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Wednesday, May. 06, 2009

Middle Georgians set to participate in national prayer day

Middle Georgia organizers for Thursday’s National Day of Prayer say America needs the day to work on its spiritual values.

Bob Cunningham, chairman of the group organizing efforts in Macon, said many of the crises Americans face are the result of straying from spiritual beliefs.

“Our nation has a deep need for prayer,” he said. “These are the most troubling times in several generations, not just economically, but also culturally and politically. We have offended the creator of the universe by our actions.”

Cunningham said that since the early 1960s when the Supreme Court removed the Bible and prayer from public schools, problems such as suicide, teen crime and homicides have increased.

“We’re not the nation we were 50 years ago,” he said.

The annual National Day of Prayer officially began in 1952, when President Truman signed it into law, though there were National Days of Prayer before that during the first meeting of the Continental Congress and during the Civil War and World War II.

In 1983, President Reagan amended the law so that the day would be celebrated the first Thursday of May.

According to the National Day of Prayer’s Web site, the prayer services are Judeo-Christian in their makeup, though all faiths are welcome.

On both a local and national level, organizers are stressing a “7x7” program. They want people to pray seven days a week for seven centers of power: the government, media, military, business, education, church and family.

Some Middle Georgia services are getting an early start, with services today. There will be a 24-hour vigil at Northside Christian Church, 5024 Northside Drive, beginning at 8 tonight and a pair of services today from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. at Covenant Church of Christ, 509 May Ave.

Brian Moore, pastor at New Providence Baptist Church in Smarr, will lead a service at noon Thursday in front of the Monroe County Courthouse in Forsyth.

Moore cited a Bible verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14 as one of the reasons behind the day: “If my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn away from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Moore said the day is important spiritually and as a way to bring communities together.

“This an opportunity to come together and seek God’s favor,” he said, adding that the Forsyth service will focus on prayer for five different areas — city, county, state, nation and world.

Other events Thursday include the prayer breakfast at First Presbyterian Church at the corner of First and Mulberry streets in downtown Macon. The event runs from 7:30-8:50 a.m. and costs $6 a person.

Also, Mayor Robert Reichert is scheduled to read a proclamation at noon on the front steps of Macon City Hall.

In addition to the services, WGNM will air a live feed from the national observance in Washington from 9 a.m.-noon.

To contact writer Phillip Ramati, call 744-4334.