By Staff
JEFFERSON CITY – A noontime service May 6 at the Missouri State Capitol marking the 59th annual National Day of Prayer (NDP) featured several denominational leaders including David Tolliver of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC).
Tolliver voiced the opening prayer.
“Help us to experience Your presence and Your power today,” he prayed.
Later on Monte Shinkle, pastor, Concord Baptist Church, Jefferson City, prayed for God to be working concerning our nation’s health care, particularly that our responsibility in the process would be on the increase.
A pair of Missouri Baptist lawmakers, Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, and Rep. Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, spoke words of thanksgiving for prayers that helped the Missouri General Assembly arrive at a balanced budget eight days early.
Ten other lawmakers made it a point to be there for the National Day of Prayer. They are: Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis; Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville; Rep. Wayne Cooper, R-Camdenton; Rep. Belinda Harris, D-Hillsboro; Rep. Linda Fischer, D-Bonne Terre; Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger, R-Lake St. Louis; Rep. Sally Faith, R-St. Charles; Rep. Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood; Rep. Doug Funderburk, R-St. Peters; and Rep. Jeff Grisamore, R-Lee’s Summit.
Presiding throughout the event was Madge Atkinson, Missouri state coordinator of NDP and a member of Centennial Baptist Church, Mexico. Another member of that church, Keven Nance, sang the national anthem.
In St. Louis, Ed Moncada, international collegiate coordinator for the MBC, participated in the NDP event at the St. Louis City Hall Rotunda. Moncada prayed for international people living in the St. Louis area.
NDP always takes place on the first Thursday in May.