Here in Logan County, moving a nation to unity by prayer

[May 09, 2018]   LINCOLN - Across our nation at noon last Wednesday, May 3rd, people gathered for the 67th National Day of Prayer Celebration. As in previous years, a group gathered at the Logan County Courthouse rotunda to pray for the “seven centers of influence: Government, Military, Media, Arts, Business, Education, Church, and Family.”

The theme for the event was “Pray for America: UNITY” as taught in Ephesians 4:3, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (NIV) Following are excerpts from the Unity prayer led by Pastor Greg Wooten that started the afternoon:

• “We turn away from anything that divides us, and we run toward the gospel of Jesus Christ that is the only thing that has the power to unite us together.”

• “We pray for God’s power to unify families, workplaces, communities, and cities in America. By Your Spirit, lead us to forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and unity.”

• "We pray for people of all ethnicities and races in America to come together as one, living in peace and unity together.”

• “We pray in unity for the security of our nation. Our future is in Your hands.”

• “Through Jesus’ name and by the Holy Spirit’s power, we pray for all Americans to unify and to live together in unity.”

The prayer was written by National Day of Prayer Task Force President Dr. Ronnie Floyd.

Community church leaders participating in prayer included Ken Benham (Jefferson Street Christian Church), Pastor Greg Wooten (Hope Chapel), Pastor Tony Shuff (Director of Salvation Army), Chaplain Ryan Edgecombe (Lincoln Christian Village & Broadwell Christian Church), Paster Darren Palmer (Faith Assembly), Pastor Larry Crawford (Open Arms Christian Fellowship), and Pastor Steve Blaum (Cumberland Presbyterian Church). Marge Meyers (Lincoln Christian Church) concluded the afternoon by leading the group in singing “God Bless America.”

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” - I Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

The crowd at the Logan County Courthouse this year may have been small, but the experience was uniting.

[Lisa Ramlow]