By Ben Lockridge / blockridge@themeridianstar.com
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
Every year the nation's believers gather to pray to God for his blessings on their individual communities.
In Meridian's Dumont Plaza on Thursday, the prayers were focused on national leaders.
"I believe that prayer is the only hope we have here in America," said Wayne Hunt. "We need God to bring this nation back to the way our forefathers had it. We need to pray for our leaders. Our leaders are taking us away from God. They tried to stop the National Day of Prayer. We just need to pray that God will change their lives."
Mary Bowles said she also feels the country is in need of prayer.
"We're losing our country,” she said. “I am praying that our nation will return to God because I really think we're losing everything."
Before praying for federal leaders, Dorothy Lloyd began by talking about those who have opposed the day of prayer.
"Many of you have heard about the group that is opposed to the National Day of Prayer,” she told the crowd. “Just as I was leaving the office I received a letter thanking me for signing the petition to keep National Day of Prayer as a holiday."
While a lot of prayers went to our national leaders, still time was taken to pray for the leaders on the local level, military, the media, church leaders and families.
In the end, the message was still the same — being united under God.
"Divine Father, we come this day asking You to make us one. In order for You to make us one, we have to present ourselves, our bodies as living sacrifices, which are holy and acceptable to You. We ask that You make us one in our minds and in our thoughts," Pastor Odell Hopkins prayed.
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said today in a press release that it is encouraging to know that so many people from different faiths and varied political, ethnic, and economic backgrounds are coming together to offer thanks to God for the blessings our nation enjoys.
"This time of prayer affords us the opportunity to acknowledge the gifts of generosity and love God has brought into our lives and to ask for his continued guidance in the days to come. We should also pray in times of adversity and loss. Across our state, there are families who are grappling with the challenges brought by recent storms. Many have lost homes or businesses. Others have lost loved ones. More than ever, they need the comfort and encouragement that can only come through prayer. I hope people of faith across Mississippi will lift them up in prayer as they mourn the loss of loved ones and rebuild their lives," Wicker said.
