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The Day of Prayer in Lanett is back this year on May 1 at the W.O. Lance Recreation field. Starting at noon, the city will come together for a prayer-led service. 

The National Day of Prayer emphasizes communities across the country gathering to pray for their cities, states and nation at large. 

In April 1952, President Harry Truman signed into law a bill stating, “the President shall set a suitable day each year as a National  Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups and as individuals.” 

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Public Law 100-307. The bill designated the first Thursday in May as the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer. 

Four years ago, Pastor Mark McCarty organized a group of religious and city leaders to do the same in Lanett.

The prayer focus this year will be surrounding Proverbs 11:11, “By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted.” As Pastor Randall Hamer said, the verse represents the power of prayer in blessing a community. 

“If we want our city to be blessed by God and to be lifted up by God, we’ve got to be in pursuit of God,” Hamer said. 

The other verse is 2 Chronicles 7:14, which says, “If My people, who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek  My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

“If we turn from our wicked ways, and lift our voices to him, it says that we’ll hear from heaven and forgive us of our sins and heal our land,” Hamer said. 

This year, the city’s Day of Prayer organizers have added a new element to the event. For the week leading up to the holiday, April 21st through April 27th, residents are encouraged to start praying together. 

Hamer said “Pray for Lanett” yard signs are being distributed for $10 each ahead of the event. The group hopes to see citizens visiting each other and praying together throughout the last week of April.

“That way, as people are driving by, they see the families out there praying and lifting up our city to God,” Hamer said. 

The organizers are also encouraging local churches to do a prayer walk throughout their neighborhoods.