This Year’s National Day Of Prayer Events Draw On Hope
WASHINGTON — Southern Baptists joined others across the country for National Day of Prayer events May 2, with the theme based on Romans 15:14, “Pour out to the God of hope and be filled.”
Brad Graves, SBC first vice president and pastor of First Baptist Church in Ada, Okla., participated in Washington, D.C., as a member of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. He also contributed to a pre-recorded video co-hosted by Tim Tebow featuring prayers from task force members. Graves’ prayer begins at the 44:52 mark.
May 1 began with the NDOP congressional observance attended by approximately 300 people, including members of the House and Senate as well as guests such as Graves. Casting Crowns led in worship.
“I heard from several politicians and faith leaders,” he told friends of the event. “Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator James Lankford stood out most regarding their deep and devotional prayers.”
Graves told BP that prayers covered the seven pillars of the NDOP – families, military, government, church, education, media and business.
An invitation also took Graves to the Rose Garden for the White House observance. There, President Trump signed the customary proclamation designating the first Thursday of May as the Day of Prayer. He also signed an executive order establishing the Religious Liberty Commission, which will focus on various aspects of religious liberty in America and create programs “to increase awareness of and celebrate America’s peaceful religious pluralism.”
Trump’s NDOP proclamation included how barely dodging a would-be assassin’s bullet last summer in Pennsylvania affected him.
“My faith took on new meaning,” he said. “I felt what seemed to be the supernatural hand of God. … It serves as a sacred reminder of our Creator’s infinite goodness, guidance, and grace.”
“This National Day of Prayer, we recognize that the true strength of the American spirit has always been found in churches, chapels, pews, parishes and synagogues, and the hearts and souls of our citizens of faith,” the proclamation read. “Today and every day, we bow our heads in prayer to thank God for His countless gifts and to ask for His divine protection. Above all, we acknowledge that prayer is the foundation of our past, the guiding hand of our present, and the light of our future.”
Scott Turner, a pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church near Dallas who serves as secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Trump administration, encouraged Americans to gather together with family and friends to “get around your kitchen table” and “take time to pray.”
“Prayer is the foundational principle on which we as believers stand, praying to the God of Heaven and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we pray for our nation,” he said.
The NDOP task force prayer video was viewed that evening by the group at a watch party and dinner at the Museum of the Bible. As honored as Graves was to be a part of it, there was another reason to be proud.
Levi, his 15-year-old son at Ada Junior High, led an NDOP event at his school during lunch that was attended by 61 other ninth graders. After praying together, they broke into smaller groups across the room to pray.
Levi was among those featured in a prayer to close out the NDOP video. He makes his first appearance at 1:25:28.
Last year, Levi and two friends started a Bible club that quickly grew from 30 to 50 students at their weekly lunch meeting. It has now grown to approximately 70.
“Those kids who came and prayed during their lunch break are the spiritual heroes of their generation,” Graves said. “I believe the Lord is sending revival!”
This article has been republished with permission from Baptist Press.
Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press.