On Thursday, May 7, the Civic Auditorium was the focal point where over 425 Kings County residents came together in corporate prayer for our nation. The response of our citizens to support our leaders with requests for God's wisdom and guidance is very encouraging.

Cmdr. Vinson Miller, Chaplain, LNAS, offered prayer for our president, government and the military community; Donnie Billings, Operation Tech., GWF, offered prayer for our educational system, families and churches; John Lehn, Kings EDC/JTO, offered prayer for the media and business. Guest speaker was Paul Loeffler, KMJ sports director.

Prayer events such as ours were held all across the country, and a National Prayer written by Beth Moore, honorary chairman of National Day of Prayer, was read by all in attendance from Maine to Hawaii. Mayor David Ayers read the City Proclamation and proclaimed May 7 an official day of prayer for the City of Hanford. He also accepted the Proclamation of Prayer from the clergy of Hanford to pray for our mayor and individual City Council members.

An essay contest open to all students in Kings County for grades 4-12 was conducted. Students wrote on what this year's NDP theme, "Prayer! America's Hope," meant to them. Eighty-two essays were received from six schools. First place winner was Ethan Tuinstra, Hanford Christian School; second place, Christopher Enloe, Enloe Christian Academy; third place, Kyle Smith, Kings Christian School; and honorable mention was Victoria Vandervee, Hanford Christian School. An added event this year was a balloon ascension with prayers tied to the strings, released at the sound of the Shofar!

I wish to acknowledge and thank members of The Kings Prayer Force, the local committee for the National Day of Prayer, which meets monthly to pray for our community and our leaders, both local and national. Without them, this event could not have happened. Many thanks to my assistant coordinator, Kathy Enloe, Floyd and Caroline Burrus, Wes and Joan Champlin, Lucy Williams, Tom Enloe, Mike and Myrna Weatherly and Richard Rogers for their tireless efforts. This committee consists of concerned volunteer citizens faithfully giving both time and energy inspite of their busy schedules.

To the Hanford Ministerial Association goes much appreciation for their support and assistance. I would also like to thank the Remington Retirement Center for their graciousness in allowing our committee to meet monthly for prayer in their lovely chapel. Many others contributed their time, talents and monetarily to this observance and we thank them from our hearts.

National Day of Prayer is a yearly event proclaimed by the Congress to be held the first Thursday every May and next year on May 6, 2010, we would like to invite even more of our friends and neighbors from all over Kings County to join together with us at the Civic Auditorium in Hanford with prayers for our country. Thank you for your support Hanford!

For information, call 584-3860 or 584-7525; e-mail kingsprayerforce@hotmail.com; or visit www.kingsprayerforce.org.

Rogers, a resident of Hanford, is coordinator of The Kings Prayer Force.

(May 12, 2009)