MANSFIELD – Community members and officials throughout Richland County paused for a moment on Thursday and braved chilly temperatures to observe National Day of Prayer in downtown Mansfield.
Rev. Thomas Hunt of the Providence Baptist Church praised the creation of a day of prayer, reminding those present at Mansfield’s Central Park gazebo that the United States is a nation that needs God.
“Isn’t it nice that collectively this nation has set aside a day in which all God-fearing people can come together on one accord to pray for our nation?” he said. “I’m so glad we can come together as one, even if it’s only one day, so that God is glorified.”
According to Hunt, the mission of National Day of Prayer is to mobilize prayer in America and encourage personal repentance and righteousness. Held annually on the first Thursday of May, the day was officially created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman.
The non-denominational assembly hosted by the Richland Community Prayer Network was backed with music provided by local musicians and the Mansfield Christian student choir. The celebration has been held at the Central Park gazebo every year, no matter the weather, since 1995.
“Our prayers are not only for like-minded believers,” Hunt said. “The Lord did tell us to love our enemies, so why are so we selective when it comes to praying for one another? We should openly pray for one another, and everybody has a right to freedom of speech and religion and we can call on the name of the Lord any time.”
Hunt is a familiar face to many in the community, having served as long-time president for the Mansfield Interdenominational Ministerial Association. He shared a story of how prayer has affected his own life, touting the change that can come through prayer.
“When people come together and pray, things happen,” he said. “People change, lands are healed, discrimination dissipates and people become more tolerant of one another. We can look at one another without looking at racial prejudices and say this is a child of God.”
Before his first birthday, Hunt was diagnosed with a severe case of “rickets,” a vitamin D deficiency that softens the bones. Hunt’s parents were told he may never walk properly, but he said through the power of prayer within his family and the community he became healed.
“They took me in their arms and caressed my body and my arms and straightened out my limbs,” Hunt said. “Before they knew it, I was walking. Because of the power of prayer, not only did I become stronger I was able to get a partial scholarship to play football in college. God is good.”
Part of the day’s activities also included a prayer for local elected officials. The prayer asked God to give elected officials strength to endure, integrity and protection as God leads them. Elected officials present included Commissioners Marilyn John and Gary Utt, Bellville Mayor Darrell Banks, Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchison, and Judges Ron Spon, James DeWeese and Frank Ardis.
Many area pastors also took time to lead the group in prayer for churches, schools, government, and families in the city of Mansfield and throughout Richland County. Cries of “Jesus” and “Hallelujah” echoed around the square as eyes closed tight and hands raised to the heavens.
“We should take time each day to pause in the midst of life’s pressures and look prayerfully and humbly to the Lord, who brings prosperity and peace when the storms of life are raging in our lives,” Hunt preached. “Although we still won’t know what tomorrow holds, we will know who holds tomorrow.”
Hunt ended his sermon of the day with a call to action.
“If we want to see change in our community, let us come together as we are today and pray for one another,” he pleaded. “Let us dwell on the things that bond us rather than the things that separate us. Let the change begin right now in each and every one of us.”
