ATLANTA, Texas – National Day of Prayer was observed in Atlanta today at the Mattie Lanier Richey Center. This was the second year for the Greater Atlanta Texas Area to take part in this annual national day of prayer.
The theme for this year was “Love One Another.” The theme comes from the words of Jesus in John 13:34, “Love one another. Just as I have loved you.”
Ida Birmingham played Worship music as everyone was arriving while Patricia Collins, Mary Dorsey and Ollie Grundly sang. Mayor Travis Ransom opened the event with a welcome and official proclamation before introducing Master of Ceremonies, Brother Wes Mills of First Baptist Church Atlanta.
Local government officials, police and first responders, military personnel, local media, business owners, educators, churches, and citizens all came together and prayed for the community, state, nation, and its people.
There were seven different prayer points to specifically pray for centers of influence in America.
- Government: President Trump, Vice-President Pence, Other Federal, State, and Local Officials including Police, Fire and First Responders prayer led by Brother Tony Lawson, Pastor, Piney Grove Baptist Church. –Pray for these leaders and civil servants to Love One Another by valuing one another, respecting one another, and working together for the greater good of our nation.
- Military: Prayer led by Brother Keith Hampton, Pastor, Glad Tidings Assembly of God –Pray for all military leaders and personnel to Love One Another because love is a powerful force when unity is critical to victory.
- Media Arts: Prayer led by Brother Kent Leonard, Pastor, Good Exchange Baptist Church –Pray for all persons who are working in media and arts to Love One Another by respecting all persons and sharing inspirational stories that illustrate the power of love.
- Business: Prayer led by Brother Arlistel Maxie, Pastor, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church – Pray for business leaders to comprehend their great opportunity to create powerful, effective, and productive teams and businesses that win when they Love One Another.
- Education: Prayer led by Brother Vernon Groce, Pastor, Holly Street Church of God – Pray for administrators, teachers, and faculty teams who will Love One Another so they can create a culture of love and respect for every student. Pray for students to rise up together, loving one another and making a difference in the future of America.
- Church: Prayer led by Brother David Baxley, Pastor, New Hope Baptist Church, –Pray for pastors and churches to model and exemplify Jesus’ words, Love One Another, to a world that needs the love of Christ desperately. Raise up a Love One Another movement across America.
- Family/Youth: Prayer led by Brother J.J. Peters, Pastor, Faith Tabernacle –Pray for families to live Jesus’ teaching, Love One Another, to create families that follow the Bible and practice love and forgiveness.
Brother David Hazelwood, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Kildare closed the event with prayer and hymns.
Many local churches came together to make this event possible and provide sack lunches for all participants.
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The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the amended law designating the first Thursday of May as a day of national prayer. Every year, millions of Americans, in tens of thousands of meetings across all 50 states, come together for unified public prayer for America.