National Day of Prayer observed in Wood County
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PARKERSBURG -- Communities around the Mid-Ohio Valley Thursday held National Day of Prayer rallies to pray for government leaders and American society.
Rallies are organized the first Thursdays in May and were held in Vienna and Parkersburg, among other locations, where the weather was perfect, said Tim Baer, an organizer of the Parkersburg rally at Bicentennial Park.
"You can just about expect on the first Thursday in May the Lord is going to give us good weather," he said.
The celebration was a collaboration of local churches, ministers and laymen. The rally in Parkersburg was preceded by a musical trio from the Rock Church, featuring Ellie DeMattia, Alexis Garduana and Abigail Nangle.
Pastor Jim Sallie of the Redeemer Church in Parkersburg said he wished he came sooner. Sallie presented the opening prayer and devotion during the revival-like ceremony.
"We have a lot of things to pray about," he said.
Prayers were identified by different areas of influence in society, Baer said. Among the areas were family, infrastructure, government, law enforcement, the military, athletics, education, addiction, business, family, infrastructure and the church, repentance and forgiveness and healing.
"America is undergoing a demonic spiritual attack," said Greg Nangle, a police officer, police chaplain and the youth pastor at the Rock Church, who spoke on the role of prayer on law enforcement and first responders.
Nangle cited the events at college campuses where riots were staged against Israel's prosecution of the war with Hamas. Nangle said police have been ordered not to make arrests, "a direct contradiction to the word of God."
"If an enemy can cause a riot, our living God can cause a revival," he said.
Hate is rampant in America, according to Wood County Assessor David Nohe.
"Right now we're the divided states of America," he said.
God must be put into every section of government, in every decision, Nohe said.
"We need love and we need truth," he said.
Among the speakers were Jessica Pereya, Andy Nestor and Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce with a proclamation.
The family was the first institution created by God, Pereya said.
"The devil thinks he's going to win," she said. "But he's already lost."
In Vienna, Mayor Randy Rapp said the National Day of Prayer is among his favorite events every year. He talked about receiving a phone call this week from a man who asked him who gave the mayor permission to have the National Day of Prayer locally.
"I don't need permission to have the National Day of Prayer," he said. "If we want to pray, we will pray."
Rapp pointed to federal and state statutes guaranteeing the right to have the National Day of Prayer. He read the proclamation by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice that said prayer has been a part of the country's heritage since the Declaration of Independence.
"Each and every one of us is here today as family members and friends that we pray for everyday," Rapp said. "Today as we gather and pray, I want each of you to remember those people in your heart. Who gave me permission to pray? No one will give me permission to pray. I will do it everyday, multiple times as I feel necessary."
The theme for this year's National Day of Prayer was "Lift Up the Word, Light Up the World."
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com
Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com