Local ministers gather to pray and give thanks…
Louisa, KY — Leaders from several religious denominations in Lawrence County came together Thursday, May 7, the National Day of Prayer, at 11:00 am, and led various prayers of worship and thanksgiving on the courthouse lawn in downtown Louisa.
After the honor guard, the Pledge of Allegiance was said and the National Anthem was sang by Robin Adkins. The introductory Bible Verse of I Kings 8:28 –“Lord hear our cry” and Prayer was led by Pastor Wayne Watts of the Louisa United Methodist Church.
Jim Dalton with St. Jude’s Catholic Church, spoke about the needs of not only our nation, but the needs of Lawrence County and the surrounding area, referring to the recent flooding and how lots of times the local pastors and churches are part of the first response group that people go to in times of disaster. He then led the prayer for all pastors and church leaders, that they may be strengthened to help those people during times of great need.
Pastor Chuck Price of the Louisa First Baptist Church led the prayer for law enforcement, asking for the safety of local police officers and their families and law enforcement everywhere. “In our nation today, it is not an easy thing to be a police officer” he said, and reminded everyone that God is our true protector.
Director of the Father Beiting Appalachian Mission Center, Dominic Capria, led the prayer for schools and education. He asked that the children of Lawrence County “take advantage of the education that is available to them here and beyond and that they would come back here to lead vibrant, productive lives.” He also prayed for blessings upon teachers and school administrators, that they would have the patience and knowledge to lead the children.
Rev. Kate Dilley of the Ft. Gay Methodist Church, prayed for all churches, saying that it doesn’t matter where you go to worship. “Let us all be blinded together” she said, and prayed also for peace, harmony, and leadership in the churches and that they remember it is God’s church.
Pastor Wayne Watts led prayer for the federal government, and Tom Ellis, a youth leader with the Louisa First Baptist Church, said how important it is that elected officials look to God for guidance. “It is good to know that our elected officials here in Lawrence County realize that” he said, and asked for blessings upon the county judge, mayor, county clerk, sheriff, city council members, and all other elected officials throughout the county.
Pastor of the Louisa Community Church, Rick May closed out the service reminding everyone that we need support and guidance from God because “in Heaven where He’s at, everything is right and down here where we are, everything is wrong.” He also said we need to ask God how He can use us in order to achieve all these things we are praying for.
Several were in attendance in Louisa for the National Day of Prayer Thursday morning, and were all given a program that included the 2015 National Prayer written by Jack Graham, Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano Texas, which reads:
Heavenly Father,
We come to You in the Name that is above every name–Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our hearts cry out to you.
Knowing that You are a prayer-answering, faithful God, the One we trust in times like these, we ask that You renew our spirits, revive our churches, and heal our land.
We repent of our sins and ask Your grace and power to save us. Hear our cry, oh God, and pour out Your Spirit upon us that we may walk in obedience to Your Word.
We are desperate for Your tender mercies. We are broken and humbled before You. Forgive us, and in the power of Your great love, lift us up to live in Your righteousness.
We pray for our beloved nation. May we repent and return to You and be a light to the nations. And we pray for our leaders and asked that You give them wisdom and faith to follow You.
Preserve and protect us, for You are our refuge and only hope. Deliver us from all fears except to fear You, and may we courageously stand in the Truth that sets us free. We pray with expectant faith and grateful hearts.
In Jesus’ name, our Savior,
Amen.
