National Day of Prayer in Virginia for Christians: National Day of Prayer for Virginia

Friday, July 31, 2009

National Day of Prayer for Virginia

Welcome to the Virginia Coordinators for the National Day of Prayer. We want to use this site to allow you to share your experiences and to ask questions.

We are the Christian expression of the National Day of Prayer established in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The National Day of Prayer Task Force's mission is to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership in the seven centers of power: Church, Education, Family, Government, Military, Business and Media.

The National website: ndptf.org provides all the information you need to conduct a National Day of Prayer event on the first Thursday in May. You will also find resources that explain the Adopt-A-Leader program as well as the Pray for Election Day campaign.

Virginia' s Current Objectives:
* Increase the number of Churches, Schools and Organizations participating
* Increase the involvement of youth and children in prayer support
* Plan the National Day of Prayer Event at the State Capital
* Promote prayer for 7 centers of power 7 days a week:
Government - Romans 13:1-7
Education - Matthew 19:14
Media - Ephesians 4:29
Church - 2 Thessalonians 1:4
Family - Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Business - Matthew 5:14-16
Military - Psalms 91

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the NDP a political event?
No. The National Day of Prayer, as designated by our government, belongs to all Americans. It is not sponsored or owned by any one group. Every American can observe the NDP in his or her own way. Each year, the President issues a proclamation in support of this significant day.

Who is behind the NDP Task Force?
The Chairman is Mrs. Shirley Dobson, who has held the position since 1991. Mrs. Dobson does not receive a salary. The NDP Task Force consists of a full-time staff and a network of volunteers nationwide. Prior to Mrs. Dobson's involvement, the Task Force was led by Mrs. Vonette Bright, wife of former Campus Crusade for Christ founder Bill Bright.

Is the Task Force affiliated with Focus on the Family?
No. Though Mrs. Dobson is married to Dr. James Dobson, the NDP Task Force is separate and is not housed in the Focus facility. Between 1990 and 1993, Focus on the Family provided grants in support of the NDP Task Force. Since then, the Task Force has been completely self-supported.

What kinds of events are planned?
The most visible gathering has been held historically at our nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C. on the first Thursday of May. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of government are represented, as well as the military. In addition, Christian leaders address the current year's theme and prayer concern.

Local volunteers and coordinators hold a variety of activities ranging from prayer breakfasts, Bible reading marathons, concerts of prayer, rallies, church prayer vigils, student flagpole gatherings and observances held in sports stadiums.

What is the National Day of Prayer Sunday?
On the Sunday before the Day, millions of Christians come together to worship.

Why not claim this Sunday as NDP Sunday, forever, in your church! This can kick off whatever the churches and NDP coordinators want to do during the week, up to the day of celebration and declaration on NDP Thursday.

NDP History

Because of the faith of many of our founding fathers, public prayer and national days of prayer have a significant history in American tradition. The Supreme Court affirmed the right of state legislatures to open their sessions with prayer in Marsh vs. Chambers (1983).

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, including President Lincoln's proclamation of a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer" in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. All 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories sign similar proclamations.

The National Day of Prayer stands as a call to us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning.

Mrs. Shirley Dobson, NDP 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."

The National Day of Prayer belongs to all Americans.

Virginia Prayer Focus

State of Virginia Prayer Focus

Virginia was the "covenant root state." We have birthed eight U.S. presidents and have a governmental anointing and assignment. As well as having the oldest continuously governing elected assembly in North America, the CIA and the Pentagon are on Virginia soil. We were the first permanent English settlement and hosted the 400th anniversary of that event in 2007. We are home to the world's largest naval base and have more than 50 military installations within our borders. Eight states were formed in whole or part from the original borders of the state. The Virginia Charter, written in 1606 in England, declared the mission of the colony to evangelize the unsaved native peoples.

13 Virginia Prayer Points These 13 points are in honor of our 13 original colonies, 13 stripes on the U.S. flag, and 13 stars on the first flag.

1. Pray that Virginia churches will have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Lord is saying in this hour and that we will grow in the knowledge of God (Ephesians 1:17-19).
2. Pray for discernment so we will be able to understand the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3).
3.Pray for unity in the Body of Christ (Psalm 133:1, John 17:21).
4. Pray for churches to operate with boldness (1st John 4:17, Ephesians 6:19).
5. Pray for Christians to be passionate instead of passive (Rev. 3:14-22).
6.Pray that the Word of God may run swiftly throughout the State of Virginia (Psalm 147:15).
6. Pray that Christians will not war in the flesh but instead by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 10:3).
7. Pray that Christians will see a release of the miraculous, “so that they may know the Lord has power to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6, John 17:23).
8. Pray that Virginians will be zealous instead of apathetic (Numbers 25:11-13; Titus 2:14).
9.Pray that Virginia pastors will fully preach the gospel in word and deed (Romans 15:18).
10. Pray that the plans of the enemy for the State of Virginia will be exposed (Ephesians 5:11-13; 2nd Kings 6:12; Luke 12:3).
11. Pray that the Lord will be exalted and His glory will be revealed and that all things that exalt themselves above His name will be brought down (2 Corinthians 10:5).
12. Pray that Christians will not have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5).
13. Pray that our nation will remain a Christian nation.

Virginia’s Historical Timeline

(Virginia is known as the mother of presidents. Eight U.S. presidents were born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.)

1570 Spanish explorers entered the Virginia region; several Indian tribes inhabited the area. Missionaries built a settlement along the York River, but were killed only a few months later.

1580 English explorers arrived. In Roanoke Island the Indians of Virginia were well established and orderly with well laid out areas for dwelling, eating and worship.

