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Community Corner

Woonsocket Day Of Prayer - Press Release

Press Release - October 22, 2013
The Woonsocket Day Of Prayer
By Herson Gonzalez
Pastor at Calvary Worship Center 

I was sitting in the office of Mayor Leo Fontaine one Thursday afternoon in May and I could see that this usually upbeat and sanguine man was just a hair off of what I have grown to expect. It seemed to me that whatever he had been dealing with before I came in was still lingering in his mind and weighing down his spirit. I asked him point blank; “What can the community of faith do to help Woonsocket in these trying times?” He sat back in his chair for a moment, closed his eyes and then replied; “Would you be willing to work to gather pastors from around Woonsocket for a day of prayer that would help to further unite our community?” I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes for a moment and answered “I would love to!”. 

That was how the Woonsocket Day Of Prayer was born. We talked for another fifteen minutes before I walked away from what I considered to be the most productive conversation on faith’s role as a partner with government that I had ever had with any government official. 

The original goal for the day of prayer was a weekend in the summer time. But juggling the summer schedules of more than 20 churches proved more difficult than anticipated. Until finally we decided that October 26th would work for everyone. 

The Woonsocket Day Of Prayer is a Historic event. It marks the first time in recent history that more than 20 Christian churches join forces in an effort to unite our community in public prayer for Woonsocket. Everyone involved knows that it takes more than smart planning and brave leadership to bring a city like ours out of it’s current woes. We believe that Prayer can make a difference. Planning without prayer is presumptuous. So we will pray on October 26, 2013 at River Island Park in Woonsocket, RI at 11:30. We will pray and thank God for his gracious providence throughout our many years. We will pray over city officials, we will pray over our wonderfully diverse populous, we will pray for spiritual and economic revival and we will pray for forgiveness over our collective and corporate sins. We have more than ten important prayer topics that we believe will move God to bless the City we all call home. 

If you would like more information about the Woonsocket Day Of Prayer or want to get involved please call 401.762.0102 or email us at WoonsocketDayOfPrayer@Gmail.com

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