Ashland faith leaders converge for prayer at city hall during pandemic (VIDEO)

ASHLAND — Last month, President Donald Trump called the nation to prayer to combat the Coronavirus Pandemic. Many took part in that day of prayer, but in Ashland County, the corporate prayers have not stopped. Public prayer by faith leaders at government locations is not an aberration in Ashland, it has become the norm.

“With more than one hundred and five churches in Ashland County, many of our people who live in our community believe in the power of prayer,” says Ashland Mayor Matt Miller. “So whether it be in times of personal crisis or national and even worldwide crisis, it only follows that we would together lift up our requests and concerns to our faithful Creator who has provided for us and protected us ever since the very beginning of time.

The Ashland Ministerial Association (AMA) annually holds one of the largest National Day of Prayer assemblies in the State of Ohio. It also has coordinated prayer invocations at many of the monthly county’s municipal council meetings and township trustee board meetings. Now the AMA is coordinating weekly public prayer meetings at government offices in response to the recent pandemic.

Mayor Miller comments, “We have a strong and united faith community in Ashland County. Our church leaders and other ministerial leaders recognize that some of the most important work that they will do, occurs outside of their church buildings and regular services. Some of the most critical social issues facing our country are being addressed most effectively by members of our faith community.”

In addition to the two meetings at Ashland City Hall on (March 22nd,) public prayer has occurred at the County Building on March 29th, and the City School Administrative Building on April 5th. The meetings consist of guided times of prayer by a group of clergy, faith-based executive directors, and even the Ashland Mayor.

Pastor Scot Myers of Ashland Christian Church serves as the AMA President and Pastor John Bouquet of Savannah Bethel Baptist serves as the National Day of Prayer Chairman.

For the national response effort, President Trump called for a National Day of Prayer on March 15th. His proclamation stated, “We should all take to heart the holy words found in 1 Peter 5:7:  ‘Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.’  Let us pray that all those affected by the virus will feel the presence of our Lord’s protection and love during this time.  With God’s help, we will overcome this threat.”

With Ashland as the local prototype, many would agree that the nation as a whole is experiencing a heightened hunger and awareness of GOD in this season of crisis.

According to the Christian Post, Tyndale House Publishers, reports their Life Application Study Bible sales going up 44% and sales of the Immerse Bible going up 60%, compared to this time last year.

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