National Day of Prayer events held in community

| May 3, 2019

Jeff Calkins prayed for the state of Ohio during the National Day of Prayer event held May 2 in Warsaw. Pictured behind him are: Michael Warschauer, Dale Sutton and Dairel Kaiser. Josie Sellers | Beacon

COSHOCTON COUNTY – Pastors in the community celebrated National Day of Prayer by gathering together to pray for our county, the state, nation and those who lead us and protect us.

“Thank you Lord for this opportunity to pray on a public square,” said Dairel Kaiser. “We offer prayers up for the leaders you have put in their position for a purpose.”

Kaiser is president of the River View Ministerial Association, which organized National Day of Prayer activities at the gazebo in Warsaw.

Wes George was first to speak and he prayed for the Village of Warsaw.

“Thank you Lord for the community in which we live and for our leaders here,” he said. “We ask that you give them (our leaders) wisdom and strength as they work together for a common good.”

Dale Sutton prayed for the entire county.

Prayers for first responders during Coshocton’s National Day of Prayer event were led by Captain Tom Clark from The Salvation Army. Josie Sellers | Beacon

“You placed us here for a reason,” he said. “You have called us to be your hands and feet as individuals and a community of faith.”

Sutton asked for God’s guidance and help in finding an end to problems with drugs, violence and crime and for everyone from the wealthiest to the poorest to know that God is here for them.

“We want them to see your wisdom and to look to you,” he said. “We all have a purpose and a place.”

Jeff Calkins thanked the Lord for the beauty of our state and Michael Warschauer asked that he bless our nation with Godly leaders.

Members of our armed forces were then prayed for by Mike Jansen.

“It would be very easy to just stay home, yet our troops are all over the world serving,” he said. “They are invaluable to battling evil and step forward to do it without a lot of fanfare.  The pursuit of life and liberty are available to everybody because of them. Lord bless these soldiers who sacrifice for us.”

Dail Parrish prayed for our children and those who lead them in school and asked that our Lord guide them all.

Galen Honabarger prayed for law enforcement both locally and across the nation.

“I pray for each one of them Lord and that when they are out on a call that you protect them,” he said.

Kaiser prayed for our first responders. He asked the Lord to protect them and to give them strength and wisdom. He also asked the Lord to help them cope with their memories of some of the horrific scenes they come upon.

While Warsaw was doing its National Day of Prayer, Coshocton was in the middle of a day-long celebration.  Every hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., pastors came to the gazebo on the court square to lead prayers on topics that included: Coshocton’s youth, education and educators, the church, Coshocton businesses, our military, Coshocton’s kids, first responders, drug abuse recovery, and our government. The event wrapped up at 6:30 p.m. with a prayers and thanksgiving service.

Prayers for first responders during Coshocton’s National Day of Prayer event were led by Captain Tom Clark from The Salvation Army.

“We are grateful for them,” Clark said. “Most people rush away from the things they run toward.”

Others who led prayers at the event were: Christy Suffecool, Jansen, Joe Sanders, Kyle Dunfee, Keith Peachey, Cindy Massie, Dave Boots, Bryan Kittner, and Larry Massie.

“I don’t think there is anything we can do that is more important than pray,” Larry said. “There are many needs in our community and some of them are huge, but I believe when we pray we can start to deal with these problems and work on God’s behalf.”

Larry has been in charge of the National Day of Prayer event for several years now and revamped it this year with the help of Kittner, Jansen, and Boots.

“We wanted to do things a little different this year,” Larry said. “We haven’t had a lot of people each hour, but there has been a very sweet spirit of God here during our times of prayer.”

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About the Author ()

I started my journalism career in 2002 with a daily newspaper chain. After various stops with them, I am happy to be back home! I graduated from Coshocton High School in 1998 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2002 from Walsh University. I also earned several awards while working for daily papers, including being honored by Coshocton County’s veterans for the stories I wrote about them. I am honored and ready to once again shine a positive light on Coshocton County. I also am the proud mother of a little girl named Sophia!

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