Community leaders and pastors gathered Thursday afternoon to celebrate the National Day of Prayer at Veterans Memorial Civic Center.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — Local pastors and area leaders gathered Thursday morning to pray with the community. The joint mission was part of a National Day of Prayer across the United States.
“This is the 73rd year of our annual National Day of Prayer,” NDP Allen County Coordinator Theresa Lee said. “On this day last year, there were over 70,000 meetings across the nation. We may have more this year. In Lima, we have had one in the morning, noon and night. It is a wonderful blessing.”
A prayer service was held at 6 a.m. at the House of Prayer in downtown Lima and an evening service at 6 p.m. at the Pangle Pavilion, 128 E. Spring.
The noonday prayer was held at the Veterans Memorial Civic Center from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. The leadership prayed for the judicial system, local schools, drug addiction, the nation of Israel and much more.
“All of us understand that America has a need for courage, wisdom, strategy and protection,” Lee said. “It is something really only God can do — there are so many challenging things we face, opposing voices and darkness — we must pattern our lives on prayer, service and our choices on God’s word. Only God can turn the darkness to light.”
Pastor Kenneth Keys said to address the national issues, the community must “lift up the Word and light up the world.”
“Light is defined as a natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible,” Keys said. “An expression in someone’s eyes indicates a particular emotion or mood — our communities need the church (of Jesus Christ) to provide the light, guidance and moral compass for our lives and the lives of our children.”
Allen County Commissioner Beth Seibert shared the prayer of Dwight E. Eisenhower before he stepped into the Oval Office.
“Almighty God, as we stand here at this moment, my future associates in the executive branch of government join me in beseeching that thou will make full and complete our dedication to the service of the people in this throng and their fellow service everywhere,” Seibert said. “Give us the power to discern right from wrong and allow our words and actions to be governed thereby.”
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
