Our Mission
The National Day of Prayer-Frederick® encourages participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to mobilize unified public and personal prayer and to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders.
The Frederick Youth Prayer Rally was born out of a vision to provide a platform for student-led events to encourage area youth to gather together and publicly pray for our local, state, and national government and its leaders.
The First Thursday of May
The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for our nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday in May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. And, every year, each state governor signs a similar proclamation.
The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863.
The National Day of Prayer is Ours
The National Day of Prayer belongs to all Americans. It is a day that transcends differences, bringing together citizens from all backgrounds. Mrs. Shirley Dobson, former NDP national chairman, reminds us: “We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep. I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom, too.”
Thank you in advance for making this spiritual discipline a personal priority and for standing with us as we encourage others, especially our young people, to incorporate prayer in their lives. The Lord has graciously anointed our efforts over the years, and we look forward to seeing His hand move across our county, state, and nation in exciting ways in 2024!
Carolyn Jackson
Frederick County Coordinator
National Day of Prayer Task Force