Tyrrell County will celebrate the National Day of Prayer May 1.

The event is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

Typically, citizens have gathered at the courthouse located at 403 Main Street Columbia in Tyrrell County over the last seven years.

The Tyrrell County Ministerial Association was preparing the week before raising awareness in the community.

“I am seeing if someone will lead a prayer time at the various local eating places in the county,” said Joe Wynns, a member of the Ministerial Association.

Wynns mentioned asking establishments located alongside the Highway if they would post messages encouraging people to participate in National Day of Prayer.

Some churches in Tyrrell County have had a prayer clock at past National Day of Prayer events.

“For 24 hours there would be somebody at church. The older people who would do it would wake up with the different times. It would be overlapping so there would be no time lapse at all in holding the nation, community, and the church up before the Lord,” said Wynns.

Joe Pierce, president of the Ministerial Association and Lead pastor at The Assembly of Praise in Columbia, mentioned that his church will be open from morning until night.

“I will do something that I have done in the past where I will have different stations in the sanctuary that people can go and they can pray for the government, military, schools and anything else,” said Pierce.

Pierce noted that other churches in the county honor the day with similar activities.

The observance at the courthouse has had varied attendance. Last year about 25 people attended. Some years almost one hundred have attended.

“We would love to see participation from all of the churches this year,” said Pierce.

An invitation is given to the county commissioners and the town board of alderman to come celebrate with local people.

Pierce said that the courthouse event will follow the format on the National Day of Prayer’s website where a theme and verse is offered.
More information about the National Day of Prayer can be found at nationaldayofprayer.org.