Mayor Jenks proclaims May 3 “National Day of Prayer”

Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III signed a proclamation designating Thursday, May 3 the 61st Annual Observance of “National Day of Prayer.” He was joined by National Day of Prayer Committee members and area pastors for the National Day of Prayer effort here in Rolla. This proclamation officially kicks off a city-wide call to prayer on May 3 for our nation and our town, its leaders, media, schools, churches and families.

(Pictured at the ‘National Day of Prayer’ proclamation signing with Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III (holding proclamation) on April 25 at Rolla City Hall are (front row, l to r): 2012 National Day of Prayer Committee members: Emily Barnes; Pastor Gary Teague; (second row, l-r): Pastor Mark Johnson; Linda Goff; Emily Barnes and Pastor Danny Kemp. Not pictured are: National Day of Prayer committee members Lynne Brennan-Howk, Mary Daily, Samuel Frimpong, Steve George, Elizabeth Smith, and Sue Stoltz.)

Pastor Gary Teague says that plans for National Day of Prayer with the theme “One Nation Under God” are underway, and the entire community is invited to the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 3 from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the Havener Center on the Missouri S&T campus. The guest speaker for the event is Karen Dye, who has been a national television and radio personality for more than 25 years. Ms. Dye is the Executive Producer and Host of “A Courageous Heart” which airs worldwide on the Christian Television Network. She is also the morning show co-host of Spirit FM. This past year, Karen authored her first children’s book, “Just Beweeve, Through the Eyes of a Child.”

Tickets for the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast are on sale for $12 per person or $125 for a table of 8. Anyone interested in purchasing a ticket should contact Millie Street, Executive Secretary in the Administration Department (third floor) at Rolla City Hall (901 N. Elm Street). She can also be reached at (573) 426-6948 or at millie@rollacity.org. A limited number of tickets will also be available the morning of the event at the door.

As a part of the National Day of Prayer, the Rolla community is also invited to Youth United – National Day of Prayer Teen Service on Wednesday, May 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Rolla. This is a free event for all local teens.In addition, on Thursday, May 3 a concert by "The Connection" will begin at 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. There will be prayer for our Rolla area community, schools, hospitals, and military. It is a free event with special activities for children.

For more information, please call Emily Barnes, National Day of Prayer Committee member, at 364-3292. The National Day of Prayer tradition predates the founding of the United States of America, evidenced by the Continental Congress' proclamation in 1775 setting aside a day of prayer.  In 1952, Congress established an annual day of prayer and, in 1988, that law was amended, designating the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May.