On Thursday, May 5, members of the Madison County community gathered to participate in the 65th annual National Day of Prayer on the Courthouse lawn. The theme for this year's event was “Wake Up America,” which emphasized the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to return to the God of our Fathers in reverence for His holy name. At the event, Mike Kirkland set up the sound service.
Beginning the service was Gary Cox, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church and president of the Madison County Ministerial Association. Cox welcomed everyone who attended. Cox read the first reading from God's Word from 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”
In Rev. Retis Flowers' absence, Cox also prayed for God to grant His people a repentant heart. Following, Rev. Octavious Tookes of St. James Missionary Baptist Church held a prayer for America.
In unison, the pastors and those out in the audience sang God Bless America before Alston Kelley read the second reading of God from Romans 13:1-4: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.”
Clerk of Court Tim Sanders was absent, so Rev. Marcus Hawkins led the prayer for the state and local government, as well as the needs of Madison. Andrea Krell, a teacher at Madison County High School, led the prayer for all of Madison County's schools as well as the teachers.
Rev. Robert Holmes of Archtillery Missionary Baptist Church read the third reading from the Bible, Nehemiah 9:1-3: “On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the guilt of their fathers. While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day in confession and worship of the Lord their God.” Rev. Tookes also read from Nehemiah 9:15-17: “You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and You told them to go in to possess the land that You had sworn to give them. But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey Your commandments. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that You performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.”
Joe Boyles of St. Mary's Episcopal Church led the prayer for the unborn children and Lindsey Fudge said a prayer for Together 2016, which will be happening in Washington, D.C. on July 16.
Michael Halley, pastor of Rocky Springs United Methodist Church and Hanson United Methodist Church gave a prayer for true revival in Christ's church and recited the Lord's Prayer in unison with the crowd.
Friar Dominic Tran of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church read the fourth reading of God's word from Psalm 130: “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”
Rev. Hawkins led the prayer for a spirit of forgiveness and unity to cover the United States and Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart led a prayer for the reduction of violence and protection of law enforcement in the county, state and nation.
The last prayer was read by Kay Harris. She said a prayer for God's mercy and grace to be spread abroad, especially in Israel.
The National Day of Prayer concluded with benediction led by Cox, who thanked everyone for attending the service and recited a quote from Dr. Richard Halverson, Former Chaplain of the Senate: “You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you there. Wherever you are, God has put you there. He has a purpose in your being there. Christ, who indwells you, has something He wants to do through you, wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.”