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Day of prayer in Youngstown
By LINDA M. LINONIS
youngstown
Thursday’s National Day of Prayer dawned to sunny, blue skies and a strong breeze.
For the approximately 100 people who gathered on West Federal Street downtown for the annual observance, nothing was going to rain on their exuberance. The City Prayer Team of Youngstown sponsored the event, which is in its 60th year nationally. The theme was “A Mighty Fortress is Our God."
Pastor Al Yanno of Metro Assembly served as master of ceremonies and told the crowd that “prayer has power when based on humility.” He asked participants to gather in prayer circles to focus on young people, repentance, the city, nation and restoration.
Fourth- and fifth- graders in the Voices of Hope choir from Williamson Elementary School on the South Side impressed the gathering with a rendition of “How Great is Our God.” Though they had to compete a bit with the wind and traffic noises, their young and joyful voices rose above it all and inspired the crowd.
Pastor Juan Rivera of New Life Church at Five Points in Poland was keynote speaker and was introduced by his wife, Deidre. He offered a time line starting with 1775 and the Continental Congress, which proposed time set aside for prayer and ending with President Harry Truman, who made a National Day of Prayer official.
Pastor Rivera asked God with “ears to hear, eyes to see and a mighty outstretched arm to save” to be merciful and remember people affected by natural disasters in the United States and around the world.
Pastor Rivera likened the city of Youngstown to a leper, who was unclean from disease. “Sin is like leprosy,” he said. “Sin has infected the human race, which is without hope unless we go to Jesus.”
He said the city’s leprosy includes blight, crime, poverty and unemployment. “We’re looking for answers and hope ... looking to Jesus to make us clean,” he said.
“Prayer is essential for Youngstown to be clean again," Pastor Rivera said. He called on leaders in government, business and education to take on the responsibility of action. “The church of Youngs-town must be a church of prayer and action,” he said.
He and other clergy on the program used the often-cited passage from 2 Chronicles 7-14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Also offering prayers were Pastors Joe Thomas, Raphael Cruz and C. Shawn Tyson and his wife, Khrista.
The City Prayer Team also had a morning observance at Trinity United Methodist Church, 30 W. Front St.