MANSFIELD — Nearly two hundred attended a noonday countywide observance of National Day of Prayer & Thanksgiving at the First English Lutheran Church on May 2nd.
According to one of the participating clergy, Reverend Ron Smals, the observance commemorated the 170th anniversary of a historic account of answered prayer, and had a special ring this year.
“Our observance includes both a National Day of Prayer & a Day of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving demonstrates the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father and also gives us the opportunity to boast about His mighty deeds He has done for our nation.”
Proclamations by local elected officials recognized a national prayer movement that occurred in 1849 when the nation was at death’s door from a world-wide epidemic of cholera.
The Mansfield Mayor and Board of Richland County Commissioners formally recounted the call to prayer by President Zachary Taylor recommending persons of all religious denominations to “abstain as far as practical from secular occupations and to assemble in their respective places of public worship, to acknowledge the Infinite Goodness.”
Based on a published account reporting the aftermath of President Taylor’s Day of Fasting, the local proclamations noted that the number of deaths dropped suddenly one month later.
Reverend Ron Smals, Woodville Grace Brethren
“We believe that the same GOD that answered the prayers in 1849 to abate the cholera epidemic is the same GOD that can answer our prayers to heal our land in Richland County.”
“We believe that the same GOD that answered the prayers in 1849 to abate the cholera epidemic is the same GOD that can answer our prayers to heal our land in Richland County,” says Reverend Smals.
Elected officals attending the event included: Mansfield Mayor Timothy Theaker, Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson, Commissioner Marilyn John, Commissioner Tony Vero, Sheriff Steve Sheldon, Washington Township Trustee Bob Entenmann, and Mansfield Councilman Cliff Mears
Keynote speaker of the assembly, Reverend El Akuchie, of the Richland Community Prayer Network, spoke about Scripture coming to life in Mansfield.
“We are seeing a newfound activism in our community where clergy are becoming true shepherds. Examples of this phenomenon include when seventy local pastors in a collaboration helped lead the way to prohibit the use of marijuana in several communities. Another was when over one hundred clergy sent a letter of diplomacy to the Israeli Prime Minister and as a result, our area experienced blessings which made international news.”
Quoting from Isaiah 61, Akuchie believes that there is also an increased appetite for prayer in the area after a recent prayer initiative took off.
“The March of Prayer initiative which involved corporate prayer services in various churches had to be lengthened from thirty days to fifty days because people want to make direct contact with the Heavenly Father. People really are rebuilding the ancient ruins and restoring the places long devastated. Mansfield is becoming Godsfield.”
Participating clergy who led corporate prayer included Reverend Denny Finnegan of First Evangelical Presbyterian, Reverend Ron Smalls of Woodville Grace Brethren, Reverend Chad Hayes of Caeserea Baptist, Reverend Jody Odom of True Ambassadors of Christ, and Reverend DeWayne Smith of Main Street United Methodist.
Over twenty youth from Mansfield Christian’s IMAGE Choir directed by Dan Fleming provided worship music throughout the service including the song “A Mighty Fortress.”
The assembly was sponsored by 90.7 FM WVMC, 99.3 FM “The Light,” Frontlines Ohio, and the Richland Community Prayer Network
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Numbers Chapter Sixteen, “Then Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.”
View slideshow of Mansfield’s 2019 NDOP observance below:
Faithful gather at First English Lutheran for NDOP services. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Reverend El Akuchie was keynote speaker during the NDOP services. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Pastor Paul Larson with Sheriff Steve Sheldon and law enforcement. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Local clergy leading service gather to pray. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
NDOP Master of Ceremonies Scott Saunders with local officials for proclamations. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Clergy offer prayer for local elected officials. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
The 2019 NDOP commemorated the 170th anniversary of a historic account of answered prayer, and had a special ring this year. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Pastor Ron Smals interviewed by local media. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Rev. Akuchie believes that there is also an increased appetite for prayer in the area. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
One hundred-ninety attended the 2019 National Day of Prayer (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Pictured DeWayne Smith, Rev. El Akuchie, Ben Mutti, Jody Odom, Paul Larson. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Sheriff Steve Sheldon introduces himself during services. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
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