'We Come Seeking Your Blessing'

Roughly 200 people gathered under a blue sky outside Powder Springs on Thursday to celebrate prayer and patriotism.

Richard Walker, pastor of , noted how the specific beliefs of those in attendance might be slightly different, “but we’re gathered together to seek God in prayer and to ask his blessing upon our nation.”

Rev. Susan Gary Ashe of reiterated those thoughts during a prayer: “We gather today—different denominations, varying perspectives—unified in our desire to come to your throne of grace. We come seeking your blessing on behalf of our community, our nation and our world.”

The gathering was part of the 60th National Day of Prayer, an observance enacted by President Harry Truman in 1952.

At the Douglas County Courthouse in Douglasville on Thursday, officials and citizens also . In Cobb County, several hundred people—including businesspersons, church members and government officials—bowed their heads and took in the messages of speakers .

Outside the Cobb event, held at the Cobb Galleria Centre, five representatives from the Atlanta Freethought Society protested the gathering.

There was nothing but support from those in attendance at Powder Springs’ observance, which saw people pouring out from under the event’s tent and across the City Hall parking lot. Mayor Pat Vaughn told the crowd that this year’s turnout was probably the largest ever.

“What does this tell you—that this many people are showing up for the need for prayer? And next year, we will have a circus tent,” she joked. “And please ask your friends to come fill it up.”

The Color Guard presented the U.S. and Georgia flags during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem. Gary Harris of Macland Baptist sang “God Bless the USA" (a video of Harris singing is attached to this article).

Following a song from students of , five speakers delivered different messages.

Rev. John Citizen from talked about nationwide spiritual revival. He described how revival starts with the individual.

“Powder Springs Christians, we’ve got to separate ourselves from the world. We’ve got to start standing apart from the world,” he said. “We can’t look like the world; we can’t talk like the world. We’ve got to come from among them and be ye separated.

“When people see you,” he added, “they ought to see Jesus.”

 The city, Citizen said, is a place where God exists.

“And he declared that Powder Springs, Georgia would be a place where his presence would reside … because I know our mayor and the council are godly people, whether you agree with the policy of the city or not, I know we are godly people,” he said. “They are doing the best they can to serve us as a community.”

Thomas Blagg of led a prayer for churches and church leaders.

“We pray God that you will let us be bridge builders today,” he said. “Father not only let us talk about delivering people from drugs and alcoholism, but let us hold their hand and build bridges … There is a remedy for it, and that remedy is Jesus Christ.”

Walker prayed for government officials and the military.

“Lord what a debt of gratitude we all owe those who put their lives on the line,” he said.

Rev. Snyder Turner of prayed for schools.

“Lord, I know that while we stand here today ... there are some that would try to exclude you from our schools and refuse to acknowledge your sovereignty and your holiness,” he said. “We’re thankful that walking the halls of those very schools are those teachers and leaders who have a heart for you. … I pray that you would strengthen them.”

Rev. Rusty Womack of prayed for families. 

“The devil is coming against our moms and our dads and our children and our families and literally tearing the fabric of our nation apart through our families,” he said, “and all because unfortunately those dads, those moms and even those children have given place to the devil.” 

Womack called for “warfare praying” against the devil. He also said he hoped sexual temptations would leave people so husbands and wives could focus on one another.

Afterward, Jim Carmichael, a 70-year-old Powder Springs resident, reflected on the event. He described how he appreciated the coming together of different denominations. He also mentioned how his church is working on spreading Christianity throughout the area.

“It’s true,” he said, “that this is a hard time because of the things that are happening not because of the Christian people, but the ones that don’t believe in God. … But we’re working on it.”