Rockwall mayors, residents observe National Day of Prayer 2016

(ROCKWALL, TX) Mayors from municipalities throughout Rockwall County joined community residents in observing National Day of Prayer 2016 on Thursday, May 5, with a couple of prayer events held at The Center (108 E. Washington St).

From left to right: McLendon-Chisholm Mayor Gary Moody, Royse City Mayor Janet Nichol, Heath Mayor Lorne Liechty, Rockwall Mayor Jim Pruitt, Fate Mayor Lorne Megyesi.

The mayors of Rockwall, Heath, Fate, Royse City, McLendon-Chisholm and Rowlett joined the community in welcoming guest speaker David Shibley, founder of Global Advance, during the Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast. Shibley founded Global Advance in 1990, and the nonprofit organization has since provided indigenous training and ministry encouragement for more than 700,000 frontline leaders in 94 nations, with two training centers and numerous strategic partnerships with hundreds of churches and ministries.

Emphasizing the theme of this year’s National Day of Prayer – “Wake up, America” – Shibley went over five practical steps to take towards waking up to God’s love and positively impacting Rockwall County as well as the nation: praying for our nation, portraying God’s love, participating in the process, proclaiming the gospel, and preparing for national spiritual awakening.

Shibley cited recent happenings across the country which have shown that despite the recent rise of terroristic violence and hate occurring both at home and abroad this past year, God’s will and love remains evident and unwavering in the affairs of man: the recent revival sweeping across the schools of West Virginia and Kentucky; the spreading of the gospel message by Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California, at AT&T Stadium as a part of Harvest America 2016; and Franklin Graham, son of Evangelist Billy Graham, visiting all 50 state capitol buildings calling for repentance, prayer and national awakening as part of his Decision America Tour.

Referencing one of Elijah’s servants from I Kings 18:44-45 (New International Version Bible), Shibley said these recent events are as a cloud on the horizon “the size of a man’s hand,” bearing the rain of God’s blessing and love for our nation.

“Get ready,” Shibley said, “for God has promised, ‘I will pour water on him who is thirsty in floods upon the dry ground. I will pour out my spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring.’ I see the cloud about the size of a man’s hand and I do indeed hear the sound of the abundance of rain. So wake up, America. Shout it loud, do not hold back, raise your voice like a trumpet.”

Local worship leader and singer/songwriter Christina Smet provided a special performance and led attendees of the breakfast in musical worship following a benediction and invitation to prayer by Rockwall Mayor Jim Pruitt.

Rockwall communities engaged in a second opportunity of prayer with local pastors and community leaders during the Community Midday Prayer event shortly following the Mayors’ Breakfast.

The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer in 1775, as did Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Congress established the National Day of Prayer as an annual event by joint resolution signed by President Truman in 1952. The law was amended and signed by President Reagan to officially designate the first Thursday in May as the official date.

Story and photos by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News editor.

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