National Day of Prayer unites people in faith
EL CENTRO – People of faith throughout the nation united in spirit Thursday for the 70th annual National Day of Prayer.
In Imperial County, the observances included local radio broadcasts in English and Spanish on KGBA FM and KGBA AM, respectively. There were also worship services held at Calipatria Community Church, Christ Community Church in El Centro, the gazebo at Holt Park in Holtville, as well as a youth-led service at First Christian Church in El Centro.
Imperial Valley’s National Day of Prayer Task Force has been behind promoting National Day of Prayer activities on behalf of Christian churches of many denominations in the Valley for the past 16 years. Task force Chairman Jeff Lyon said the organization exists “to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer and to mobilize the
Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families.”
The National Day of Prayer has been endorsed annually by each sitting U.S. President since 1952. This year’s theme was, “Lord, pour out your Love, Life and Liberty,” based on a Bible verse is taken from 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit
of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
The COVID-19 pandemic closed churches throughout the Imperial Valley last spring, limiting National Day of Prayer observances to largely virtual events.
This year, with the loosening of many restrictions on public worship, observances were more open and widespread, but
still limited in comparison to past years, when large, multi-denominational events were held, including a prayer breakfast at the Salvation Army’s community center and a multi-congregational service at Christ Community Church.
For more information on the National Day of Prayer, go to http://nationaldayofprayer.org/