Perry Ministerial Association hosts annual National Day of Prayer service at Perry Methodist Church

PERRY — Mother Nature couldn’t stop the Perry Ministerial Association from hosting their National Day of Prayer service on Thursday, May 7, as it moved indoors to Perry Methodist Church.

Pastor of Kings Cross Church, Jason Mangrum, prayed for the local leaders and community of Perry. 

“We lift up our local leaders to you and we remember to echo back like so many of our brothers and sisters in faith that have come before us when we consider what’s required of us in the fifth commandment,” he prayed. “”We are called to honor those who have authority over us and are called to submit ourselves with due obedience to their good instruction and discipline.” 

He prayed we must have patience in our leaders’ weaknesses and shortcomings because it is all of God’s will by governing us. 

“We love the City of Perry and Houston County. She’s not perfect, but she is a good and lovely place to call home,” he prayed. “We say thank you that many of [our local leaders] lead us in compassion, kindness and service, seeking the common good of us and our neighbors.” 

Mangrum prayed for our local government and prayed that God give our policy makers wisdom and courage to handle the ongoing growth the City of Perry has seen. He also prayed for the Houston County Board of Education, local private schools and homeschooling families.  

“We thank you for teachers that show up everyday to teach and instruct a new generation of young people,” he prayed. “Would you bless every leader and authority over our children with the utmost passion for truth, with an insatiable pursuit of wisdom.” 

Mangrum prayed for our local first responders as they said they are called to serve in any circumstance. He thanked God for their courage and their compassion for this community. 

“It’s no doubt their work is rooted in a deep sense of calling as they put themselves in harm’s way every day,” he prayed. “Would you bless them and protect them as they run towards dangerous circumstances?” 

Pastor Lewis Kiger of Memorial Heights Baptist Church prayed for our nation. He prayed that our nation is in need of God’s mercy and prayed that we have sinned against God. 

“You have blessed us with freedom, abundance and opportunity, yet we forget the God who gave us these gifts,” he prayed. “We have turned from truth and hardened our hearts against your word.” 

He then prayed for our national leaders including the President, legislators, judges and governors. He prayed for God to raise them up so that they can defend the truth, protect life, uphold justice and govern with humility and integrity. 

“Remind these leaders that they are ultimately accountable to You,” he prayed. “Open their hard hearts to the gospel so their lives would be transformed and their conversion would impact thousands.” 

Kiger also prayed for God to watch over our military and protect them serving at home and abroad. He prayed for God to give them strength, courage and wisdom to those who defend our nation. 

“Comfort these military families who carry burdens and sacrifices that are unseen by so many. Guard our servicemembers physically, mentally and spiritually and place faithful Christians among them who will shine the light of Christ wherever they serve,” he prayed. 

Kiger prayed that the gospel of Jesus Christ is spread throughout this nation and hopes there will be a renewed passion for His word. 

Pastor Don Caulley of Grace Church prayed for the world. He prayed for God to forgive us. 

“We ask your forgiveness that when we turn on the TV or flip through social media, we see the things going on in the world and we use those things to stoke our fear,” he prayed. “Lord, give us eyes to see the other as uniquely loved and valued by you and that we are just as worthy of your salvation as we were on the day we received it.” 

Caulley also prayed for those who are in places where war is brewing or have already started. He prayed for peace. 

“Lord, I pray that we enter those places that we think are hopeless and that you shine your light brightly so that true peace, love, justice and mercy can reign,” he prayed. 

He prayed for those suffering persecution in Central Africa, Iran, China, Ukraine and all over Europe. 

“I pray that those that are suffering under persecution and isolation feel and sense and know your peace,” he prayed. “I’m so thankful for your example that they don’t have to wonder if their faith is strong enough to carry them through because it is carrying them through.”  

Larry Wood, CEO of Perry Volunteer Outreach closed with a prayer for the poor. He prayed that when we look around and see someone that has less than we do, we should pray for them. 

“In praying for them, we lay our souls before you and we say ‘use us God’, because we can’t ask you to do something that we are not willing to do ourselves,” he prayed. “Lord, as we pay bills, put clothes on our naked backs and put food in our empty stomachs, we do it not for our sake and for our glory. We do it because when we look in their eyes, let us see what you see and that is the beauty of your creation.”

Wood prayed that those individuals do need prayer, no matter what the circumstances were  that may have caused their misfortune. 

“They still need Your grace, and use us to serve them as You did meeting their needs,” he prayed. “Lord, give us the courage to boldly speak and unashamedly speak to them and say, ‘we can feed you for a day’, but we have a God who will save your soul for eternity.”