer within the United States. According to Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn, the Milbank Ministerial Association members decided that it would be a great opportunity for the local community residents to participate together.
“Parishioners from all community churches and residents who don’t claim a church home will be welcomed to share in this community-wide emphasis on prayer for ourselves and our world,” Schwenn said.
Organizers of the National Day of Prayer event have established a goal of at least 15 million Christian believers being in prayer for hope and peace for America and other nations of the world.
This year’s theme is centered on the Bible verse Romans 15:13, which states, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Nationally, the event is projected to include more than 18,000 volunteer prayer coordinators organizing gatherings across the country.
Among the stated prayer concerns this year are out of control lawlessness and crime, faith and prayer being pushed out of the public square, the erosion of traditional families and the rise of hopelessness.
At the local gathering, Schwenn will identify and address additional topics of concern on behalf of the ministerial group. For the local service, the group identified the additional theme in God’s response to King Solomon found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. It states, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.”
The Milbank service time on May 1 is set for 7:14 p.m. in keeping with the scripture verse, Schwenn noted. “During the local gathering clergy and church personnel from within this community will share brief thoughts on the text and will lead in prayers for our community, nation and the world,” he said.
The origination of the national event was in 1952, when President Henry Truman signed a law requiring every President to declare an annual National Day of Prayer.
