Preparations are underway for this year’s National Day of Prayer events in St. Joseph.
PRAY SW Michigan tells us the theme for the events is AWAKEN Southwest Michigan, and there will be prayer events on May 7 and 8, both at 6 p.m. at the John and Dede Howard Ice Arena.
Among the speakers to be on hand is Pastor James Atterberry with Brotherhood of All Nations in Benton Harbor. He tells us the day is all about unity and community, potentially offering everyone a chance to transcend the divisiveness that currently permeates out culture.
“There’s a song that we sing that only God can do it,” Atterberry said. “We come together as believers in worship and in prayer, the powerful testimonies, and coming from all backgrounds and denominations, we can conquer anything.”
The keynote speaker for the prayer event on May 8 will be Pastor Mark Johnson of Elkhart Life Church in Elkhart, Indiana. He told us the National Day of Prayer is open to everyone with an open heart.
“We’ve got a variety of cultures, a variety of faiths, church organizations gathering together,” Johnson said. “So it really is the melting pot of America joining together to honor God together and lift up His name.”
Other special guests at the events will be Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit, St. Joseph Department of Public Safety Director Steve Neubecker, and “numerous community leaders.”
This is the first time the event’s been held at the ice arena, and organizers are hoping for hundreds of attendees.
PRAY SW Michigan says there will also be a prayer breakfast at 9 a.m. on May 7 at New Hope Community Church in Watervliet. You can learn more below.
