Published: May 01, 2008 11:49 pm            

Hundreds participate in message at Kyova Mall

CANNONSBURG — Prayers for personal forgiveness, the nation, schools, businesses, churches and families echoed through the Kyova mall Thursday afternoon as more than 200 gathered to participate in the National Day of Prayer.

Following a presentation of the country’s flags by the Boyd County Navy JROTC color guard and an inspiring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Cadet/SN Ashlee Stewart, Garner Baptist Pastor Gary Arrington welcomed the crowd and urged each person to secure a personal relationship with God.

“As a nation we have drifted and continue to drift farther and farther away from where God wants us to be,” Arrington said, proclaiming his belief that the United States is the greatest nation on Earth and praising our ability to gather in public to further the word of the gospel. “But, we are still far, far from where God would want us to be.”

During his prayer, Arrington asked everyone in the audience to seek personal forgiveness and cleansing to help America “turn from our wicked ways.”

“Hear our prayers, oh Lord, We desire our nation be close to you again and our land be healed,” he said.

Dicky Tiller, pastor at Liberty Baptist, offered a prayer for local schools, students and administrators, as well as area business owners.

“Thank God for the opportunity to pray together in public and live in such a great place,” Tiller said, later adding a special prayer for school officials who go to work and teach children to listen, “with an open heart and an open mind and learn for the future.”

Rose Hill Baptist Church Pastor Ronnie Mays led a prayer for America and the nation’s military personnel.

“I am a flag waving, hallelujah kind of Christian,” he said, adding “Our poor people are richer than the rich people in many other nations.”

Mays asked for a special blessing upon the nation’s presidential candidates, President Bush and American soldiers who “as we speak are dying to give us our freedom.” He then added, “The greatest thing we have is the God we worship.”

Wildwood Baptist pastor Jim Nichols said churches and families are God’s greatest gifts to America.

“There is an attack on our churches and families from our courts. Our courts have taken prayer away from children in the classroom and allowed the killing of unborn babies,” he said, adding television, radio and “Hollywood” have also contributed to the attack against religion in this nation.

Music for the program was provided by vocalists Nola Holbrook, Kathryn Lester and Jeff Ferguson, with the audience joining their voices for harmonious version of “God Bless America.”

        

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