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Ready for battle of spiritual warfare

By LISA BUIE
Published April 30, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - Carol Riccio is all God, all the time. Jesus looks down on guests in the living room from a framed portrait over the mantel. Her television is perpetually set to Sky Angel, a Christian satellite network. Her living room wallpaper border depicts the Last Supper.

"This is the war room, " Riccio, 62, said as she shows a visitor to a bedroom. Lying face up in the middle of the floor is a plaque that says "Thou art the potter. I am the clay."

"That's to remind me who the boss is, " she said.

In Riccio's world view, this is war. A spiritual battle between good and evil. And the chief weapon in her arsenal is prayer.

That's why she prays each day for 141 local, state and national government leaders. She prays that God will grant them wisdom to make morally sound decisions. In this room, she composes letters, sometimes enclosed with candy, that she sends out once a month.

"Thank you for the He Loves You chocolate bar, " Gov. Charlie Crist wrote in response to a gift. Also on her list is Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who later posed for a photo with Riccio at a firefighters' dinner.

So it's no surprise that Pasco County commissioners recognized Riccio when she appeared last week seeking permission to use the grounds of the Pasco County historic courthouse for a National Day of Prayer event on Thursday.

"She is great, " said County Commissioner Pat Mulieri, for whom Riccio has been praying for eight years. A chance encounter with Mulieri prompted Riccio to join her church's Adopt a Leader prayer campaign.

"I didn't want any part of it, " said Riccio, who balked when Victorious Life Church first invited her to participate. But she asked God for a sign.

"I prayed specifically for God to put someone in front of me, " she said.

Later that afternoon, Riccio was at the grand opening of the Meadow Pointe II clubhouse when Mulieri walked in. That was all the divine confirmation Riccio needed.

She pulled Mulieri aside and told her what God was saying. They prayed together, Riccio recalled.

Every month since, Mulieri has received an encouraging letter from Riccio. A Roman Catholic, Mulieri has attended Riccio's Assemblies of God church on occasion.

"She lives her faith, " said Mulieri. "I just see the love people feel for her."

Riccio's letters never address specific political issues, Mulieri said. She said she never feels she's being lobbied.

"They're kind of uplifting. She'll pick a scripture. They'll say things like 'Keep your head high; hold onto your integrity.' "

Riccio said God later told her to start praying for the Tampa police chief, whose name she didn't know at the time.

She was walking on the treadmill, when God "laid it on my heart to pray for the Tampa police chief, " she said.

"I said, 'I don't even know his name.' God said, 'You have a mouth.' " So Riccio looked up the name and started phoning Bennie Holder.

After fielding a few calls, Holder's secretary urged her boss to get on the line.

The chief did.

"We prayed for the city of Tampa, " Riccio said.

Holder said Riccio continued to send him encouraging notes.

"At first I was a little bit skeptical, " Holder said. "But you have to get to know Carol. She's a nice lady."

When Holder's wife had shoulder replacement surgery, Riccio visited Holder's home.

"She was cooking and taking care of her like she was one of her relatives, " said Holder, who has visited Riccio's home and church.

Riccio said most government leaders welcome her letters. A handful have asked her to stop, but she won't say who.

"That's personal, " she said.

Riccio lately has been hard at work coordinating her church's National Day of Prayer event. This is her second year handling the project, which is being conducted this year in English and Spanish.

The program will feature prayers for government leaders, families, schools, churches and the media.

"I'm so excited, " she said last week. "I feel like a pastor."

Fast Facts:

A look back

The National Day of Prayer began when the First Continental Congress declared one in 1775. In 1952, Congress passed a federal statute recognizing a National Day of Prayer. In 1988, President Reagan signed a law setting aside the first Thursday in May as the official National Day of Prayer. This year's events are Thursday.

Source: Florida Prayer

Local events

New Port Richey

Noon to 1 p.m., outside the West Pasco Government Center, New Port Richey, 7530 Little Road. Sponsor: Light of the World Tabernacle.

Land O'Lakes

Noon prayer luncheon, Land O'Lakes Recreation Center, 3032 Collier Parkway. Sponsor: Christian Social Services. Lunch is free, but an offering will be accepted. Call (813) 995-0088.

Dade City

8 to 9 a.m., outside the Pasco County Historic Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave. Victorious Life Church, sponsor. (813) 991-4555.

6 to 7:30 p.m., outside the Pasco County Historic Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave. Sponsor: First Baptist Church of Dade City. (352) 567-3265.

[Last modified April 29, 2007, 22:13:05]