The National Day of Prayer (NDP) is an annual national observance established in public law in 1952 and observed publicly on the first Thursday in May. Regardless of the unprecedented challenges that our nation faces today due to the coronavirus and resulting economic shutdown, the day has not been canceled nor postponed – but will look very different from past years.
Each year, people gather across the nation, in over 60,000 local community events to pray together for America. While the number of people gathering in-person may be different this year, the prayers they pray will be multiplied and amplified through new and creative approaches, combined with unprecedented access to digital platforms.
In homes, neighborhoods, communities, cities, states, nation and the world, observing recommended “social distancing” measures, the NDP coordinators are planning to mobilize millions in unified, public prayer for America.
Focusing on using these digital platforms, this year’s “virtual” observances have the potential to become the largest prayer “gathering” in US history – with millions praying together, individually. In addition to virtual events being held in communities across our nation, The National Day of Prayer National Observance Broadcast will take place on May 7th from 8:00 -10:00 ET.
It will be broadcast, streamed and posted in many ways including on the National Day of Prayer website, seen LIVE on their Facebook page and cross-posted by many NDP ministry partners. It will be viewed on television on GOD TV, Daystar, TLN, and Enlace, with more stations to come, and on radio through Moody Broadcasting, Bott and Salem Radio Networks.
This year’s theme, “Pray God’s Glory Across the Earth,” is based on Habakkuk 2:14, and reminds Americans that God’s promise, “for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” is for them today.
The NDP Task Force President, Kathy Branzell, put it this way, “Unprecedented times call for unprecedented prayer! This years ‘virtual’ National Day of Prayer Observance may have more prayer – and more ‘pray-ers’ than ever before!”
Evangelist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and the grandson of Billy Graham – Will Graham – will co-host the national observance broadcast with National Day of Prayer Task Force president, Kathy Branzell.
For more information, visit www.NationalDayofPrayer.org.
About the National Day of Prayer
The NDP tradition predates the founding of the United States of America, evidenced by the Continental Congress’ proclamation in 1775 setting aside a day of prayer. In 1952, Congress established an annual day of prayer and, in 1988, that law was amended, designating the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May.
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