Local National Day of Prayer Event in Long's Park, Pennsylvania

May 7, 2009, was the National Day of Prayer. The National Day of Prayer is held annually on the first Thursday in May. Although thousands were drawn to the annual event held in Long's Park Lancaster County, this year's prayer event had a different tone. The event lacked the usual publicity that the Day of Prayer usually garners. This writer could not locate advance notification of the local event in the areas main newspaper or on most if any local news stations. Only the small weekly circular carried information on the back page; it was the Merchandiser that contained information on the event.

The event this year was held under a cloud of controversy. It stemmed from the fact that Obama had not planned on having a White House event, for the National Day of prayer. It is speculated throughout the Christian community from local church, Twitter to Facebook, that Obama's failure to have a White House event or issue a proclamation for the National Day of Prayer, as required by law, prior May 7, 2009 has dampened events across the country.

An unidentified White House Source defended Obama with his statement saying, "President Obama is a committed Christian and believes that we should be engaging Americans of faith in efforts to renew our country. He is following the tradition of Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and others by signing a proclamation honoring the National Day of Prayer, while continuing to work with communities of faith to improve our country."

Without the normal publicity, in spite of Obama's late proclamation events in Long's Park were not quelled. Well known author and speaker, this year's honorary chair of the National Day of Prayer, Beth Moore was the keynote speaker at the event in the evening.

Lancaster County's National Day of Prayer leadership committee, chaired by Donna Fisher, took the scripture from Isaiah to heart this year "and little children shall lead them". For the first time in the history of the event, all the prayer leaders were county children and youths. Tiny Five-year-old Eliannah Boll, of Ephrata, stood atop a stepstool on tiptoes at her mother's side and prayed for an end to abortion. The prayer was met with a standing ovation. What was absent from the event, was a telephonic speech from the President of the United States which has been a part of the Lancaster National Day of Prayer event in past years.

Moore's remarks at the conclusion of the Lancaster event gave the audience a hopeful reminder. In closing, she said God is not on vacation. Moore said, "He's not given up on this nation. We're not in a godforsaken world, after all. As the remnant (referring to those Christians that have remained faithful to Christ) cries out, he hears us."

The purpose of the National Day of Prayer at its inception was for persons of faith to set aside a time to pray. The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by an act of Congress and signed into law by Harry S Truman. Its intention was never to be an exclusive Christian event. It wasn't until 1983 that the event became aligned with a Judeo-Christian observance.

If you look at the National Day of Prayer's Mission Statement you will notice that events that are sponsored throughout the country receive no public funding. The other point of interest is that the National Day of Prayers' Mission Statement is non-inclusive of the other monotheistic faiths that believe in the same God as Christians, that of the Jewish and Muslim faith.

Sources:
http://www.ndptf.org/home/home.html
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/05/08/in-my-america-govt-would-not-proclaim-national-day-of-prayer/?cxntfid=blogs_jay_bookman_blog