Community members gathered on the front steps of Newton City Hall Thursday to observe the National Day of Prayer with a short ceremony.
Led by pastor Brian Rushing of First Baptist Church of Newton, residents sang the Star-Spangled Banner, read scripture and took turns praying for different aspects of the community.
“This year, the theme for our National Day of Prayer was ‘Love one another,’ out of John chapter 17,” Rushing said.
The National Day of Prayer, Rushing explained, is a proclamation signed each year by the President of the United States asking citizens to pray for their churches, government, military, families, education, media and businesses.
“That’s what we want to do,” he said. “We want to honor the request of our leaders, our leadership, to pray for our nation.”
However, Rushing said, prayer also brings people together. Right now, he said, the nation is “polarized,” and the bonds of love and community that are created and strengthened by praying together are more important than ever.
Residents divided up the list of prayer requests, each volunteering to pray for God to support and guide the different aspects of the country.
Among those in attendance were Newton Aldermen Bob Bridges, who prayed for media, and First Baptist Church Music Leader, Randy Cuchens, who prayed for the government.
“We are grateful for each person who represents us, whether federal level, state level, county city, wherever, God, people stand and declare they will lead people,” Cuchens said. “Help them to turn to you daily.”
Cuchens prayed political representatives at all levels would follow the teachings of Christ when making policy and asked God to help voters elect candidates that will follow his word.
Bridges asked God to guide the hearts and minds of journalists, helping them to be fair and accurate, reporting fairly and keeping citizens informed without bias or spin.
After each category had been prayed for, Cuchens led the group in singing “The Family of God” and “God Bless America” as a closing prayer.
Countywide Prayer Service
Newton County also held a countywide prayer service on the steps of the Newton County Courthouse on Thursday at the same time as the Newton event.
Billy Williams, director of music at Clarke-Venable Baptist Church, reminded everyone of Jesus’ command to love.
“Jesus tells us to love one another just as he loves us. So this includes every person in America, as well as every person in the world,” Williams said. “Jesus said, ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples that you love one another. So we should pray for America to love one another, families to love one another, coworkers to love one another, communities to love one another.”
Leading the prayers in Decatur were Hickory Baptist pastor Randy Rich, Maj. Shane Moore of the 186th Refueling based out of Meridian, CVBC discipleship pastor Ronnie Richardson, Chunky UMC Pastor Louis May, Decatur UMC associate pastor Kathy Butler, Beulah Baptist pastor Gary Rivers and Midway Baptist Church pastor Larry Reed.
Prayers were offered for the government, military, churches, education, media/arts, business and families.
