COPPERAS COVE — Local pastors and church-going community members gathered in Killeen and Copperas Cove to join together in unity and pray for God’s wisdom, guidance, and society’s betterment for National Day of Prayer on Thursday.
In Copperas Cove, over 60 people packed into the City Council chambers as Mayor Pro-Tem Vonya Hart read a proclamation naming May 2 National Day of Prayer Day in Cove.
Norm Mitchell of the Copperas Cove Ministerial Alliance welcomed the community to the event themed “Lift up the World, Light up the World” and celebrated church members coming together for a single purpose.
“We may come from different buildings and churches, but we unite as one body to worship,” Mitchell said.
Guests were entertained with the worshipful songs of evangelist and singer/songwriter Kenny Cable.
Topics of prayer included: the church, families, education, media members, businesses, military and government.
The pastor of Robertson Avenue Baptist Church prayed for the education system, asking God to “be in our schools,” and asking for forgiveness “when we asked you to leave.”
Joe Fisher, the pastor of Saints Center, prayed for the local and national media. In his prayer he asked for the media to be “interested in the truth,” and to “be correct, not just politically correct.”
Ann Hohner, pastor of Cove Nazarene Church prayed for military servicemen and their families.
Refuge Ministries pastor Russ Cochran presided over prayer for many people in government. He began with a thoughtful approach addressing a room with divided political leanings.
“I know we have donkeys and elephants in this room,” he said. “But we don’t follow the donkey or elephant. We follow the lamb.”
Cochran’s prayer included: U.S. President Joe Biden, senators and congressmen, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, Cove Mayor Dan Yancy, Cove Police Chief Eddie Wilson, Cove Fire Chief Gary Young, Cove City Judge Bill Price and city and county employees.
Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church pastor Will Jackson prayed for the church, and First Baptist Church pastor Mark Kemp prayed for families.
Mitchel closed the meeting and dismissed the guests.
At City Hall in Killeen, the event was presented by Dan Galanffy and included prayers led by city drainage supervisor Lamont Cannon, executive director of the Christian Assistance Network Raquel Watkins, Killeen Independent School District board member Marvin Rainwater. Approximately 20 people showed up at the prayer event. Afterwards, lunch was served. Mayor Debbie Nash-King and Councilman Ramon Alvarez attended.
Herald staff writer Kevin Limiti contributed to this report.
