Unified purpose marks National Day of Prayer
RED BAY — Red Bay community members came together at the gazebo in Bay Tree Park to offer united voices of faith on the annual National Day of Prayer.
Mayor Charlene Fancher gave the opening remarks.
PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Red Bay Mayor Charlene Fancher gives the opening remarks and closing prayer.
“What we do know for certain is that God Almighty is in control,” Fancher said. “I’m so thankful for the community we live in, and there’s no other place but Red Bay, Alabama, in my heart.
“God is in control, and that’s all that matters, and that’s where our strength comes from,” Fancher continued. “He hears our prayers, He hears our voices, and He knows the desires of our hearts. Through all these uncertainties in life, God will continue to bless our community.”
Bro. Rick Bradley of Cornerstone Church of God gave the opening prayer.
“Today we come offering up more than wishes, but rather to lift up united voices of faith directed to You,” Bradley said.
PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Bro. Rick Bradley of Cornerstone Church of God gives the opening prayer at the National Day of Prayer ceremony in Red Bay.
Pastor Bill Harper of Red Bay First Baptist Church gave the sermon.
“Who is the king of glory?” Harper asked. “He’s the owner of everything and everyone. He’s the one who made it all. He’s the holy God. He’s the God who blesses. He’s the God of salvation who gives us the righteousness that he requires. He is the mighty one, the Almighty one. And He is the coming king who wants to take his rightful place to rule and reign in our hearts.
“That’s something our nation needs to understand. That’s something our city needs to understand. He’s the king of glory and the only rightful place for him is the throne of your heart and my heart.”
PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Pastor Bill Harper of Red Bay First Baptist Church gives the sermon for the National Day of Prayer ceremony. Listening, from left, is Jonah Green, Chloe James, Jarod Massey, Cooper Nunley, and Red Bay Mayor Charlene Fancher.
Fancher gave the closing prayer.
Red Bay city councilman, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Jarod Massey brought three members of the FFA String Band — Jonah Green, Chloe James and Cooper Nunley to sing and play for the assembled crowd. They lead the crowd in singing “Amazing Grace.”
PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Red Bay FFA String Band members Jonah Green, Chloe James and Cooper Nunley sing and play for and with the crowd.
Harper said city leaders and pastors have cherished the National Day of Prayer for years.
“As Christians in our nation, I think a lot of times we maybe put too much hope in what our politicians do and what our leaders do, and I think it’s important that we choose leaders that we believe will do the right thing, but ultimately, we need God and God’s hand on our land and on our people and on the various problems we’re dealing with,” Harper said.
Harper said in Red Bay there is “a good connection” between “all the denominations and churches.”
“It’s really encouraging to be with members of the Body of Christ and seeking God,” he added.
He has a wish for what he hopes people took away from the event.
“Just the need to cry out to God and put our confidence in God and trust in Him for our land and really to follow his direction to trust in Him to take care of us, to lead us, to help us to deal with the issues that we’re dealing with, but also that we would be obedient to Him and his word and how we respond to people, each other, issues, leadership, just all of the things that we’re facing.”
