Worship and praise to God takes place during the National Day of Prayer (NDP).

The local event for NDP was held at HeartMatters, located at 3401 Price Road in Bartlesville, on Thursday evening. Dr. Rod MacIlvaine, Senior Pastor at Grace Community Church, gave a prayer of repentance, asking God to show compassion on us and shower America with His mercy. He prayed that the nation will once again become a place where God is revered as the source of our liberties, therefore the source of our worship.

Alberta Pugh would pray for families. Praying for our military leaders and service members was Veteran James Dau. Before praying, Dau took a minute to have veterans in the room stand and be recognized by others in attendance that were praying with them and for them.

Dr. James Dunn, Oklahoma Wesleyan University President, prayed over education during the event. Students were part of the focus in Dr. Dunn's prayer. Dunn prayed that the students take the compassion that God has given them in their lives and their hearts. He prayed that the students use the training that they are acquiring no matter their age so they can go out from the school and fix this world.

Other speakers that prayed over topics are as follows:

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• Opening Prayer: Penny Meadows, HeartMatters
• Church:  Mr. Colaw
• Workplace: Rando Gamble, Get Real Ministries
• Government: Mike Dunlap, Washington County Commissioner
• Art/Media/Entertainment: Garrett Giles, KWON KYFM KRIG KPGM
• NDP Prayer: Debra Cook
• Closing Prayer: Father John O’Neill, St. James Catholic Church St. John Before the Latin Gate

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Music was led by Spirit Church’s Ensemble. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Oliver Rakes, Boy Scouts #150.

The theme for the 2022 National Day of Prayer observation was from Corinthians 2:6-7: “Exalt the Lord who has established us.”

This year celebrated 71 years of Prayer for America, 1952-2022.  A local interdenominational committee organized the Bartlesville prayer event.  Local ministers, ministry leaders and community leaders participated in the service.

As our nation struggles with foreign and domestic threats, economic insecurity, cultural tensions, and challenges to basic constitutional rights, citizens of the United States answered the call by our elected leaders to exercise one of their most precious freedoms – the right to gather, turn to God, and pray.  In response, millions assembled at thousands of local events across the nation, where they took time out of their daily schedules to intercede on behalf of their community, their nation, and their leaders. 

The National Day of Prayer is not just a vital part of American’s heritage, but is as relevant and critical today as it was at the first call by our Continental Congress in 1775.  Established in public law by a joint resolution of Congress signed by President Truman in 1952, then amended to designate the day under the 100th Congress and President Reagan in 1988, it states that “The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups and as individuals.”

Photo courtesy: Brandon Meadows