GAINESVILLE - Community and civic leaders gathered at midday on the square Thursday in downtown Gainesville for a "Prayer on the Square" in a public observance of the National Day of Prayer.
There were prayers for the church, for families, for children, for the military, the media, for business, for government, all calling for divine guidance especially in current difficult times.
Hall County School Superintendent Will Schofield said he was asked to pray for schools.
"What I'd really like to pray for today is a group that is so dear to my heart, and that's children," Schofield said.
National Guard "Charlie Company" 1st Sgt. Thomas Grisham recalled divine intervention in combat, and recalled a prayer he prayed while in combat in Afghanistan.
"Somebody should have been killed and everybody walked away," Grisham said. "God had to be sitting there protecting us."
Jeff Charlton said "Prayer on the Square" has become an annual event, hosted by the Hall County based Fishermen Christian businessmen's group.
"As He's taken away the material things, I think we've turned our attention back to Him where it belongs," Charlton said.
According to Charlton, the Fishermen organized 10 years ago as an outreach group to other Christian businessmen. "Prayer on the Square" started three years ago.
Charlton said the President declares the National Day of Prayer, but whether he decides to or not, the Fishermen will continue with it.
"We have the right as God created people and as United States citizens, to pray in public," he said.
Thursday
October 17th, 2024
8:30PM
