National Day of Prayer: This Year, It’s As Important As Ever

Update to the original story: From the Idaho National Day of Prayer Facebook page:

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14 NIV) 

Habakkuk 2:14 is this year’s theme for the National Day of Prayer, which is Thursday, May 7, 2020. 

While many churches and city halls may be planning to have meetings to pray for our nation and state at their locations, the most well-known public prayer event is at the State Capitol Building, located at 700 W. Jefferson in downtown Boise. This year’s prayer rally is planned to be held at 6 p.m.* on the Capitol steps. 

President Harry Truman originally signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the U.S in 1952. This law was later amended in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer. 

Vonette Bright, a co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as Cru), founded the National Day of Prayer Task Force in 1979 in Colorado Springs, Colo. 

In meeting with Idaho’s current State Coordinator Debbie Crosby Haake, we learned that in 1988 Vonette invited local pastor Orvil Stiles to become the Idaho State Coordinator, a role he took on faithfully until 2004, when at the age of 91 he passed the baton on to Debbie. 

The local National Day of Prayer Task Force is a committee of volunteers, including Debbie, who work diligently each year to secure the reservation for use of the Capitol’s steps, coordinate speakers and music for the annual event, as well as contacting area churches through letters, emails, personal phone calls, and occasional church visits, to garner involvement in this wonderful prayer rally, and to provide churches with flyers for the event at the State Capitol for their church bulletins, with much of the materials provided by the committee volunteers personally. 

Traditionally, the prayer rally is held at noon on the Capitol steps. This year will be only the 3rd time since 1988 that circumstances have caused the time to change, this time to 6 p.m.*   

This year’s guest representatives include: Ron Crane, Master of Ceremonies, and Governor Brad Little. 

Guest SpeakersArea of Prayer 

Mayor Debbie Kling, of Nampa                                                    Government 

Lt. Col Rob Morris, Senior Chaplain, ID National Guard              Military 

Brian Yeager, General Manager of KTSY                                     Media 

Rick & Sue Ellen Montgomery of Diamond Heating & Cooling     Business 

Dr. Greg Wiles, Superintendent of Nampa Christian Schools       Education 

Pastor Dan Mangeac, Good News Community Church                Church 

Karla Slonaker with Moms in Prayer                                             Family 

Music coordinated by Mark Thornton 

You are welcome to bring a folding chair as this is an outdoor event and typically lasts 75-90 minutes. Metered street parking is available (most meters are monitored until 8 p.m. M-F), or there are two nearby garages, one at 550 W. State St. and another at 608 W. Washington. 

Everyone is encouraged to come join in this prayer event and to invite their friends and neighbors. If your church isn’t involved, consider asking if you can form a National Day of Prayer team at your church. If distance prevents you from attending the Boise event, please consider hosting an event in your area. 

For anyone looking to get involved or donate to help make this event possible, there will be cards handed out at the Boise Capitol event. For information on the NDoP Bible Reading Marathon call P. Lancaster at 208-890-9881, and for other information call M.E. Stewart at 208-861-6112 or email [email protected]. 

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV) 

National Observance 

The National Observance in Washington, D.C. will be hosted by evangelist Will Graham and other national Christian leaders, with Michael W. Smith leading worship. It will be broadcast live May 7 from 8-10 p.m. EST (6-8 p.m. MST) at www.ndp.org, on GOD TV, on DayStar, Moody Radio, Bott Radio, and The National Day of Prayer Facebook page. 

* Publisher’s note: Governor Brad Little extended the “stay home” orders concerning COVID-19 through April and will reconsider the orders after that date and determine whether or not, and how, the orders will be carried out in May. The Idaho National Day of Prayer is May 7 regardless of whether we meet physically or electronically. Please pray with your families on this day for the seven areas of influence in our society: Government, Churches, Education, Military, Business, Media, and Families. We also want to add prayers for all first responders and all those who continue to serve the public with essential services during this time. Please check for updates on the Idaho National Day of Prayer Facebook page.