Local pastors, congregants and organizations from around the county joined together Thursday, May 4, to share breakfast and worship on the National Day of Prayer.

Originally observed July 4, 1952, in accordance with a proclamation issued by President Harry Truman, the date for the National Day of Prayer was later changed to the first Thursday of May.

The National Day of Prayer breakfast, hosted and catered by Betty Jane’s Kitchen, drew a crowd of roughly 70 people.

For Jack Hoffman, former pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church and a member of the Paris Ministerial Fellowship, the event was an encouraging return to form. The PMF has organized the event for more than 20 years, but the pandemic forced churches, local and international, to walk things back.

“It’s been a couple of years since we’ve done this because of COVID,” Hoffman told the crowd.

Now, with restrictions lifted, groups are returning to celebrate the power of prayer.

“This is being done all across America today,” said Hoffman.

Although hosting a breakfast was out of the question for the PMF during COVID, a small group still gathered on the courthouse lawn. Prior to the lockdown, meetings were held at the YMCA (now known as the REC Center) and Tuscany’s Restaurant among other locations.

Hoffman and PMF president Nate Alexander, the pastor of Lake Ridge Christian Church, shared briefly on the importance and power of prayer.

“Prayer is a good work every one of us can do,” said Hoffman.

The crowd joined together in song before Deborah McClarey, senior pastor at Antioch Faith Outreach Church, led the gathering in a powerful prayer of gratefulness, repentance and intercession.

“As your church, we commit to love our neighbor as you have loved us,” said McClarey, adding, “We pray fervently for our communities and our country, every person is your workmanship.”

Attendees represented a wide swath of local organizations and churches, including Twin Lakes Nursing Home, The Cross Walk, Horizon Health, First United Methodist Church, Lake Ridge Christian Church, Horace Baptist Church, Bell Ridge Christian Church and many more.