A bomb threat didn’t stop people from praying in the Kentucky State Capitol Rotunda Wednesday (Jan. 4) as legislators began work for the 2024 legislative session.
A bomb threat that morning, issued via email to the Secretary of State’s office, resulted in the State Capitol being evacuated. But the building was cleared and reopened in time for the 1 p.m. prayer service organized by Kyle McDanell, chaplain for the Capitol Commission and pastor of East Frankfort Baptist Church.
In speaking to a crowd of legislators, legislative staff, church and community representatives, McDanell said the group was there “to pray for our leaders.”
‘Praying for healing’
Joshua Rayborn, pastor of Faith Baptist Church Frankfort, said he was praying “for the commonwealth and for wisdom (for legislators). What we are doing today in the Rotunda is the most powerful thing we can do,” Rayborn said. In his prayer, he pleaded “for our fellow man, and in a world divided, I am praying for healing.” Rayburn added, “I pray we would love as you (Jesus) loves, and we would love you and others more than ourselves.”
McDanell prayed for government leaders, asking for “godly wisdom for right decisions at the right time. We need is the power of God moving in a mighty and historic way,” and prayed that the “gospel would prove to be powerful. Our state desperately needs Jesus.”
Ed Stewart, a deacon at East Frankfort Baptist Church, stressed the need for revival, and said it begins with prayer. He recalled his childhood in Alabama when his father gathered he and his siblings before school and prayed, and when they got to school they prayed again. Students saw numerous Bible verses displayed in the school building. He added, “I have seen the results of prayer in my own life,” then added he was praying for men and women in state government and for God to give them supernatural power to make a difference in (solving) the state’s problems.
Ashley Renae led the group in song.
The Capitol Commission is a national non-partisan ministry that places qualified state ministers in state capitols to minister to that community.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chip Hutcheson and originally published by Kentucky Today, news service of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.
