Stephens Co. Marks National Day of Prayer

Stephens County comes together to mark the National Day of Prayer.

The annual commemoration took place on Thursday on the lawn of the historic Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Toccoa.

Again this year, the Stephens County High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes organized the event.

As part of the commemoration, Chandler Shockley delivered a message on prayer.

He said prayer is a powerful tool, explaining that prayer strengthens.

“Not only prayer strengthen you and your relationship with God and your spirituality, but it also strengthens others,” said Shockley. “For example, in John 17, Jesus prays for his disciples and the other believers.”

Shockley went on to say that how you pray matters.

“Jesus does not pray for himself selfishly, but that God’s will would be done for him and his life,” said Shockley.

Shockley also said that prayer requires solitude.

Also during Thursday’s commemoration, those in attendance prayed for the military, those in service and authority, those in need, children, churches and the community.

There was also a song performed by Drew Hogan, Kaitlan Knight, and Lea Presley and the Stephens County High School JROTC presented the colors.

Thursday marked the 65th annual observance of the National Day of Prayer.

It started in 1952 under a joint resolution of Congress signed by President Harry Truman. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan officially designated the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer.