'We need a revival'
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 4 months AGO
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | May 6, 2022 1:08 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris might not have known it, but people were praying for him Thursday afternoon.
A lot of people.
“We pray for his heart to continue to be renewed in Jesus Christ,” said Chris Lauri, pastor of Anthem Church.
He said Norris and his team “have targets on their backs and they desperately need the Holy Spirit to protect and watch over them.”
Pastor Jonathan Owens of Heart of the City Church sought protection for law enforcement, fire and rescue and first responders.
He prayed for “the fence of God around them, the angels of the Lord to encamp around them."
It was an hour of prayers and praise during the National Day of Prayer gathering organized by the Kootenai County Ministerial Association at McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza.
About 300 people, including children and teens, closed their eyes, clasped their hands and bowed their heads on a rainy, gray day.
Pastors led prayers for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, local elected leaders, schools, national repentance and other areas.
Despite the wet conditions, people stayed.
One woman raised her arms high during a song. Another had her arms around her children. An elderly man sat with his left hand to his face. Three smiling kids huddled under an umbrella. A couple held each other tightly as they looked on. One woman held her child in her arms.
Cristi Caston said she wanted to be there because it’s important people unite to honor God.
“Just stand for Jesus and his blessing on our community,” she said.
Kevin Applegate of Rathdrum stood with one arm raised, a hood on his head for protection from the rain.
“Show Jesus’s love for everybody, how much he loves us,” he said.
His wife, Amy Applegate, said “it's awesome coming together as a community through Jesus Christ.”
“We need a revival, both in Coeur d’Alene and the nation. We kind of pushed God out of everything and we need to bring him back in," she said.
Amy Applegate was joined by friend Donna Hinojosa as they stood in the front row. Both are with “He’s The Solution Ministries.”
“We know that God can do mighty things,” Hinojosa said.
Pastors also prayed for people to change their focus from the world to the Lord.
Pastor David Bond prayed for restoration to biblical foundations.
“How many days do you wake up and get a kick in the gut for what seems to be evil getting their way?” he asked. “Who’s sick and tired of it? I’m sick and tired of it.”
Pastor Tim Remington said it was an honor to be part of National Day of Prayer. He said he loved that he got to pray for the three branches of government — legislative, executive and judicial.
“You need to be aware that God also runs in three branches, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,” he said.
“Under those three branches of government, he rules the nations,” Remington said.
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