Natiional Day of Prayer observance held

May 5—ALLEN COUNTY — The was no separation between church and state at the 71st annual observance of the National Day of Prayer.

Pastors from various churches and government officials on the city and county levels took part if the observance.

National Day of Prayer Event Coordinator Theresa Lee shared the necessity for the observance. " There are a lot of times we need prayer for our counties, for our state, for our nation, for everyone today, our schools for our children. So we have assembled people from the government, people from all different churches; we tried to get a cross section of the community coming together."

The prayer of Thomas Jefferson was read by county commissioner Brian Winegardner: "Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people, the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth."

County commissioner Cory Noonan shared a prayer from Dwight Eisenhower's1952 inaugural address, part of which was: "Give us, we pray, the power to discern clearly right from wrong, and allow all our words and actions to be governed thereby, and by the laws of this land. Especially we pray that our concern shall be for all the people regardless of station, race or calling."

There were prayers for the president and national leaders, for city, county, and state leaders, for schools and school baords, for the military and prayers for the restoration of the economy for families and businesses. Lima police chief Kevin Martin shared a prayer for first responders.

Lee summarized the event,"All of us across America will reap the benefits of whatever prayer God answers... We can pray for strength and the protection for all those who are courageous enough to counter the evil empire so we can pray for the wicked to be routed out."

It was Abraham Lincoln who said, "It is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God to confess their sins and trangressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord."

Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409