RICHLAND COUNTY — While the U.S. Capital hosted no National Day of Prayer (NDOP) observance this year, and while the White House left the word “God” out of its NDOP proclamation, on May 6th there was plenty of acknowledgement of the Almighty to go around in the Buckeye Bible Belt.
Several public prayer observances took place across Richland County including the City of Shelby.
With over one hundred in attendance, including Mayor Reverend Steve Schag and State Rep. Marilyn John, Shelby Pastor Kevin Evans shared a story of one act of courage impacting a nation years later.
“Reverend Billy Graham stood on Capital steps in Feb 1952 and called on Congress to establish a national day of prayer. And by April of that year, President Truman signed legislation enacting a national day of prayer which has been celebrated since, making it the seventieth year. We want to praise GOD for that act of faith.”
Pastor Doug Tackett, keynote speaker for the Shelby NDOP commented, “I believe the rescuing of our nation, our city, our church and the rescuing of our freedom lies with our prayers. Psalms 33:12 says Blessed is the nation whose god is the LORD. It is imperative that GOD’s people pray, the salvation of our schools and our city depends on it.”
“Pray for leaders giving them wisdom, discernment; and strength, for the men and women of the Armed Forces, for all First Responders who put themselves in harm’s way every day, and to bless our land with honorable endeavors, sound learning, respect and pure manners; and let us ask GOD for sustenance and guidance for all of us so that we can meet the great challenges we face as a Nation.”
Richland County Board of commissioner proclamation
The local award-winning gospel singing group Glory Way Quartet also performed to bring the ceremony to an energetic closing.
In Mansfield, a noonday prayer gathering brought citizens and leaders alike to pray together at Central Park.
Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker pointed out in his proclamation “Our region is historically known for its dependence on the Almighty when eighty-three Richland County clergymen during the 2008-2009 recession called for a day of prayer and fasting after the closure of the General Motors stamping plant, and when one hundred-twenty clergymen across North Central Ohio called Ohioans to a season of corporate prayer and fasting during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.”
In their proclamation, the Richland County Board of Commissioners encouraged citizens to “Pray for leaders giving them wisdom, discernment; and strength, for the men and women of the Armed Forces, for all First Responders who put themselves in harm’s way every day, and to bless our land with honorable endeavors, sound learning, respect and pure manners; and let us ask GOD for sustenance and guidance for all of us so that we can meet the great challenges we face as a Nation.”
Besides Mayor Theaker and Commissioners Tony Vero and Cliff Mears, Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson, Juvenile Court Judge Steve McKinley, Mansfield Councilman Jason Lawrence and several City Administrators attended, including Police Chief Keith Porch. Mansfield Potter’s House brought their worship team to provide several praise songs.
Down the road and later in the evening, area clergy Matt Merendino and Matt O’Harra were part of a group of religious leaders who led a NDOP assembly in Bellville at the old Township Hall; Mayor Terri Brenkus attended.
In September 1774, the first session of the Continental Congress opened with prayer from Psalms 35 by Reverend Jacob Duche at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia. As a result records indicated there have been at least 1,526 state and federal calls for national prayer since.
View the following slideshow below of the 2021 NDOP observances in Mansfield, Shelby, and Bellville, and a video produced by Liberty Life’s Song Ministries of the Shelby NDOP observance.
Elected officials & law enforcement attend Mansfield NDOP & line up for prayer (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
The local Glory Way Quartet performing at the Shelby NDOP (Photo courtesy of YouTube screenshot) 
Mansfield Mayor Timothy Theaker addresses gathering at Mansfield NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Mansfield Mayor Theaker NDOP Proclamation (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Citizens gather for Mansfield NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Pastor Kevin Evans leads prayer at Shelby NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Pastor Matt Merendino leads prayer at Bellville NDOP (Photo courtesy of Neal Costick) 
Citizens gather for Mansfield NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
The local Glory Way Quartet performing at the Shelby NDOP (Photo courtesy of YouTube screenshot) 
Reverend El Akuchie with County Commissioner Cliff Mears (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Richland County Board of Commissioners NDOP Proclamation (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Pastor Matt O’Harra leads prayer at Bellville NDOP (Photo courtesy of Neal Costick) Pastor Doug Tackett speaks at Shelby NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
County Commissioner Cliff Mears speaks at Mansfield NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Pastor Kevin Evans leads prayer at Shelby NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) Rev. El Akuchie leads prayer at Mansfield NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Citizens gather for Mansfield NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Citizens gather for Mansfield NDOP (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
The local Glory Way Quartet performing at the Shelby NDOP (Photo courtesy of YouTube screenshot)
The Bottom Line:
2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom.”
