MOUNT VERNON — Thursday was the annual National Day of Prayer and Knox County’s event took place on Public Square, attended by about 100 worshippers, about half of whom were youth and children. Despite noisy motorcycles, ambulances and trucks constantly rolling by, the crowd focused avidly on the presenters and the music.
The theme of the 2008 nationwide event was “Prayer: America’s Strength and Shield.” Roger Tickle told the crowd that the Continental Congress of 1775 first set aside a national day for prayer, but it was proclaimed as an official event, to be held on the first Thursday of every May, in 1952.
Mayor Richard Mavis read his official proclamation that named Thursday as National Day of Prayer in Mount Vernon.
Tim Miller, who sang “God Bless America,” said, “I think it’s a real honor to be able to be here and to praise God, to be here in a patriotic way. And it’s just amazing that we can be here to experience something like this. There are a good amount of churches represented. We’re all here for one purpose and that is to serve God.”
As Miller sang, the crowd spontaneously joined in.
John Freshwater, the Mount Vernon Middle School teacher around whom controversy is swirling both because of a Bible on his desk that he refused to remove and allegations of proselytizing in his classroom, attended the event with his wife, Nancy. Together they sat quietly on a bench as several people stopped to shake his hand and say they were praying for him.
“I want to shake your hand, brother,” Pauline Bullock told Freshwater. A young girl waited nearby until a prayer was over so she could call out, “Hi, Mr. Freshwater” and wave.
“It’s so important that we stand up and show people that we have religious freedom in a day when it is so controversial,” said Bullock, who had her 6-year-old grandson in tow. “I respect other faiths, but seemingly it’s a negative when we talk about Christ. I’m here to show others that Jesus Christ is real.”
Tickle told the applauding crowd, “If you want to say amen, if you want to clap, don’t be afraid to let Mount Vernon know you are here. Take advantage of the freedom we’ve got.”
He prayed for “governing authorities” and reminded the audience that in many other countries, they would be arrested for such a gathering.
“Praise our lord and praise our state, local and national leaders,” Tickle said, who also prayed “for a great revival through the federal government, the state government and into Mount Vernon.”
Craig Clouston prayed, “We ask you for the things we need to do the things you ask us to do. We [Christians] have become distracted and we need to get plugged back in so we can reach out to the community.”
The Salvation Army Band provided prelude music. Jerry Morgan gave a short sermon and Larry Hall gave a rousing benediction to close the event.
