QUITE THE LINE-UP! … From back to front Pastor Terry Baldwin of Silver Creek Church of the Brethren, Pastor Christian Taylor of Pioneer and West Franklin United Methodist Churches, Mayor Ed Kidston, Police Chief Tim Livengood and Pastor Gene McBride of Pioneer Church of the Nazarene were actually six feet apart, thought the photo lens says otherwise, while they got ready to head out on their own prayer walks as part of the National Day of Prayer 2020. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
Flexibility is the word of the day in this time of quarantine due to the COVID-19 virus. Northwest Ohio villages and cities have held prayer events for many years in connection with the National Day of Prayer which is scheduled on the first Thursday in May each year.
This year many villages encouraged believers to pray for the nation at home, but some jumped out of the box, coming up with some creative ways to still make it a special day. Montpelier held a Virtual National Day of Prayer meeting, while Pioneer found a way to be both “public and compliant.”
The ball got rolling when Pioneer Mayor Ed Kidston sent out an email to the area pastors asking what their plans were for National Day of Prayer this year. Over the year, Pastor Steve Smith from Michigan has led the way, but he indicated in the email response that as he is in Michigan and their rulings are different than Ohio, he did not feel it was wise for him to participate with any public gathering at this time.
Pastor Gene McBride of Pioneer Church of the Nazarene reached out to a FB group of Nazarene pastors to ask if anyone had any creative ideas, and said that almost immediately after he pushed send, he had an inspirational thought, “What about the track!?”
He emailed all the pastors and asked them that as it would be too complicated to try to do something at the Gazebo as usual, how about a Prayer Walk at the track?
Mayor Kidston checked with NC School Superintendent Williams Hanak and Police Chief Tim Livengood, getting their approval and assistance for the day. Pastor McBride wrote up a short list of what to pray for and sent out an invitation on social media for all who so desired to attend.
“It required no sound system or a lot of pre-planning,” McBride said. “People would make it happen as they chose to come. It seemed like a light footprint so we set it up and got the word out. The rest was up to individuals and it seemed well received.”
The police were there to watch over the event and offer assistance if any was needed. The walkers entered at one end, passed a big handpainted sign of suggestions for prayer and chose a lane to walk in, taking off on their personal time of prayer for America.
The instructions sent out were simple: “PLEASE JOIN US BY WALKING AROUND THE TRACK ABSORBING GOD’S SUNSHINE AND PRAYING FOR OUR VILLAGE, SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND NATION. FEEL FREE TO COME ANYTIME DURING THE HOUR AND STAY FOR ONE LAP OR FOR THE ENTIRE HOUR. We are asking those who attend to observe the following:
- Enter the track through the south gate and exit the track through the north gate.
- Use multiple lanes to maintain a distance of at least 6′ from all others who are not members of your family.
- Walk in a counter-clockwise direction around the track for one or more laps.
- Please pray as you walk around the track for the following: Church – Empower the Church to Embody God’s Love and Compassion. Health Care – Care for those Working Most Closely to Care for those in Need. Family – Help our Families to Love, Respect, and Enjoy one another. Education – Equip our Educators to Teach; our Students to Learn; and our Seniors to Succeed. Business – Protect our Employers and Employees as Businesses Provide what we Need. Government – Endue our Leaders, Elected and Appointed, with Wisdom. Military – Keep our Troops out of Harm’s Way and Bring them Home Soon. Media – Give Creativity to those who Entertain and Honesty to those who Inform
- Anyone wishing to wear a mask should please bring their own. None will be available at the event.
And that was that! Simple, but a blessing to all who attended and an encouragement to all for whom they prayed.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com