1607 First landing by George Pearcy at Cape Henry. The spot was named in honor of the Prince of Wales.
In May of 1607, Jamestown was founded as the first permanent English settlement in North America.

First Governor was named: Sir Thomas West.

1619 First English women and Africans came to Jamestown.

The first representative legislature met.

Virginia was noted as the most populous and prosperous of the original 13 colonies.

1622 An Indian massacre occurred, followed by a siege of the plague.

1624 English government revoked the charter of the Virginia Company and Virginia was organized into a royal colony. Captain John Smith identified Virginia as the “Ould Virginia” where to this day the alternate identification of “the Old Dominion” still stands. It’s noted that a strong spirit of independence started to manifest in the colonists along with a growing political maturity.

1652 Parliamentary commissioners assumed control of the colony.

1660 Virginia was founded as a colony and referenced by King Charles II as the “Old Dominion”.

1676 Indians, made desperate by English encroachment, began to war on the colonists. The people found Berkeley unable, and as they believed, unwilling, to protect them; they chose Nathaniel Bacon as their leader. Bacon followed the governor against the Indians and forced reforms through the assembly. When the governor threatened military force, Bacon defied him. On the death of Bacon, Berkeley ended the struggle with a series of hangings which brought his recall.

1730- Presbyterians gained a strong foothold in Virginia and organized Hanover 1740’s presbytery.

1750 Separate Baptists from New England entered the colony. Both denominations increased rapidly.

Virginia grew in strength and political maturity, its House of Burgess became increasingly active. The Proclamation of 1763 restricted westward expansion, and taxes imposed by Parliament. Population was evenly divided between whites and slaves.

1765 Stamp Act Resolution enacted.

1769 Boycott of British goods started.

1773 Committee of Correspondence of 1759 now revived brought about an inter-colonial committee.

1774 First Continental Congress formed; Virginia furnished its president, Peyton Randolph.

1775 First Continental Congress established a Revolutionary Committee of Safety and armed for defense. Gov. John Dunmore, fearful of the volunteer riflemen gathering in Williamsburg, fled to the safety of the British fleet and on November 7th declared martial law and waged war against Virginia until he was forced to leave the following July.

1776 Richard Bland and Jefferson formulated the constitutional and ethical basis for revolt; Patrick Henry was becoming an orator and George Washington was acquiring military and political experience. The First Continental Congress declared independence in May. It furnished the author of the Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson) and provided the leader of the Revolutionary Army, George Washington.

Also in 1776, the Congress formed a union, made foreign alliances, set up a commonwealth and chose Patrick Henry as its first governor.

1778 George Rogers Clark led an army of Virginia and Kentucky riflemen in the conquest of the Northwest Territory; his campaign ended the Indian “menace.”

1780 Virginia moved its capitol from Williamsburg to Richmond. It had set up 19 counties in the west (1776-1782), abolished its African slave trade (1778), and reformed its code of laws in 1779.

The British captured Portsmouth in October of 1780.

1781 In Yorktown, Virginia, British forces under General Cornwallis surrendered to the combined French and American forces under the command of George Washington, thus ending the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Yorktown. Benedict Arnold took Richmond and set up headquarters at Portsmouth.

1789 George Washington, born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, becomes the first President of the United States, setting a pattern for all following presidents.

1801 Thomas Jefferson, born in Albermarle County, Virginia becomes the third President of the United States.

1804 Virginia began an efficient system of chartered banks. The state undertook, or aided in the building of, roads, canals and railroads, and Virginians began direct trade with Europe and South America.

1809 James Madison, born in Port Conway, Virginia, becomes the fourth President of the United States. He is known as the Father of the Constitution.

1817 James Monroe, born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, becomes the fifth President of the United States. He is known for the “Monroe Doctrine”.

1831 Nat Turner’s slave insurrection in Southampton took place.

1841 William Henry Harrison, born in Charles City County, Virginia, becomes the ninth President of the United States. He was the first president to die in office.

1841 John Tyler, born in Greenway, Virginia, becomes the tenth President of the United States. He annexed Texas at the end of his administration.

1846 Public schools were established. Numerous private schools were flourishing.

1849 Zachary Taylor, born in Barboursville, Virginia, becomes the twelfth President of the United States. He was the first career soldier to become president.

1850 A state university and several colleges were founded.

1851 The Constitution provided for the popular election of many officials, including the governor.

Virginia was the leading manufacturing state in the South.

1861 Virginia seceded from the Union and Richmond became the capitol of the Confederacy. The American Civil War was fought in Virginia from 1861 until 1865. More major battles occurred in Virginia than in any other state. One-third of America’s most important Civil War battlefields are located in Virginia.

Virginia lost one-third of its territory to form West Virginia.

1867 Congress placed the South under military rule, Virginia being Military District No. 1, with Gen. John M. Schofield in command.

Congress readmitted the state to the Union in January.

The Democrat Party was revived.

Virginia adopted a new constitution.

1913 Woodrow Wilson, born in Staunton, Virginia, becomes the twenty-eighth President of the United States.

Harry F. Byrd became governor of Virginia.

1969 State elections resulted in Linwood Holton being elected as the first Republican governor since the reconstruction.

America’s first seven astronauts were trained at NASA Langley Air Force Base in Hampton.

Newport News is the site of the nation’s most powerful continuous electron beam accelerator.

1981 First test tube baby born in the U.S. was delivered in December at Norfolk General Hospital.

2007 The 400th anniversary of Jamestown will be celebrated.

Friday, July 31, 2009

National Day of Prayer for Virginia

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