Polson Four Square Pastor Gregg Perkins stood behind the microphone to begin this year’s National Day of Prayer, an hour-long prayer session in front of the Lake County Courthouse May 5.

“I believe God answers prayer,” Perkins said before the prayer session. “God can save and restore our land, our families.”

Perkins was one of several area pastors who prayed one after another during the 2016 Day of Prayer.

“I pray for people’s body, soul and spirit,” Perkins said about his goal as a Christian leader.

Perkins said that message is highlighted in the Bible’s old testament book, 2 Chronicles 7:14, a message Perkins shared with the group gathered with him on the courthouse lawn. 

That verse is a message to God’s people during the reign of the Old Testament’s King Solomon.

“..if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land,” the New International Version of the verse reads.

Perkins’ prayers reflected that message.

Perkins was assisted in his efforts by Pastor Matthew Connally, who leads the Church of the Nazarene in Pablo, Pastor Dale Buchich of Polson Alliance Church and Chriss Sopke, Pastor of Polson’s New Life Church. 

Once the group was done with its formal prayer, attendees of the event broke into small groups and prayed for one another, the community and whatever God placed on their hearts.

Though the National Day of Prayer was created and signed into law under President Harry. S. Truman in 1952, the first Thursday in May was not officially designated as the National Day of Prayer until President Ronald Reagan designated the day in 1988, a National Day of Prayer website said.

A popular post on social media sites claiming that President Barack Obama canceled the National Day of Prayer is not true according to the National Day of Prayer website.

This year’s Day of Prayer theme was Bible verse Isaiah 58:1a which reads: “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.” (NIV)

Polson’s National Day of Prayer participants prayed for the United States government, individual state and local governments, military, media, business, education, church and families. 

“If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under,” said President Ronald Regan about the event during his 1980s terms as President.