SPRINGFIELD — An Effingham County family is encouraging local residents of all faiths to gather for the National Day of Prayer.

The 71st National Day of Prayer will be observed at Veterans Park of Effingham County on May 5 from 6:25-7:30 p.m.

The National Day of Prayer was created by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman. It exists to communicate the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families.

Morgan Phillips of Joyful Acres Farm is the primary organizer of the local event. 

“We just really want to bring the community together to pray for our country at such a critical time in our history,” she said. 

Phillips and her family observed the National Day of Prayer several times in Roanoke, Virginia, before moving to Effingham County more than a decade ago. They wondered for years why one wasn’t conducted here and decided to take action about a month ago.

“As we were driving through Springfield one day and passing Veterans Park, we were thinking that would be a perfect place for a National Day of Prayer service because we had been to some of the Veterans Day and Memorial Day events there already,” she said.

Phillips sought and received permission from park officials to host a prayer event there.

“Since then, we have been working with local pastors and we have learned that (Springfield) Mayor (Bart) Alderman will be there,” she said.   

Phillips has extended  invitations to all the county’s federal, state and local elected officials.

Alderman will deliver a welcome and proclamation after opening remarks by Isaac Phillips, Morgan’s brother.

From there, the program will feature multiple prayer times, spiritual messages by Pastors Eric Green and Al Fernandez, and music. 

The local call to prayer will center on II Chronicles 6:40, which says, “Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place.”

The National Day of Prayer Task force selected II Colossians 2:6-7 as its theme. Those verses say, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Attendees are asked to bring their own chairs to the event.

For more information, contact Phillips at (912) 659-1373.