Pastor Knaub takes to the roof again – to pray

POLAND

Pastor Barry Knaub can’t remember exactly how he came up with the idea to pray on the church rooftop as a way to promote National Day of Prayer. But he’s drawn attention to the power of prayer through this tradition for a decade.

He started the practice while serving at Central Baptist Church in Niles and did it for four years. He’s continued it at Margaret Wynn Memorial Baptist Church, 56 Water St. (Route 616). He prayed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, the day of the observance.

“I just wanted to do something to call attention to the National Day of Prayer,” Pastor Knaub said. “The first year, I had no signs. People sometimes saw me and would wave.”

Now, the pastor said, he has signage – “Pray for America, ” “Beep for Prayer” and “Pastor on Roof” – to alert passers-by.

“A lot of people beep and wave. It’s nice when a school bus goes by and all the kids are waving to me,” he said.

Read more about this local tradition in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.