Delco comes together to mark National Day of Prayer
Faithful gather in Rose Tree Park
UPPER PROVIDENCE » With sun blazing and tents popped up in Rose Tree Park, the faithful came out by the scores Thursday to commemorate Delaware County’s contribution to the National Day of Prayer.
“Our Delaware County event is just a little extra special for us because it’s the 25th year that we’ve been celebrating this spe- cial day of prayer right here in Rose Tree Park,” said Patti Bruno, director of Delaware County Prayer Task Force.
“Amen!” someone shouted from the crowd.
“Amen, that’s right,” Bruno agreed. “Amen.”
This year’s event carried the theme of “Pray for America: Unity,” representing 300 churches and houses of faith throughout Delaware County and was held in conjunction with National Day of Prayer events across the country. The event dates back to 1952, when it was acknowledged through an act of U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.
Delaware County Councilman Michael Culp spoke to the unique position the United States has in protecting religious freedom.
“Throughout history, people have turned to prayer for strength, comfort and guidance,” he said. “Prayer has been an integral part of the American heritage and this nation provides its citizens with the liberty to worship according to their conscience. That is a precious freedom that we know is not afforded to some people in parts of the world ... Our country is blessed to have that privilege.”
Bruno said the day presented a chance to unite people.
“Today is an opportunity for all of us to come together as one and pray for our country as one,” she said. “Pray for His healing and pray for its future.”
Throughout the event, participants prayed for Jerusalem, for churches and the clergy, for schools and teachers, for youth, for marriages and families, for the unborn, for veterans, police, fire and emergency medical teams, and for government leaders.
There were also prayer boxes, where people could fill out their own requests and have others pray for them.
There were also healing rooms in certain red tents, where members of the public were welcome to visit and ask Prayer Warriors to pray for them.
In one, Dave Heisler, Gloria Magargee and Evie Wright, who brought the event to Delaware County with her late husband, Bob, were available for anyone who might request their services.
“We write down what they need prayer for and they come in the room and we pray for them,” Heisler said, explaining that requests ranged from sickness to relationship issues to mental health concerns.
“We’re not healers,” Magargee said. “We can’t heal but we know that Jesus is. Everything done in the name of Jesus.”
She said sometimes people come and say, “Maybe God doesn’t want to heal me.”
“He does,” Magargee said. “It’s not too hard for God to do anything.”
The member of Broomall’s New Hope Christian Church said she hoped anyone visiting the Rose Tree Park event or the healing tent would feel encouraged and would find hope.
Heisler paused as his voice wavered as he added, “and that they recognize that God is a good God.”
Bruno said that by having it in Rose Tree Park, outreach was possible in a different way.
“It’s a time when all people gather in unity – not in your church on Sunday – to praise God, to mobilize people,” she said. “All these different people from all different churches ... and even people who don’t believe, they’re all welcome here. For secular people, ... they might walk by, hear the music, see the tents, read something, come in here and get touched.”
She said through God, anything was possible.
“We so desperately long for healing and reconciliation, a unity that would bring a renewed sense of hope and optimism for our future,” Bruno said. “Only God can bring this unity to our country that we so urgently need. Only God. We need a new awakening of God’s spirit throughout our land. This National Day of Prayer is such an awakening ... I believe that God will use this day to heal and to reconcile our great land.”