More than 400 community members young and participated in a local observance of the 73rd Annual National Day of Prayer held Thursday on the Daviess County Courthouse lawn.
This year’s theme was “Lift up the Word, Light up the World.”
The event started with “A Circle of Good News” at 11:30 a.m, when attendees read aloud pre-assigned Bible verses so that by the end of a 20-minute period the entire Bible had been read collectively.
“We have never received more text messages requesting starting points of scripture for the Circle of Good News,” said Jo Barron, one of the organizers of the event. “The entire Bible truly was read, which is just remarkable.”
Barron added, “Knowing that there are tens of thousands of observances being held like this all across the United States — these are Christian observances — knowing that does give this strong sense of unity and really divine power because there is power when you pray collectively. … We just love to sit back and watch, what is He going to do for our nation this year? Our nation really is broken. It is hurting. … There’s such power in prayer. The best way I can describe us and how we feel about this is thankful to God.”
Following the Circle of Good News, the event continued as a prayer/worship service that lasted until just about 1 p.m.
After some songs of worship, the Apollo High School Color Guard presented the colors while David Rodgers led attendees in singing the National Anthem.
This year’s testimony was given by Jordan Wilson, who also emceed the event. Wilson is a convicted drug dealer who is now nearly 9 years drug free. He’s the development director of Owensboro’s Friends of Sinners, a Christ-centered drug recovery program. A couple of years ago he wrote an autobiography, “Jesus > Drugs: The Only War Won by Surrende,” and he’s since donated copies to jails and prisons across the world.
The rest of the service included prayers from Pastor Will Troutman (on church/repentance); Nathan and Sheena Phelps (on family); Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen (on government/military); Charlotte Burton (on education); Jason Payne (on business); Derek Gregory (n media) and Pastor M. Garswa Matalla (on spiritual warfare). Singers included Brandy and Charlie Daugherty, Caitlyn Berry, and Justin Holbrook.
More photos from the event can be viewed here. Those who want to watch a recording of the event can do so here.
