Habersham Countians marked the National Day of Prayer Thursday with another Rolling Revival that passed through the county’s seven cities and towns.
The day began on the Tallulah Falls Middle School campus and ended outside Mt. Airy Town Hall. Along the way were prayer stops in Clarkesville, Demorest, Cornelia, Baldwin, and Alto.
Approximately 225 people attended the various events, according to organizers. The largest gathering was in Clarkesville, where approximately 80 people turned out to pray at the downtown gazebo. There was a slight disruption as a man with two children protested the gathering, but overall, organizers say the day’s events ran smoothly.
“It was a glorious day!” says Staci Pealock, a licensed minister and one of Habersham County’s National Day of Prayer Coordinators.
Many local church and civic leaders participated in the day-long event, which was part of the larger national observance held annually on the first Thursday in May. Similar gatherings were held in cities and towns across Georgia, including the state Capitol.
Congress established the National Day of Prayer by joint resolution in 1952. President Truman signed it into law. Each year, event organizers encourage people of all faiths to set aside time on this day to pray for the nation and its leaders.
People have expanded the day’s focus in the 71 years since it started to now include prayers for all levels of government and aspects of community life. For many believers, the day has become a national rallying cry for renewal and unity.
‘Miraculous moments’
In Habersham County, the Rolling Revival has become its own Day of Prayer tradition. Begun in 2020, Pealock says this year’s turnout was the largest yet. She says there were many “miraculous moments” along the way. The most impactful, she says, was the announcement by Kimberly Criser, wife of Piedmont University President Marshall Criser, that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is now active on the Demorest campus.
Mrs. Criser made the announcement while attending the National Day of Prayer service outside Demorest Baptist Church.
At the Clarkesville gazebo, community members prayed over State Sen. Bo Hatchett. And outside Holcomb’s Office Supply and Christian Book Store in Cornelia, Mayor John Borrow offered up a prayer. He asked for God’s spirit “to be over Cornelia, over this part of the county, all the families and all the institutions, the businesses, and the churches.”
“We ask your spirit and your grace to be upon us, and I ask that you will help us to live out the greatest commandment, which is to love God and to love people,” he prayed.
Other stops included Life Church in Baldwin and The River Church in Alto.
‘This is important’
As the day drew to a close, Mt. Airy Baptist Church Pastor Jon Huebner read aloud the Georgia National Day of Prayer resolution signed by Gov. Brian Kemp. State National Day of Prayer Capitol Coordinator Teresa Cantrell personally delivered the document and joined Habersham’s final service of the day.
While some protest a government sanctioned day of prayer, others view it as fundamentally American in the exercise of freedom of religion and speech.
“Our government set aside this day for prayer,” says Pealock. “This is important because prayer is given a place for our country and communities.”
Keeping it going
Organizers hope to keep the momentum of Thursday’s Rolling Revival going. They’ve launched a website called Habersham 24/7.
On this website, you can find information about “Habersham Hour” and sign up for one hour per week to pray for Habersham County. Participants will pray for 168 days and then there will be a communitywide prayer service.
Says Pealock, “We are believing for unity in the community and for the birth of a great revival movement.”
For details, click here.
