Feb.29 is Day of service, prayer

Saturday, Feb. 29, will be a Day of Service and Prayer in Poplar Bluff and Butler County.

“We have a bonus day,” since 2020 is leap year, said Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers.

That’s correct, this year will have 366 days. Never wanting to waste a special day, Myers got the ball rolling. He, along with county and city officials, community and faith leaders, is challenging citizens to give back either in a day of service or prayer. Daily American Republic/Insta Print are partnering with the organizers, Myers said.

Hearing about the proposed project, United Gospel Rescue Mission Executive Director Rev. Greg Kirk offered to provide brunch.

The day will kickoff with a 10 a.m. brunch at the Rescue Mission, 400 S. Broadway.

After the brief program, groups will go to service or prayer projects.

“We are encouraged this day will be used as an opportunity for churches, local organizations, families and individuals to conduct community service projects or prayer/spiritual activities,” Myers said. “Groups are to meet at the brunch, organize and dispatch from there.”

The Poplar Bluff High School Student Council will talk about the 2020 Census and how participating is a form of community service and how getting a complete count will benefit the area.

Myers will talk about public safety volunteers and offer volunteer opportunities.

Others involved in the project include Butler County Commissioner Vince Lampe, Poplar Bluff Mayor Robert Smith and R-I school board president John Scott, Byron Beck, senior pastor of Fellowship General Baptist Church, and Steve Seawright, who is the director of media and security at Palace of Praise and codirector of the Poplar Bluff Severe Weather Response Team.

DAR Publisher Chris Pruett said, “The DAR and Insta Print are proud to be a partner with Day of Service and Prayer. Our community is made up of a lot of great people who are willing to help whenever needed. We have many volunteers who make a huge difference in our community and help any way they can.

“We encourage residents to take a second to offer a prayer for those volunteers, and the many community leaders who help shape the community we call home. They need our support, and we believe there’s no better way to do that than to ask the Lord for the needed skills to help others,” Pruett said.

Beck said, ”Our church will be focusing on prayer. We will walk down streets and pray for individuals in homes and neighborhoods.”

Faith-based organizations, churches or any other organization who would like “give back to the community” may contact Seawright by calling the Palace of Praise at 573-785-4232 and ask for him.

As co-director of the response team, Seawright explained, it will be a day of testing the storm system.

After the program, Seawright, the response team and anyone who wants to help will have a quick meeting.

“We will let people know where we meed help. The volunteers will drive to certain areas to listen to sirens to make certain they sound OK,” Seawright said.

Any Sunday school, civic group and family are welcome and offer to be “extra hands to assist,” Myers said. He challenges “everyone just give back that day to their neighbor.”

For more information, call or text 573-872-7585.