Plans made for Day of Prayer

The public is invited to come by the First Christian Church prayer Labyrinth, located on South Pecan Street across from the Old Jail Art Center, at noon next Thursday, May 2, to join the Albany Ministerial Alliance and millions of people across the nation in prayer for the United States.

“It will be a time of prayer, and we will sing a couple of hymns,” said Alliance president Brad McBee.

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

“Our hope is that we will gather here in Albany to humble ourselves and unify in prevailing prayer for the next great move of God in America,” said McBee. “We can come together in clear agreement that this is our greatest need.” 

He added that the United States can become a visible union, standing together in prayer.

“We can pray more than ever before and practice extraordinary prayer for the next great move of God in America that will catapult the message of the Gospel nationally and internationally,” McBee said.

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.

In 2018, an estimated 50,000 gatherings across all 50 states were held on the National Day of Prayer.  

Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the current president of the National Day of Prayer task force.

According to Floyd, the theme chosen by the NDP task force for the 68th annual Day of Prayer, is “Love One Another.” 

This year’s theme is based upon John 13:34, where Jesus said “Love one another. Just as I have loved you.”

“Prayer precedes every great movement of God biblically and historically,” said Floyd. “Therefore, we need to pray and ask God for a mighty, great spiritual awakening across America. That is why the National Day of Prayer is a nationwide movement of prayer for America.”

Floyd requested that everyone support and attend a prayer observance in their local community. 

“If you attend a daytime observance, invite others to join you in watching the National Observance that evening,” he wrote.