The local observance of the 74th annual National Day of Prayer is set for May 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Daviess County Courthouse lawn.
The Owensboro event has been a fixture in the local faith community for 35 years. Organizers say the day serves as a visual reminder that people of all backgrounds can come together in shared faith, even amid deep divides in culture and politics.
“Large crowds represent a visual display of support, but also of need. When hundreds of people on a workday during the noon hour choose to spend their time participating on the courthouse lawn, it speaks volumes about what is more important to them at that time,” said local organizer Jo Barron.
The event will begin with a “Circle of Good News,” where attendees will simultaneously read pre-assigned verses aloud so that the entire Bible is read in just 20 minutes. That portion will run from 11:30 to 11:50 a.m., and instructions for participation will be available at the flagpole beginning at 10:30 a.m.
From 11:50 a.m. to 1 p.m., the program transitions into a time of prayer, worship, and testimony. The focus will be on praying for key pillars of society, including the church, families, government and military, education, business, media, and those who are imprisoned or struggling with addiction.
“Children who used to attend with their parents are now parents bringing their children,” Barron said. “Our fervent prayer has always been that God would bring enough people to cover every blade of grass on the courthouse lawn. There is power in corporate, unified prayer.”
In the event of rain, activities will move indoors to the sanctuary of First Baptist Church at the corner of 3rd Street and JR Miller Boulevard. Remote participants can also tune in to the livestream on the event’s Facebook page.
Barron said the day is meant to transcend the things that often divide people.
“Everyone is welcome. Rarely are there times when we can all come together to pray outside of our own respective churches,” she said. “Denominations and political affiliations fade away, and Jesus is given His rightful place on center stage. All of us focus on Jesus throughout the hour. And we are doing this together.”
According to the National Day of Prayer Task Force, more than 500,000 people typically join in through livestreams and broadcasts of the national observance in Washington, D.C., and thousands of local gatherings like Owensboro’s take place across the country.
