This Thursday (May 2) is National Day of Prayer.
It was established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1952, and the date was set to the first Thursday in May by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. By law, the president is required to sign a proclamation each year encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.
National and state Southern Baptist leaders are calling for believers to pray, individually or corporately, on this day. The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention has created a downloadable prayer guide for believers and churches to pray “for our churches, our Convention, and our country on the National Day of Prayer.”
Ways to get involved
State conventions are also leading the way in encouraging their churches to get involved.
In Georgia, for example, Thomas Hammond — executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board — and his wife Kerri are asking for fellow Baptists to join them in a time of prayer and reflection via an online livestream at 6am, noon, and 7:30 p.m. on May 2.
State leaders there will intercede through five critical areas of prayer:
1. Pastors and churches — Upholding our pastors and those they lead.
2. Pastors’ wives and women who serve in various ministries — Celebrating and supporting the devoted women in our faith community.
3. World Missions and Persecuted Christians — Advancing the gospel and standing with the oppressed.
4. Leadership — Seeking guidance for the president, Congress, Supreme Court, governor and the upcoming elections.
5. Our Nation — Praying for revival, a return to God, and an evangelistic harvest.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by the Christian Index, with additional reporting from the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
