Tyler area residents celebrate National Day of Prayer on downtown square

Published 1:02 pm Thursday, May 7, 2020

Dozens gathered Thursday at the downtown square in Tyler to celebrate the National Day of Prayer and give hope during the coronavirus pandemic.

Karen Miller, organizer with the Reformation House of Prayer in Tyler, said this year’s event featured worship, prayer and scripture from area church members.

“We felt it was very important,” Miller said. “It’s just a strategic time for our country to come together.”

This year’s theme is the glory of God covering the Earth. Miller said organizers are grateful for Tyler and its support.

“It’s bigger than ourselves. It reaches beyond geographical areas. It’s a time to connect people with heaven,” she said. “There’s something that’s unique about East Texas and how they care about their citizens. This is a time to release the presence of Jesus into the atmosphere.”

Opening worship was led by Bethesda Church and prayer went out to government leaders from church groups and individuals. Attendees were encouraged to social distance.

Miller said participants prayed into different spheres of influence to provide hope for government, business, education, media and families.

Jane Brewer, of Tyler, came out to participate in prayer alongside her fellow Bethesda Church members. She said the National Day of Prayer is important every year.

“What’s going to help with this virus is God getting involved and us getting involved with God,” Brewer said. “It’s important every year, but people are starting to get hungry for God. It’s time that we go to the one that can help us.”

Trinity Fellowship Church Senior Pastor Kerry Kirkwood said America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and prayer. He added that having a National Day of Prayer event shows the leadership in Smith County who the citizens are.

“It’s important for us to reinforce our hope,” Kirkwood said. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but hopefulness is like a tree of life.”

Deborah Gijliotti, of Flint, said the National Day of Prayer is close to her heart and she attends every year in whatever town she is in at the time.

“We need to change our hearts,” she said.

She said the coronavirus has been sort of a blessing because it helped get families back to the dinner table and removed some distractions.

“We need to take a stand for liberty,” Gijliotti said. “Our constitutional rights are disappearing.”