By Rebekah Martin
Associate Editor
Christians from around Lee County will gather together at noon on May 5 at the Courthouse Square for the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer.
This event is an all-inclusive, non-denominational event that is open to all believers. Bill White, who has been an event organizer since 1994 said the National Day of Prayer gives all Christians a chance to gather together with those in the body of Christ and pray for their community and nation. “From the inception, Laura [Fuller] and Larry [Torbert] and I have been a part of it. We had a couple of other individuals at the very beginning that were involved, but then it fell to the three of us, which I feel like is really indicative of what we believe the Lord wants us to do,” White said. “It’s not something that a church puts together, but that it’s really and truly a call to the body of Christ by lay people, to just gather every denomination, every race and creed, the same way it’ll be in Heaven, the way the Lord wants it to be. That’s the whole intent of what we’re doing, that everyone would gather together and turn their eyes and their focus away from any kind of religion at all, and on to the Lord Jesus.”
Community and church leaders will lead attendees in prayer throughout the event. Mayor Gary Fuller is scheduled to lead one of the first prayers of the day on behalf of the city. “We believe there’s a great spiritual significance to having [our] leaders pray for the various areas,” White said. Others who are scheduled to be involved in the event are Antoine Harvis, Novelette Seroyer and Larry Torbert.
In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held in the sancutary of First Baptist Church Opelika, located at 301 S. 8th Street.