| ST. PAUL — The 56th Annual National Day of Prayer gathering will be held at the Capitol on May 3 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Based on 2 Chronicles 7:14, the 2007 NDOP theme is “America, Unite in Prayer.”
The Heart of the City Worship Band and Bethel University Student Vespers Leaders will play a prelude of praise and worship music from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Dan Adler, HOTC founder and leader, has been involved with NDOP celebrations for the past several years.
“To me, the fact that it’s still legal to stand on the steps of our State Capitol and pray—in light of all the Christians in the world who live in persecution and in hiding—makes me feel that we must do this,” Adler said of his continued participation. “I feel desperate to pray for our state and country, that God’s blessing and guidance will be upon us and that we could maintain our freedom to worship.”
Gov. Pawlenty, Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller have all confirmed they will join NDOP attendees to pray for the state and nation.
“We are excited that new and veteran leadership have accepted our invitation to come and participate in this year’s observance,” said Sharon Auldrich, Minnesota NDOP coordinator.
The NDOP organization encourages individuals, churches and gatherings to pray for the church, government, family, education, the military and the media each year.
“People are there because they want to pray, because they want to acknowledge our dependence upon God for our daily lives, our state, our country and our world,” Adler said. “It’s also an incredible privilege to have the Governor come out and be willing to be prayed for along with a large amount of legislators who really welcome this crowd of Christians to lay hands on them and pray for them.”
Adler said the only negative thing he sees about the annual NDOP event at the Capitol is that more people don’t attend.
“It takes place over a lunch hour. Students are allowed to get out of school for such activities,” he said. “With some planning, there could be thousands of Christians gathering on this day instead of a few hundred. I’d love to see much larger participation in this event.”
ACTION POINT:
For more information on Minnesota National Day of Prayer events, visit www.ndpminnesota.org. To read more about the National Day of Prayer, visit www.ndptf.org.
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