Salem residents gather to pray
Speakers and officials bow their heads as Salem Area Day of Prayer committee member Jim Kelly gives the closing prayer.
Minister Austin French, a retired Salem Police officer, prays for safety forces and healthcare workers, several of whom were in the audience, including some of his former co-workers. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)
The Allegheny Wesleyan College Ladies’ Trio sings for the Lord on the stage at the Salem Memorial Building. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Pastor Kari Lankford of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Leetonia leads the people in the singing of the National Anthem. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Rev. Dan Hardy Sr., president of Allegheny Wesleyan College in Salem, presents the welcoming prayer for the Salem Area Day of Prayer event. Hardy serves on the Salem Area Day of Prayer committee. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Speakers and officials bow their heads as Salem Area Day of Prayer committee member Jim Kelly gives the closing prayer.
Minister Austin French, a retired Salem Police officer, prays for safety forces and healthcare workers, several of whom were in the audience, including some of his former co-workers. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)
The Allegheny Wesleyan College Ladies’ Trio sings for the Lord on the stage at the Salem Memorial Building. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Pastor Kari Lankford of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Leetonia leads the people in the singing of the National Anthem. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Rev. Dan Hardy Sr., president of Allegheny Wesleyan College in Salem, presents the welcoming prayer for the Salem Area Day of Prayer event. Hardy serves on the Salem Area Day of Prayer committee. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)
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SALEM -- Challenging times call for a challenge to pray -- together as one for all -- for love, life and liberty.
That message resounded during the Salem Area's 15th Annual National Day of Prayer Gathering Thursday in the gymnasium of the Salem Memorial Building.
If there was ever a time that the nation needed prayer, that time is now, Rev. Dan Hardy Jr. said, asking the Lord to pour out his love, his life and his liberty upon the United States.
"We need what only He can provide," Hardy said.
The president of Allegheny Wesleyan College in Salem, Hardy serves on the committee for the event and offered the welcome and opening prayer.
The well-attended service featured uplifting music by the Allegheny Wesleyan College orchestra, Ladie's Trio and Men's Quartet, scriptures and prayers for business, government, media, family, military, church, education and safety forces/healthcare workers, singing of the National Anthem, and a proclamation by Salem Mayor John Berlin.
Berlin called on citizens to pray, saying "it is fitting and proper to observe a Day of Prayer in Salem as a time when all citizens may acknowledge our blessings, express gratitude, and recognize the continuing need for strong positive values to guide our city, county, state and nation."
Other presenters included: Joe Brunk for business; Pam Ginter, wife of state Rep. Tim Ginter, R-Salem, for government; Brooke Pidgeon for media; Louisa Thomas for family; Councilman Dennis Plegge for military; Pastor Kari Lankford for church; Steve Goodenow for education and Minister Austin French for safety forces/healthcare workers.
Salem Area Day of Prayer committee member Jim Kelly gave the closing prayer, Scout Troop 3 members Kaitlynn Haas led the Pledge of Allegiance and Lainey Haas led the Pledge to the Christian Flag. Scout Troop 6 member Josiah Haas led the Pledge to the Bible. The theme this year was "Lord pour out your love, life and liberty" from 2 Corinthians 3:17.
Ginter prayed that elected officials serve their constituents with integrity and prayed to keep the lines between the three branches of government from getting blurred. Pidgeon talked about the frustration of the media's influence on children and the country and asked attendees to not just listen to his prayer, but to continue to pray for the media, to bring the media back to Christian values. Thomas talked about how the family is under attack, but play an essential role and hold a special place in God's heart.
Her hope was for all present to echo the words of Joshua: "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
A former member of the U.S. Navy, Plegge told a touching story about a young boy who wrote a letter to a soldier from Salem who was shipped out to Vietnam and whose hope was to return home. U.S. Marine Private First Class Robert Labbe never saw his mother again after being killed in action.
Turns out the young letter writer who thanked Labbe for his service was Plegge, who was in the fifth grade. That letter was turned over to Labbe's mother, who Plegge said took comfort in knowing that someone else was thinking about her son. He asked for prayers for both the military and their families.
Lankford, in praying for churches, touched on the squabbles between denominations and said "our focus should be on love."
She said God loves all equally, all people, and "we are called to do the same." She compared the many religions to a potluck dinner, noting the different dishes, but the one dinner that all can enjoy.
French, a retired Salem police officer, prayed for health care workers and safety forces and said they run in when others are coming out, dealing with life and death all the time. He said sometimes things go wrong, noting "we're all human, but God knows your heart."
Kelly ended the gathering by saying the nation needs a revival.
"Prayer does matter and each one of us needs to take time to pray every day," he said.
mgreier@salemnews.net