Alliance plans 2020 Day of Prayer

By Lynsi Musselman

With government restrictions to meet as a large group for National Day of Prayer, all Albany churches will open their doors for individual prayer on Thursday, May 7, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

First Baptist Church minister Jeff Turner said people can come and pray without having a large gathering. 

“Those wanting to pray can come and go,” Turner said. “They can visit any church or more than one church that day.” 

Turner added that church leaders will monitor that there are no more than 10 people at a time in a building, and safe practices are encouraged.

“Especially during times of uncertainty and doubt, go to the Lord as a unified city and ask for his help,” Turner said.

The theme for National Day of Prayer 2020 is Pray God’s Glory Across the Earth.

The National Day of Prayer taskforce president Kathy Branzell picked the theme based on Habakkuk 2:14. For the earth will be filled with the the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

The NDP observance will take place from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m ET. It can be viewed on Facebook Live, streamed live from the website www.nationaldayofprayer.org, and will be broadcast live through DayStar Television Network, God TV, and Brio TV.

Prayer by the people, for the nation, has been a part of America since it began. 

The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer in 1775, and president Abraham Lincoln called for a day of prayer in 1863 during the American Civil War. 

The annual National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. It invites people of all faiths to pray for the nation on the first Thursday of May.