From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG Mo. Digital News Missouri Digital News MDN.ORG: Mo. Digital News MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
Help  

Dozens of people celebrated the National Day of Prayer in the Capitol

May 02, 2002
By: Jon Ariztimuno
State Capital Bureau

JEFFERSON CITY - As every other day, Missouri legislators prayed Thursday before starting session. But this time they weren't the only ones.

Douglas J. Crader of the Jefferson City Christian Center Church coordinated the efforts in the Capitol for the National Day of Prayer.

Although Crader said he considers praying a "personal communication with God," he spent Thursday praying for the dozens of people gathered on the Capitol steps.

"When things are going well people have a tendency to slack off a little bit when it comes to praying," said Crader. (September 11) has caused many people to return back to prayer".

According to Sara Dickson, volunteer for the event in the Capitol, the foundation of the U.S. nation was founded on God and Christian principles.

Since September 11, she said, praying has become more of a community thing."I think people have always prayed. It's just more open now. People don't feel intimidated to pray and to come and join in pray," she said.

Sen. Larry Rohrbach, R-California, walked out of the legislative session for a few minutes to attend the event.

Rohrbach also referred to the founding fathers. "I think there is something really special about standing in front of a State Capitol and recognizing that there is a higher power."

September 11 has made a difference in people's approach to praying, he said. "It reminded us all that no matter what a superpower we are and how smart and educated we are...there are some things that we can't control and we need to have strong hearts."

Public prayer is not a new issue for Missouri's legislature.

During this session, four bills were filed in Missouri's General Assembly -- three in the House and one in the Senate -- which would have introduced a minute of silence in public schools. These bills would have allowed meditation and prayer as "permissible activities" during the minute of silence.