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Annual event celebrated throughout country

Originating in 1952, National Day of Prayer was created by a joint-resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman. In 1988, the law was amended by President Ronald Reagan, designating the first Thursday in May as National Day of Prayer. Today, communities throughout the nation observe the event each year.

Pastor Stephen Lee of Manchester First Methodist Church served as Master of Ceremonies and welcomed the crowd of about 50 people to the ceremony.

“The 2024 National Day of Prayer theme is a call to stand on this foundation, to lift up the world and light up the world, inspired from the faithful prayer of our theme verse today,” Lee said.

The theme verse for the day was 2 Samuel 22: 29-31.

“For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against the troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God- his way is perfect; the world of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.”

Seth Mesaros of Manchester First Methodist Church performed a song titled “The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours)” before representatives from the community began taking their turn to pray.

Coffee County Trustee John Marchesoni represented Coffee County government, and prayed for leaders in government.

Others scheduled to offer prayers during the ceremony included Coffee County School Board member Gary Cordell, Manchester First Methodist Church Music Director Seth Mesaros, Junior Baker of Canvas Community Church, Pastor David Petty of the Church of God, David Pate of the Family Counseling Center, Deanna Howard of Blue Monarch, John Coffelt of The Manchester Times, Josh Peterson of Thunder Radio, Pastor Mark Bassett of Pastor City Community Church, Fire Chaplain Keith Springs, Chaplain Major Hall of the National Guard 30th Troop, Kelly Anderson of ReMax, JD Toliver of Toliver’s Pawn Shop, Dr. Neil Loeffler, Pat Nickless and Pastor Alex Robertson.