Prayers filled the air in Macon during National Day of Prayer

“I love the kids singing lifting their voices up in praise to the Lord,” says Marcia Braswell.

Braswell and her family are among the Christians in Middle Georgia observing the 2015 National Day of Prayer. The event was held at Rosa Parks square in downtown Macon. It’s aim is to bring the community together, according to organizers of the event.

Braswell said she was happy her children attended the prayer service.

“it’s very important that they be a part of not just our home, where we pray and our church where we pray, but to be a part of a larger group and especially today,” Braswell said.

Pastor Tim McCoy of Ingleside Baptist Church was the keynote speaker. McCoy told the crowd prayer is essential in the United States.

“Our country was actually formed and cradled with prayer,” explained McCoy. “At the constitutional convention, Ben Franklin said we need the help of almighty God.”

Pastor Jason McClendon of Community Church of God says the National Day of Prayer is a time to for people to become unified and keep the faith.

“If anything’s going to take place in Macon we have to pray,” says McClendon. “We have to be together and we have to be involved in the community.”

True Gospel Christian Church Pastor Ral Waltower closed out the event in prayer. A group of his members joined him for the outdoor service.

“What God wants us to do is to be able to cover this nation in prayer,” says Waltower. “We know that’s what the scripture tells us. All we’re doing is carrying out the mandate of scripture because as we pray we invoke the presence and the power of God to be in our midst.”

Antonio Taylor is a member of True Gospel and says he is grateful America has religious freedom.

“The opportunity that we are given today to be able to honor God and to do it as a community body, as a nation,” says Taylor. “I think that was pretty awesome.”

Fifteen-year-old Susanna Braswell likes the idea of praying for the nation.

“I want to be involved with other people and pray and not just stay in your house,” she explained. “We want to make a statement let other people see us out here.”

Her mother says coming to the prayer service helped here children understand the importance of having a prayer life.

“There is a God and that He loves them and that they are a part of something much bigger than just their own relationship with Him,” said Marcia Braswell.

The National Day of Prayer has been observed on the first Thursday of every May since 1952.