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Religion

Prayer Day organizers look to hit home run

They'll take to the diamond at Bright House Networks Field in one of the largest gatherings of the annual national day.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published May 4, 2005

On National Day of Prayer Thursday, about 100 pastors will be praying for the global team at Bright House Networks Field.

Wearing uniforms of light tan polo shirts, they'll stand at second base, face home plate and pray for two minutes each.

They'll ask God for help for the federal government and the local government, racial and cultural harmony, families, children, police officers, the military and people struggling with addictions.

The rules? Just as in baseball, they are pretty simple.

Watch your time.

Pray with passion.

Think it through.

The Clearwater National Day of Prayer event promises to be among the largest in Pinellas County.

"This is unprecedented," said Randy Evans, pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship Church and a member of the event's steering committee, referring to the field's 7,000 seats. "We're hoping to fill that thing."

The history of the National Day of Prayer dates back to 1775 when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming the nation.

In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Harry Truman, declared an annual National Day of Prayer. The law was amended and signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, setting the day as the first Thursday of every May.

More than 90 churches from St. Petersburg to Dunedin said they will participate in the Clearwater event.

The idea emerged six months ago from a meeting of a group called Somebody Cares Tampa Bay, an organization that encourages fellowship between local pastors.

Almost all the churches represented will be Protestant, Evans said. The pastors involved with Somebody Cares Tampa Bay are evangelical Christians.

"We've divided it up very nicely," said Evans, adding the steering committee made an effort to diversify the lineup. "We'll have African-American pastors and Hispanic pastors."

Admission and parking are free. A band led by Al Ruechel, senior anchor at Bay News 9 and music director at Grace Christian Fellowship, will play songs, including Amazing Grace.

The estimated $7,000 to rent the stadium and the sound system, as well as to hire parking attendants and security personnel, will be raised by the participating churches.

Any donations offered at the event will go toward the Salvation Army, Somebody Cares Tampa Bay and the Pregnancy Center of Pinellas County.

The Pregnancy Center is an organization that urges young women to avoid having abortions.

"Even though this event isn't an "antievent,' meaning our sole purpose isn't to pray against particular issues, I can safely say that the vast majority of the pastors that are involved would naturally be prolife, proheterosexual marriage and pro-Christian faith," said Evans. "This is quite natural because these are the traditional views of most evangelical churches."

Eileen Schulte can be reached at 727 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com

On the National Day of Prayer, a Christ-centered prayer gathering for Pinellas County will be 7 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday at Bright House Networks Field at U.S. 19 and Drew Street. Admission and parking are free.

[Last modified May 4, 2005, 00:57:19]