National Day of Prayer in Republic for 2025

 

The next National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 1, 2025. Let's get this going in 2025 for the City of Republic!

It has been over a decade since the city of Republic, Missouri, has hosted a National Day of Prayer event. This provides an opportunity for churches to work together in support of a national effort. The plan is to change that in 2025!

If you want to help bring this to life in Republic, email David Burton.

If you area ready to schedule your prayer event and add it to the calendar for Republic, then fill out this online form. The deadline to be included on the promotional flier for Republic is Friday, April 11, 2025.

IT IS AN OFFICIAL HOLIDAY

The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance designated by the United States Congress and held on the first Thursday of May. On this day, people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation." The president is required by law to sign a yearly proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. 

This special observance was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The National Day of Prayer Task Force is a privately funded organization that encourages participation on the National Day of Prayer. 

THE PLAN FOR 2025 IN REPUBLIC

It is better to start small and grow. (known as the "idea-friendly method.") 

In 2025, the proposal/recommendation is to promote National Day of Prayer events all over the Republic, done by different groups, at various times, and in different ways, but to jointly promote the opportunities to gather with others in prayer. 

Why not gather at school flag poles, in parks, or at City Hall? Why not organize efforts in our churches, neighborhoods, garages, and places of business? We can all commit to taking time on May 1 to join other residents of Republic and other Americans in praying for our nation, state, and city.

Make your plans and get your 2025 National Day of Prayer gathering in Republic on our community calendar, flier and advertisement by completing this online form. The deadline to be included on the promotional flier for Republic is Friday, April 11, 2025.

HERE ARE THE TOP IDEAS FOR A PRAYER EVENT REPUBLIC IN 2025

Any local church or group could organize these efforts for the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

1) Host a "come and go" prayer event at the Community Center or your church with various "prayer stations" where individuals can pray and/or write out prayers in support of our city, government, leaders, schools, etc. If held at a community site, the community might embrace this approach, although any congregation could organize and host something similar at their church.

2) Host your own Day of Prayer gathering in your own way and at your own location, but promote it with others. This way, we use our various locations, call our members to plan and participate, and literally cover the town with prayer events all day. Church members could host an event with neighbors in their homes or garages as a way to bring prayer events to residents instead of asking residents to come to a singular event. This would be a very unique approach.

3) The idea of a 24-hour prayer room has also been suggested as an alternative. It would have prayer stations and be open to the public, but every hour would also be booked/scheduled to keep the prayer in town going for 24 hours. This might be a model that could rotate from church to church. 

4) We demonstrate unity by jointly promoting these various prayer events on May 1, 2025, to our congregations and other groups.

FACTS CONSIDERED BY MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE
  • LOCATION CONSIDERATIONS: The location of a single event remains a problem. There was discussion about rotating the location among churches, choosing a visible site, and doing the event outdoors. Some members of the Ministerial Alliance hesitated to host in a church, wanting it to be welcoming for the community. Finding an affordable location that is easily accessible in the city of Republic is difficult. There is no perfect option that safeguards against weather, is welcoming, and is inexpensive.
  • RENTAL COSTS: The low-cost available places to rent: 1) Community Center Rooms A&B are available for $65 an hour and can seat 130 people with chairs only. This space does book early, and if it was a daylong come-and-go event, this could cost $650. 2) The Senior Center is available to rent after 3:30 at a rate of $100 for four hours. 3) The Amp is available to rent for $25 at hour but we must supply our own sound system.
  • USE OUR ASSETS: Republic has assets related to church space and neighborhoods. In Community Development, we focus on using our available assets and getting others to join us. Having one person organize an event is not sustainable. But, by giving control back to churches and residents and saying, "Organize your own event, and I will promote it," we take full advantage of our assets. If a church wants to do an outdoor event, then do it! If a group wants to do prayer at the community center, then organize it! David Burton has committed to creating a flier that every church can use to jointly promote the prayer events, running a full-page advertisement in the Commonwealth, and running an ad on social media. 

DECISIONS ALREADY MADE

  • Convoy of Hope has been contacted. They are a major supporter of the Day of Prayer in Springfield and cannot sponsor a separate event in the Republic.
  • The Republic Chamber of Commerce was contacted in the fall since they sponsored the last National Day of Prayer event held in the Republic. However, the Chamber has passed on the idea for 2025.
  • Members of the Republic Ministerial Alliance have discussed the day of prayer but reaching a consensus on a location, timing, and funding has been slow.

CASE STUDY: SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI

Springfield has a long-standing National Day of Prayer event that features a national-level guest speaker and typically attracts around 1,000 people. In 2024, the guest speaker was Beth Moore. This is the format of the early morning event in Springfield as a template for a single event. 


Springfield event agenda

Welcome

Pledge of Allegiance

Welcome from Mayor or organizer

Music ?

Guest Speaker


City Presenter - police officer or city employee or council member

City Prayer Leader - Local Pastor


County Presenter - a county employee or office holder

County Prayer Leader - another local pastor or youth leader


State Presenter - a state elected position or someone working with the state

State Prayer Leader - another local pastor or youth leader


Federal Presenter - military or airport or federal employee

Federal Prayer Leader - another local pastor or youth leader


People's Presenter - ? general presenter

People's Prayer Leader - another local pastor or youth leader


School/education Presenter - someone from education

School Prayer Leader -- another local pastor


Benediction - another local pastor or youth leader



REPUBLIC CAN BE UNIQUE IN ITS APPROACH


Republic does not need to compete with Springfield.


For starters, many Republic residents work in Springfield and attend the event there. Secondly, Republic is just getting this going again, and without a sponsor or partner, it will need to be done differently, uniquely.


But unique and starting small does not mean less important or less relevant.

Stay tuned to see what can be done in Republic, Missouri, starting in 2025. 

MORE INFORMATION

Are you interested in taking the Engaged Neighbor pledge? The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge online at http://engagedneighbor.com. Individuals who take the pledge get special privileges and are invited to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton, at dburton541@yahoo.com.

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