Local residents gather in Havre to pray, lead in prayer

Worshippers assembled on Town Square Thursday at noon in observance of the National Day of Prayer.

The event, hosted by the Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association or GHAMA, was one of countless events in communities around the nation to mark the day,

The history of the National Day of Prayer goes back to 1952, when legislation was passed calling on the president to set aside one day a year "other than Sunday" to be a National Day of Prayer, information posted on the National Day of Prayer website said.

In 1988, a bill was passed by Congress that designated the first Thursday of every May a National Day of Prayer.

Illa McClenahan, the chaplain at Northern Montana Hospital, said churches in Havre have been holding their local celebration for the past 10 or 15 years.

McClenahan said the event is about asking God not only to be a presence in the life of worshippers, but to pray for the nation's direction and leaders.

Members and pastors from Havre's churches came together at the Square. Some distributed literature, flyers and small "I prayed" stickers. Pastors and members of their congregations also served food at a number of folding tables.

Pastor Brian Barrows of Abundant Life ministries, led the GHAMA Gospel Group and those in the audience in Christian music infused with patriotism.

With temperatures in the 80s and the sun shining brightly, the occasion had the feel of a combination of cookout and an old time tent revival, minus the faith healers.

"Wake Up America" was the theme of this year's Day of Prayer, suggesting that the country has strayed from Christian ethics.

"Lord, our country is in dire need of help. Where can we turn but to the lord" said state Rep. Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder, as he led those in attendance in prayer for tribal governments.

Pastor Kevin Barsotti of the Ark Church delivered the opening prayer.

A message from Pastor Tanner Howard of First Lutheran Church followed.

Howard said the worship, song and prayer on the Square was a positive force, but must be followed by deeds of faith such as loving others and confronting the problems of poverty and the marginalization of the poor and "the other" in order to have true meaning.

"When we comfort those who are the least, when we open our doors to those who are in need, when the hungry are fed and the naked are clothed, God says we have right worship," Howard said,

A series of prayers followed with religious figures and community leaders leading the crowd in prayer for different segments of society and institutions.

Barrows, a City Council member, prayed for city governments; Hill County Commissioner Jeff Lavoi for county governments, Pastor Curt Curtis of the Assembly of God Church for state government; Meyers for tribal governments, and state Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre for the federal government.

Others led prayers for law enforcement, military forces, the judicial system, businesses and media, education and churches.

In his prayer for law enforcement, Pastor Christopher Richards, a retired chief of the U.S. Border Patrol who is now a pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church, said he hoped that the day of prayer would inspire change in the nation because "things seem to be growing darker."

"They place their lives in your hands every day, Lord, where they put on a gun and they go to work not knowing if that is going to be their last."

He said tension between minority communities and police in communities such as Ferguson, Baltimore and Chicago and allegations of police brutality have led to not only to riots but also to a deep distrust of law enforcement. He described that distrust as "a scary situation".

The prayers also touched on the country's growing partisanship.

In her prayer, Hess, called for a "supernatural infusion of unity" at all levels of government.

"Lord, we understand that unity is not that we agree on everything, it is that we disagree with love and honor and with respect," Hess said.

The event was then punctuated by the crowd singing "God Bless America."