June 2023 Newsletter

Prayer, a U.S. Staple

1775 – The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer1 (NDP).

1873 – Abraham Lincoln called for an NDP.

1952 – Congress established an annual NDP, which President Truman signed into law.

1988 – That law was amended to designate the first Thursday in May as the annual NDP.

1789-2022 – Presidents made 151 national calls to prayer, humiliation, fasting, thanksgiving.

1952-2022 there were 74 Presidential Proclamations for an NDP. 1952 and following, every President has signed an NDP proclamation.

  • 35 of the 45 U.S. Presidents signed proclamations for NDP.
  • Three of the Presidents that did not sign a proclamation died while serving in office.
  • Two Presidents not included in the count – William Howard Taft and Warren Gamaliel Harding – signed Proclamations for Thanksgiving and Prayer.
  • Since 1775 and counting, 1,526 state and federal calls for national prayer are recorded.

May 24, 1774, Thomas Jefferson drafted a Resolution for a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer to be observed as the British blockaded Boston Harbor. Robert Carter Nicholas introduced the Resolution in the Virginia House of Burgesses, and, with support of Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee and George Mason, it passed unanimously.

Read more of America’s amazing legacy of prayer here.

August 29, 2014 Radio Commentary

Prayer Ban

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, August 29, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

“God’s Rescue Squad” was the theme of Vacation Bible School at Bible Baptist Church in Charthage, Missouri, and on Monday, paramedics came to the church to speak to the kids. On Tuesday firefighters came, and lawmen with their K-9 dogs came on Wednesday, but the group scheduled for Thursday didn’t come.

The Missouri National Guard never showed up! Pastor Kent Hogan told Fox News that they wanted to thank the soldiers for protecting religious liberty, but they didn’t know “it was against military policy for National Guard troops to participate in Vacation Bible School.”

One soldier said, “[There were] a lot of disappointed kiddos because of the National Guard being unwilling to allow a Humvee and a few soldiers to spend an hour at a Baptist church. It makes me wonder what I’m actually fighting for.” Continue reading