Tuscarawas County, Ohio - People throughout the county are embracing the power of positivity today as part of the nationwide Day of Prayer observance.

The National Day Of Prayer was established by President Harry Truman in 1952  and is celebrated across the nation on the first Thursday in May. The Dover-New Philadelphia Ministerial Association will be honoring this tradition by bringing the community together this evening for a prayer service.  

Association President Travis Wright says Faith Christian Church off state Route 39 in New Philadelphia is welcoming people of all belief structures to a 7 pm ceremony themed  “Love One Another.” He says leaders from a variety of sectors in the community will be taking part in the program.

“Praying over government, we have Al Landis who is our county commissioner. Sheriff Orvis Campbell is going to be praying over our first responders. Rick Arredondo, our business and community director, is praying over business, Andrew Wilsterman military, and some others,” he says.

The Twin City Ministerial Association will also be hosting a unified prayer service at the same time at the Dennison Gazebo. Bethel Worship Center Pastor John Stevenson says people of all ages, beliefs, and backgrounds are welcome to join in as they extend prayers to different groups in the community.  

“We pray for our education system. We pray for our justice system so that our judges and so forth would do the right thing,” he says. “We pray for our military and our safety forces that are so important to the freedoms that we enjoy every day. We pray for our churches, that our churches would be strong and would be an extension of the family, and then we also pray for the families.” 

Stevenson says the group has also made arrangements for an indoor service at the First Presbyterian Church on Grant Street in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.