National Day of Prayer celebrated
Columbia has participated in the National Day of Prayer for four years.
Published May 6, 2005
The Boone County Courthouse filled with bagpipes, singing and prayer Wednesday as part of the National Day of Prayer.
The Community Worship Band began the rally at 11:30 a.m., which was followed by the Boone County Bagpipes and the Christian Fellowship Elementary Choirs. Pastors from five churches prayed afterwards.
Congress established the National Day of Prayer in 1952, and Columbia has formally recognized the day for the past four years.
Event coordinator Jeff Huffman said this year's turnout was the biggest yet, because of coordination with other churches and local advertisements. Huffman, a singer in the Community Worship Band, said the National Day of Prayer is a tradition that unites people of faith.
"I want to see this city revived, because our country was founded on prayer," Huffman said. "It is great to see so many different ethnic groups and churches participating, and it is amazing to think millions of people are all coming together to pray on this day."
Tom Leuther, an event coordinator and pastor of the Family Worship Center, said he hopes the event will bolster attendance in Columbia's churches because of the city's low church participation rates.
"We need to stir up hearts and minds in Columbia and let them know that God still answers prayers and will show up when invited," Leuther said. "I hope people realize this day is not about a church, but the church, because if one church increases attendance, we all win. We are not in the business of populating churches, but populating heaven."
Medical student Nikki Rice said she attended the event after hearing about it on the news and at church. Rice said she was excited about the community coming together to pray.
"Our country was founded on freedom, and I think we have gotten away from that," Rice said. "This is a chance to show God we haven't forgot how to worship and pray freely."
Columbia resident Angela Starke said she felt it was important to attend the rally with her son because of the importance of God in her everyday life.
"I think it is important for my son to see the freedom we have to worship not just in a sanctuary but outdoors with many different types of people," Starke said. "He can see that everyone can know that he loves God and you can worship him anywhere, not just in the privacy of your own home."