(Photo by Amber Phipps) A crowd of about 50 people gathered under tents outside of the Armory on Front Street to hear from local pastors and pray together during the National Day of Prayer observance Thursday.

Dreary weather didn’t prevent residents on both sides of the Ohio River from recognizing the National Day of Prayer on Thursday.

“Thank you Lord for calming the winds and keeping a canopy over us today because the canopy of your presence is over our lives,” Pastor Rodney Lord of Freedom Gate Church said at the opening of the event on the front lawn of the Armory in Marietta.

Mayor Josh Schlicher then recognized May 1 as the National Day of Prayer in the city. He spoke about the history of the day and its significance to the people in the city.

“I urge all citizens to observe the day in ways relevant to its importance and significance,” Schlicher said.

The crowd was encouraged and guided by local pastors to pray for things like education, first responders, civil leaders and the community.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher and Pastor Rodney Lord of Freedom Gate Church share the opening remarks of the National Day of Prayer observance Thursday at the Armory.

Among the speakers was Belpre Police Chief Mike Stump, who shared his testimony with the crowd. He spoke about how he’s noticed a shift in the nation and the positive changes he’s seen in upcoming generations.

“We ask God for a revival in this country and I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention to the college campuses and the things going on,” said Stump. “But there’s a move of God taking place amongst the younger generation now.”

Due to a cultural change, Stump said, it’s now mainstream to share one’s personal faith.

That’s something Parkersburg Code Enforcement Director Andy Nestor did on the stage at Bicentennial Park at the same time during Thursday’s observance in Parkersburg.

“It took me almost 50 years of life to find out that my way was not the way to live,” he said. “He’s (God) made some drastic changes in my life.”

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Freedom Gate Church Pastor Rodney Lord encourages the crowd to pray with him and proclaim their faith to the world during the National Day of PRayer observance Thursday at the Armory in Marietta.

Nestor referred to scripture including Jeremiah 29:7, about seeking the welfare of the city in which one lives, and Psalm 133, about living together in unity, before asking God’s blessing on the city and local and national leaders. He also prayed for an end to racism and said the church should lead the way in racial reconciliation.

Nestor was one of several public officials to speak at the Parkersburg event, along with Mayor Tom Joyce, Police Chief Matthew Board and state Del. Scot Heckert, R-W.Va.

“We all deal with a lot of problems, and there’s a lot of problems that need fixed,” Heckert said. “I pray that we all come together and try to fix them in the right way for everybody and not (just for) somebody.”

In his National Day of Prayer proclamation, Joyce invited citizens to pray “in accordance with their own faiths and consciences.”

Pastor Roger Benson of Grace Gospel Church in Parkersburg prayed that God would align people’s desires with His own.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Belpre Police Chief, Mike Stump spoke about his faith in God and how he’s seen positive changes in upcoming generations at Thursday’s National Day of Prayer observance in Marietta.

“What we want is not nearly as important as what you want,” he said.

Downtown Bethel Church member Jamie Williams focused her prayer on the drug abuse epidemic, while fellow member Marina Bilyeu prayed for safety for members of the military and veterans both during and after their service.

Local observance of the day kicked off at 8:30 a.m. in Vienna at the flagpole in front of the city building.

“One of the greatest things anyone can do for me, is when they ask if they can pray for me,” Mayor Chad Emrick said. “It is always a good time to pray.”

Vienna Baptist Church Pastor Brent Duncan offered the prayer there, asking God’s blessing on city employees and leaders, protection for law enforcement and other first responders and guidance for national leaders.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Members of the Marietta community gathered to recognize the National Day of Prayer and discuss their personal faith on Thursday afternoon at the Armory.

“May their decisions not be made for selfish gain but Father for your glory and your honor,” he said.

Duncan also cited John 15 and emphasized the importance of holding the teachings of Jesus Christ central in one’s life.

“Where our hearts are in proximity to Christ affects the work that we do, day in and day out,” he said.

The National Day of Prayer was established in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, according to nationaldayofprayer.org, a website of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, which promotes a Judeo-Christian expression of the day.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Waverly residents Donna and Paul Hickman, left and right, and Vienna residents Diane and Russell Wooten bow their heads as a prayer is said during the National Day of Prayer observance Thursday at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Dozens of people gathered in Parkersburg’s Bicentennial Park for the National Day of Prayer observance Thursday, many seeking shelter when it briefly began to rain.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) People gather at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg for the National Day of Prayer observance Thursday.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) People sway to praise music performed by, on stage from left, Mikalya Morgan, Ellie DeMattia and Micah Boles from The Rock Full Gospel Church in Parkersburg prior to Thursday’s National Day of Prayer observance in Bicentennial Park.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) From left, Mikalya Morgan, Ellie DeMattia and Micah Boles from The Rock Full Gospel Church in Parkersburg perform praise music prior to Thursday’s National Day of Prayer observance in Bicentennial Park.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board speaks during the National Day of Prayer observance Thursday in Bicentennial Park. “Normally people just want to ask me about crime and statistics and things like that, and I don’t often get to speak from my heart,” he said.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Downtown Bethel Church member Marina Bilyeu prays for members of the military and veterans during the National Day of Prayer event Thursday at Bicentennial Park in Parkersburg

(Photo by Evan Bevins) People gathered at the flagpole in front of the Vienna City Building Thursday morning to observe the National Day of Prayer.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Vienna Mayor Chad Emrick welcomes people to the National Day of Prayer observance Thursday morning in front of the city building.