CROWLEY- The tenth annual Crowley National Day of Prayer will be observed on Thursday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the International Rice Festival Building, 717 West Mill Street, under the direction of Chairperson Dr. Ezora Proctor, co-chairperson Peggy Sandidge, and the local task force with the support of Mayor Greg Jones, city and parish officials, local area pastors, program participants, sponsors, donors and local area churches. The United States National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation and its leadership in the seven centers of power: government, military, media, business, education, church and family. It is founded on the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Days of Prayer have been called for since 1775 when the Continental Congress designated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln called for such a day. The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress an d signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. President Reagan amended the law in 1988 designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer.

Although the efforts of the National Day of Prayer Task Force are executed specifically in accordance with its Judeo-Christian beliefs, people with diverse theological and philosophical views are free to peacefully organize and participate in activities that are consistent with their own beliefs. This diversity is what Congress intended when it designated the Day of Prayer, not that every faith and creed would be homogenized, but that all who sought to pray for this nation wold be encouraged to do so in any way deemed appropriate.

The 59th annual National Day of Prayer theme is “Prayer for such a time as this,” and is based on the verse from Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”

The sponsors and supporters of the Crowley National Day of Prayer are:

Mayor Greg Jones and the City of Crowley

The National Association of University Women

Crowley Flower Shop

Aurora Flowers

Gator Custom Graphix

M&H Automotive

KAJN-FM Family Vision Television

Acadia Parish Head Start

Crowley Churches and Pastors

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Carmichael