County observes National Day of Prayer
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Pastor Fred Lodge smiles while speaking prior to the closing prayer.

Local pastors and clergymen came together during the 56th annual National Day of Prayer last Thursday, as this year's theme, "America, Unite in Prayer," was observed in Union County.

The theme is based off of 2 Chronicles 7:14, which states, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Guest speaker Leah Adams told the audience that she was honored to speak about what prayer has meant to her in her life.

"In truth I'm not sure we really understand who God is," Adams said. She reminded the audience that the verse "does not call us to seek the face of our elected officials," but to "seek the face of the sovereign God of the universe."

Adams said it is that sovereignty that is so important, explaining that we need to look at exactly who we are dealing with when we pray to God. "We are not dealing with a 120 lb. weakling of a God," she said. Adams described God as having "all wisdom and all power," one who is in control of everything.

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Rev. Jimmy Tanner of Pine Top Church prays for the youth.

Deacon Jim Powell of the House of Prayer and coordinator of the event, asked the audience if they were pleased with the state of America today, to which a resounding "no" rung out. Powell said that "forces are tearing at the very fabric of our society," leaving many wondering what it would take to once again make this a nation blessed. He said that 2 chronicles 7:14 "pretty plainly lays that out."

Rev. Terry Stuart of Blairsville Church of Christ gave the prayer of unity, noting that it is a good thing that there are many churches dotting the landscape, and he prayed that "we do not allow Satan to use our differences to kill our enthusiasm" for Jesus Christ.

Father Richard Wise of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church delivered the prayer for state officials, saying "Lord, you are the foundation of our structure...of our state constitution. We began this state by putting our trust in you. So we continue to pray for those who govern us."

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Julie and Adam McPherson and Jason Holoman gave a special singing.

The prayer for local officials was led by Rev. George Cline of Antioch Baptist Church. "Father I pray that you will anoint them with your wisdom and guidance," Rev. Cline said. "Help them to be leaders in our community that you would have them to be."

Rev. Ben Lewis of First United Methodist Church delivered the prayer for the nation. "We stand before you as a nation that has forgotten our roots," Rev. Lewis said, adding that we have taken our eyes off of God and forgotten how to pray.

The prayer for the troops was given by Rev. Luther Thomas of Zion Hill Baptist Church. "We really don't know what our troops are going through over there," Rev. Thomas said. "We are not there with them, but our prayers can be." He said that we need to pray for the men and women who are risking, and in some cases giving, their lives for our freedom. "My prayer is that they accept Christ as their savior," he said.

Rev. Jim Geer, a retired pastor and Navy Chaplain, offered the prayer for the churches through multiples passages. "It is an awesome responsibility to intercede on behalf of the body of Christ," Rev. Geer prayed. "Father we are so grateful that you have given to us, your Holy Spirit. We pray for a boldness and courage like we have never seen."

Rev. Jimmy Tanner of Pine Top Church gave the prayer for the youth. He began by asking the audience to place their hand over their watch. He then asked the audience questions about their watches, before telling everyone to remove their hands and see just how accurate their knowledge of their own watch was. He compared that to looking into the faces of the many youth.

"Every person who has prayed tonight, whether they be pastor, or local official, or state representative; our young people are one day going to fill their shoes. Whether they represent the newspaper or the people who work here in the courthouse, or folks who work in the school system, those young people are going to be filling those places," Rev. Tanner said. "So I'm here tonight to pray myself out of a job," he added jokingly. "I lift up the young people of our community to you."

The closing prayer was given by Rev. Fred Lodge of First Baptist Church. "Too many times our churches and our pastors are known, or people think they know them, because of what they are against," Pastor Lodge said. "Our community desperately needs to know what they are for."

Pastor Lodge said that there are many things that are easy to just make someone else's responsibility, but that everyone has the chance to step up, "to undergird, rather than tear down, and engage in making the community better."

Special singing for the event was provided by Julie and Adam McPherson along with Jason Holoman from the House of Prayer; and by Gary Freitag from Pine Top Church.