Since we live in a community that most believe has truly been blessed in the past few months, organizers of this year’s observance decided the National Day of Prayer will be a full day — 24 hours — of prayer.
“In past years, Big Spring has marked the observance with special ceremonies, and there’s clearly no doubt our community has been blessed as a result,” explained Everett Bender, who is leading the organizing effort for this year’s Day of Prayer observance. “The Bible describes special blessings when we gather together, and even greater blessings when we pray together. So this year, we decided to have two events — a full day of prayer and a noon public gathering.”
Slated for noon, a bring-your-own-lunch affair is scheduled for the First United Methodist Church’s Garrett Hall. However, that meeting will only come at the mid-point of the day’s activities, because different individuals and groups are signing up to pray for one-hour blocks between midnight and 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
“Our community is experiencing great miracles, yet at the same time we’re burdened with great needs,” Bender said. “So this is an opportunity to be inspired and united in seeking for The Lord to do, what we can’t do.
“Because we have been blessed so abundantly, both as a community and as a nation, this is an opportunity for us to publicly express our gratitude and demonstrate our unity, which people will be able to see for themselves as they participate in this observance, along with various groups of our community’s leaders, like the Howard County Commissioners Court, Big Spring City Council, all the local judges and numerous Chamber of Commerce members among others,” Bender added.
He added that a theme which seems to be resonating among the community’s ministers in regard to this year’s observance is that the Bible describes “special blessings” when people gather together, and even greater blessings when we pray together.
“We’re convinced that hearing the miracles which have not yet been shared publicly by some in our community, will encourage people who are currently facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their own lives,” Bender added.
“Since we are in such intense times, when future generations ask, ‘What did you do in those difficult times?’ this will be an opportunity for us to say, ‘We did what our nation’s Founding Fathers did. We united our faith and committed our hearts to seek for the Lord to do what we couldn’t do.”
Although the National Day of Prayer didn’t become a government declared event until 1952, when a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Harry S. Truman, made it official, it’s been a part of America’s heritage for more than 200 years.
The first call to prayer came in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation. The call for prayer has continued through history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting and prayer” in 1863.
Like Thanksgiving or Christmas, the National Day of Prayer has become a national observance placed on all Hallmark calendars and observed annually across the nation.
To sign up for the 24 hours of prayer event, go to the www.hcchurch.org website or contact any local minister. Some churches in the community are scheduling one-hour blocks of time for people to pray in their sanctuaries. Other individuals and groups have decided to drive around “trouble spots” in the community or to our schools and pray.
“The thing we want people to remember,” Bender concluded, “is that you can pray at any time and in any place — at home, at church, while you’re walking or driving ... it’s up to them. We’re really hoping everyone will join us.”
