WINONA LAKE – Community members gathered in prayer Thursday at Rodeheaver Auditorium in Winona Lake for National Day of Prayer. The theme was “Lord, Hear Our Prayer.” The annual day of observance is held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress. People are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.” Each year since its inception, the president has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Locally, Dr. David Hoffert, Warsaw Community Schools superintendent, prayed for education; Dan King, Winona Lake postmaster, prayed for government; Pastor E.J. Underwood, Warsaw Community Church, prayed for family; Lane Anderson, Intercom, prayed for ministry and missions; Greg Rauen, Air Force veterans and World Compassion Network, prayed for military; Jill Blackwood, JB’s Furniture, prayed for business; and Melissa Montana, Star 88.3 station director, prayed for media. Ken Locke, Salvation Army community ministries director, introduced Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh, Christian Performing Artist’s Fellowship executive director, as the keynote speaker. “Today is an incredibly important day for our country as well as for the body of Christ,” Kavanaugh said. He spoke about prayer warriors and said they seem to have a life-changing way of praying. He did a musical illustration and said successful musicians practice for thousands of hours, and said the world would be a better place if people prayed for thousands of hours. Kavanaugh said to get better at anything it takes practice, and encouraged attendees to not just pray when it is convenient. “God’s word says to pray continually,” Kavanaugh said. He said praying takes discipline and the root word is disciple. “If we want to follow Christ we need to come under the discipline of Christ and prayer,” Kavanaugh said. Locke encouraged attendees to pray for their pastors and their families, and attendees to pray for themselves that God will change them. Music was provided by members of the Masterwork’s Festival. On the piano was Jonathan Keener and Oscar Auturo Osorio was the soloist.
