The local celebration of the National Day of Prayer is moving inside this year ahead of possible rain. The annual event will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Black River Coliseum lobby.
The usual site is the gazebo on the Butler County Courthouse lawn but wet weather has forced the program to be moved inside the past few years, said Jack Dilday. He is with Kingdom News Now, a Christian video production company in Poplar Bluff. Kingdom News Now has sponsored the local program for four years.
In the past few years 15-20 churches have been involved in the service and organizers are praying more will participate this year. The theme is “Love one another just as I have loved you,” John 13:34. Everyone is invited.
Area ministers will be praying for all aspects of the community, city, state and national governments as well as school officials.
First United Methodist Church worship leader Timothy Starnes will direct the worship portion of the event.
Rev. Greg Gilberto will have his prayer tent, said Dilday said.
The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was unanimously amended by both the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on Thursday, May 5, 1988, designating the first Thursday of May as a day of national prayer.