Community turns to God during National Day of Prayer

Published 2:00 am Friday, May 7, 2010

Pastor Dale Kidd of Deep Springs Baptist Church kicked off the National Day of Prayer event here Thursday afternoon with a succinct message.

“Prayer works,” he said.

Several hundred people gathered on the lawn of the Whitfield County Courthouse for the annual event. Many huddled under towering trees to seek relief from the noon sun, while others relaxed in camping chairs and sipped bottled water. During the prayers, some stood in silent contemplation. Others raised their arms to the sky and shouted “Amen!”

Prayers went out from local pastors for just about every facet of life including government leaders, public servants, the Hispanic community, President Obama, youth and churches. Pastor Ron Guffey from 11th Avenue Baptist Church offered a prayer for a revival and encouraged attendees to spread the word of God.

“God, when we have revivals, it will not come from a man, it will not come from the White House, the courthouse, the church house, but it will come from you, Lord, if we’re to have revivals,” Guffey said. “I pray that you will turn the hearts of your people along that revival.”

Adam Reed, an Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, asked that God look over the soldiers serving their country and their families at home.

Dalton Police Department chaplain Raymond McCranie said a prayer for law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical service members who are confronted with sorrowful situations through their line of work.

“We pray that they never be discarded of their compassion and ability to care,” McCranie said.

The National Day of Prayer has been observed since President Harry S. Truman signed a joint resolution of Congress declaring an annual national day of prayer in 1952. Since 1988, the date has been set for the first Thursday in May. According to the website nationaldayofprayer.org, the observance’s goal is to “communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families.”

The Whitfield County celebration began in the early 1990s. Organizers said this year’s event drew a larger turnout than previous years. The increase could be attributed to the pleasant weather, people turning to God during difficult times or a ruling last month by a U.S. District Court judge that congressional recognition of a day of prayer is unconstitutional. The decision does not take effect until all appeals have taken place.

“It goes beyond mere ‘acknowledgment’ of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context,” wrote Barbara Crabb, a judge for the Western District of Wisconsin. “In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.”