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Jack Graham named honorary prayer chairman


PLANO, Texas (BP) — The National Day of Prayer Task Force has named Jack Graham, who served two terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, as honorary chairman for the 2015 National Day of Prayer.

Graham leads the 37,000-member Prestonwood Baptist Church, which includes three locations in the Dallas area. He is also the voice of PowerPoint Ministries, a radio and television broadcast ministry from the Prestonwood pulpit that shares the Gospel throughout the world.

The 64th annual National Day of Prayer will be held on Thursday, May 7, in Washington, D.C. Graham will lead the members of Congress in prayer. The theme for 2015 will be “Lord, Hear Our Cry.”

“It is a privilege to lead the National Day of Prayer,” Graham said. “More than anything, in this desperate hour, may our hearts cry out to God for the healing of our nation’s spiritual brokenness. May Jesus be exalted and may God’s people be awakened to a new obedience to fulfill the Great Commission.”

Written by Graham, the following prayer below will be read simultaneously throughout the country at noon (EDT) where prayer observances are held:

Heavenly Father,

We come to You in the Name that is above every name — Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our hearts cry out to You.

Knowing that You are a prayer-answering, faithful God — the One we trust in times like these — we ask that You renew our spirits, revive our churches, and heal our land.

We repent of our sins and ask for Your grace and power to save us. Hear our cry, oh God, and pour out Your Spirit upon us that we may walk in obedience to Your Word.

We are desperate for Your tender mercies. We are broken and humbled before You.

Forgive us, and in the power of Your great love, lift us up to live in Your righteousness.

We pray for our beloved nation. May we repent and return to You and be a light to the nations. And we pray for our leaders and ask that You give them wisdom and faith to follow You.

Preserve and protect us, for You are our refuge and only hope.

Deliver us from all fears except to fear You, and may we courageously stand in the Truth that sets us free.

We pray with expectant faith and grateful hearts.

In Jesus’ name, our Savior.

Amen.

The National Day of Prayer was established in 1952 when Congress approved a resolution calling on the president to establish such an annual event. It was first observed by President Harry S. Truman. The resolution was amended in 1988 to establish the first Thursday of May for the annual observance.

“The president shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer,” the resolution states, “on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups and as individuals.”

Graham, who has led Prestonwood since 1989, is the author of numerous books, including “Unseen: Angels, Satan, Heaven, Hell and Winning the Battle for Eternity,” “A Man of God,” “Powering Up” and, with his wife Deb, “Courageous Parenting.”

    About the Author

  • Berta Delgado-Young