On Thursday, May 4th, student prayer collectives will be joining with churches and community groups for the National Day of Prayer (NDP). At least 3500 universities and schools of higher learning will hold campus ministries and prayer events. A directory of local prayer gatherings is available at www.NationalDayofPrayer.org.
The 2017 theme is For Your Great Name’s Sake! Hear Us … Forgive Us … Heal Us! which is inspired by Daniel 9:19. Thousands of individuals, churches, and communities are working to rally millions of Christians to heed this national call to prayer.
On campus, prayers will focus immediately on final exams, graduations, and end-of-semester activities as many schools are ending classes and taking extended study breaks in preparation for final exams. Using Acts 1:8 as a prayer outline, intercessions will be made for national and international leaders, the economy, human rights, and persecution.
Locally, students and community prayer partners will “prayer-walk” the grounds of the University in solidarity with other campuses throughout the day, beginning at 8 a.m. at the iconic Rotunda followed by a prayer breakfast.
The United States has a long tradition of national days and “calls” to prayer beginning with the first call by the Continental Congress in 1775. President Trump will join every president since President Truman in proclaiming the first Thursday of May as the NDP, “on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups and as individuals.”
Students from the University of Virginia are being invited to join the Operation Esther Prayer Circle to worship and intercede on the NDP. The group will gather at 8 am, 12 noon, 5 pm, and 7 pm on the University grounds and at the Overseas Students Mission (OSM) headquarters in the Koinonea Church building off Ivy Road.
Anne Graham Lotz with her father, Dr. Billy Graham. Photo Courtesy Assist News.
In the evening, from 7:30 to 9:00, the group will watch the National Day of Prayer Washington DC Observance being live streamed into the OSM Offices. The National Day of Prayer Chairperson, Anne Graham Lotz, will lead the unified prayer for America. The OSM headquarters is located at 257 Bob Finley Way, Charlottesville.
For further details on organizing involvement in local communities across the country, visit http://www.
Bill Bray. Photo Courtesy Assist News.
About the writer: Bill Bray is a Christian journalist who specializes in missions and student ministries. As Billy Bray, he is the author of, Called to All: How I discovered the power of a yielded life from WestBow Press, a division of Zondervan. He welcomes interaction with our readers and can be contacted at bray.william@gmail.com.
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