Youth Pastor Torrey Barrett of Life Center Church of God in Christ, left, and Tavis Grant, pastor of Greater First Church in East Chicago, Ind., right, led a prayer vigil outside King College Prep High School in the days following Hadiya Pendleton’s Jan. 29, 2013 shooting death. She was a student at the high school. Thursday, May 2, 2013 is National Prayer Day and faith leaders and supporters are calling on people to pray for youth and society, as a whole. Defender/Rhonda Gillespie
“When you pray, everything will be all right…in despair, I know He’ll be right there. Just have faith when you pray” are lyrics written by the late Bishop Walter Hawkins and recorded in 1979 by the golden voice of now-award-winning gospel recording artist Tramaine Hawkins.
Today is the National Day of Prayer. If there were ever a time we desperately needed to bow our heads and our hearts on one accord for our families, nations and everything that concerns us it’s right now.
I believe that a lack of prayer is tantamount to attempting to operate a machine without the owner’s manual or an instruction guide and without it you are inevitably lost.
Not only is prayer defined as worship and adoration of God, but it also refers to an earnest request or petition. On this National Day of Prayer, take a second to say a prayer for the safety and healing of Chicago. Also, pray for the safety and education of our children as well as an end to violence. Your prayer does not have to be long and elaborate, rather a simple, earnest request with the belief that it is going to happen. You can whisper a prayer, read a prayer or you can sing a prayer as long as you take time to pray.
Let’s join hearts and make an earnest request for love, peace and blessings upon our families, leaders, sisters and brothers around the globe. Let’s believe that God will hear our petition and the changes in us and through us will manifest into a better world for all of us.
Effie Rolfe is a Chicago Defender columnist, author, media consultant, radio personality and motivational speaker. Contact her online at www.EffieRolfe.com, on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/EffiedRolfe and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MsEffieRolfe
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