By MORGAN MIZELL

NATCHEZ — This year, the Rev. Grant Westbrook of Natchez First Assembly of God is spearheading local events for Natchez for the National Day of Prayer on May 7.

For many years, representatives of the Ministerial Alliance of Natchez have participated in the national event, and this year is no different.

“We will have two mini-events to commemorate the day of prayer,” Westbrook said. “At 7 a.m., we will meet around the flag pole at the Natchez Convention Center to start the day off with prayer. Then at noon, we will have prayer on the steps of City Hall.”

Westbrook said the morning gathering will last about half an hour and the second gathering will be a little longer, as others have been invited to pray.

“We will have some city leaders, the fire chief, and youth court judge to pray for our city, for our officials, and for our youth,” Westbrook said. “Our theme is ‘Hear our cry; our cry for our city, our state, our nation.’ ”

Westbrook said he hopes people will attend the events and pray together as a community.
“Our nation has distinct lines of separation,” Westbrook said. “There are lines of religious, economic, political and racial separation. If we can stand under one banner of prayer, maybe we can bring restoration to our community.”

Another member of the alliance, the Rev. Bo Swilley of Community Chapel Church of God, said we are called to pray.

“God hears our prayer,” Swilley said. “He answers prayer.”

Swilley cited 2nd Chronicles, verses 7-14 as his thought about the event.
“This scripture tells us that if we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, He will hear us,” Swilley said. “It also says that He will forgive our sin and heal our land. He will heal America.”

Swilley said it is important for us to come together and pray for our local and national leaders right now.

The Rev. Nance Hixon of Grace United Methodist also supports the event.

“I believe when we open ourselves up to God in prayer and pour our hearts out, we leave an opening for God to pour something back into us,” Hixon said. “My hope for the day is the community will make an opening for God, and that when we get up off our knees, we’ll find we love God and our neighbors a little more.”

The National Day of Prayer has a website with events tabs for cities participating. For more information, can contact Grant Westbrook by emailing him at westbrookgrant@gmail.com