Area residents gathered throughout the day Thursday to participate in the local celebration of the National Day of Prayer.

Vidalia City Hall became like a church at noontime as spiritual leaders of various church affiliations gathered there for the event.

Across the river in Natchez, prayer events were held throughout the day, starting at 7 a.m. at the bandstand gazebo on the bluff where a group joined in prayer and ending with a 6:30 p.m. prayer walk through downtown with prayers at different stops, organized by members of the Natchez Ministerial Alliance.

Although different religious denominations were present, leaders stood and each gave a unified message under a common belief system — a belief in God, Jesus and the power of prayer.

At the Vidalia gathering, the Rev. Don Lucas of Rising Sun Church in Ferriday said it is time for the “body of Christ” — meaning all churches and believers — to become united. 

“I hope and pray that soon and very soon we will come back to the Lord as one body of Christ,” Lucas said. “We’ve had denominations and religions to keep us separated.”

After giving his brief message and praying for both local and national governments, Lucas sang:

“I know what prayer can do.

“Prayer has brought me through.

“Now I’m concerned about you.

“You should pray some too.”

He said the song is an old one.

“I’m an old-school preacher,” Lucas said. “I was brought up among old preachers, so I don’t know anything but the old way.”

Lucas was not the only one to preach and sing his message. The Rev. Troy Thomas of Bethel Church in Vidalia led the makeshift congregation through two verses of “Amazing Grace” and preached that no one should doubt that God is gracious and will do what He promises to do.

“When we pray, we’re not just crying out to God,” Thomas said. “We’re believing that God hears and then answers.”

The Rev. Angel Colon, a missionary pastor from Puerto Rico, said that he is praying for Hispanic ministries all over the United States, as more and more come into the country looking for work.

“My life changed in Puerto Rico,” Colon said. “I started churches in Puerto Rico, too, but I think it is God’s will that I start Hispanic churches here.”

Colon said he started his American ministry in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2014 and then moved to Mississippi. He has lived in Vidalia since 2016 and does Bible studies with Calvary Baptist Church.

Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft also came to the City Hall to share his appreciation for those praying for the local leaders of the town.

“Always continue to pray for us as a town,” Craft said. “We have a mighty future because we do have a mighty God. … There are things that we always do need prayer for. I appreciate your prayers — each person for each aspect of the town.”

Craft said Christians should always take a stand for their values and beliefs.

“We should take a stand to keep (our Christian values) because if we lose that, then we do lose,” Craft said. “We need to stand up for our rights as Christians.”

By SABRINA SIMMS