Celebrating 250 years of prayer: Task force to hold two National Day of Prayer events

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Roger Walden, Dublin-Laurens County National Day of Prayer Task Force leader, speaks during last year’s event. The task force will once again hold a prayer service at the Market on Madison at noon on May 7 and at 7 p.m. at City on a Hill that evening/**PAYTON TOWNS III**

The Dublin-Laurens County National Day of Prayer Task Force will help celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with two events this Thursday.

The task force will hold events at the Market on Madison, 314 W. Madison St., at noon and at 7 that evening at City on a Hill, 2778 Highway 257.

“This year, with it being the 250th anniversary of the nation, it is a special time for prayer,” said Roger Walden, Dublin-Laurens County National Day of Prayer Task Force leader and the Georgia state co-coordinator. “One of the reasons a group of people left the church of England to come to the New World was because of the religious persecution. It was one of the reasons for the founding of the country.

“We are celebrating the fact that we do have the freedom of religion and the freedom to worship. You have the freedom to be Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal or to have no religion if you want. You have to freedom to choose who or why you worship.”

When it comes to Thursday’s prayer services, Walden wants people to focus more on uniting for prayer than their particular denomination.

“We have one God, and we want to be united in prayer to pray to Him.”

Walden quoted 2nd Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

“That’s what it is all about,” Walden said.

The noon prayer service will begin with children from the Konnection Kids reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members of the community will pray for specific areas: government, military, families, media, education, business and churches.

“We are going to do this with the old format of setting up the chairs and have those selected people pray in front,” Walden said.

That evening, the task force will have another time of prayer at City on a Hill. That service will begin with praise and worship by the Dexter Assembly Worship Team. A praise dance will also be performed by Kenya Walters-Carswell.

“We want to get as many people as involved as we can, and doing two services is a good way to do it,” Walden said.

For more information about the National Day of Prayer events, contact Walden at (478) 290-0068.