SLIDESHOW: Local group joins millions in National Day of Prayer

Published 10:49 am Thursday, May 14, 2009

National Day of Prayer was Thursday and 24 people gathered at Allan Yorke Park in Bonney Lake to take time from their daily schedule and pray.

The group made up of members of several area denominational and nondemoninational churches, joined millions nationwide to gather and pray for the United States.

Overcast skies welcome the group, then 10 minutes into the prayer light rain fell as people reached for the umbrellas.

Mike Keith, pastor of the New Hope Community Church, led the event and opened it up with a prayer.

“I’m very encourage about the hearty turnout,” Keith said.

During the opening prayer, Keith prayed for city, county, state and national leaders, along with schools.

During the one-hour event, various people of the group prayed. Some prayed for the military and government and others prayed for their city.

Many attending felt our national government need spiritual guidance during the tough economic times facing the nation.

“Our leaders need our prayers with the incredible decisions that face them,” Fay Hawkins said afterward. “Having a son in the military, I want our leaders to have a clear vision of what is needed for our country.”

Hawkins, who attends a local church, said it was her first time to attend the national event.

Later, Keith ask the group to break into smaller sprayer groups of three to four people after sunshine broke through the clouds.

The groups prayed about 15 minutes, praying for each others’ needs.

“I came out because I really feel prayer is a priority right now,” Janet Richardson said.

Richardson, who came to the United States 30 years ago from Trinidad, said she feels the nation is ripe for a spiritual revival.

“I feel God wants to send us a revival. I do believe that and prayer is going to make it happen,” she added.

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