“Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.”  Isaiah 58:1.

The 65th National Day of Prayer is Thursday, and Vicksburg has several programs scheduled to mark the occasion.

“It’s important because our nation needs prayer,” said Dr. Willie Nettle, preaching minister of Bypass Church of Christ. “Prayer is our lifeline with God. We definitely need his involvement in our lives to go through the difficult times we’re living in, and to call out nation back to God.”

The Vicksburg Warren County National Day of Prayer Planning Committee has planned a Community Prayer Breakfast from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Bypass Church of Christ Annex, 785 U.S. 61 North. An RSVP is required by 6 p.m. Wednesday, and admission is $6 per person.

The speaker will be director of Lifting Lives Ministries Joel Dimmette, and the Warren Central Madrigals will provide music. Nettle said the mayor and a representative from the board of supervisors would also speak.

At 10 a.m. there will be a special prayer assembly at Heritage House Nursing Home. Residents of the nursing home will assemble to pray for local, state and national government officials.

“We’ll be doing some singing as well—some patriotic songs,” Nettle said.

From 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. group prayer will be held at three different locations, Pemberton Plaza, City Hall and Word of Faith Christian Center.

Nettle is coordinating the program at Pemberton Plaza. He said there are certain people designated to lead the prayer, and the public is invited to join them. At the end of the group prayer there will be a time of silent individual prayer.

“People will get some encouragement,” Nettle said. “When they come out they will be encouraged by others of like commitments to God and others who focus upon God.”

The National Day of Prayer is held every year on the first Thursday in May. The national theme of this year’s Day of Prayer is “Wake Up America,” and this year’s scripture is from Isaiah 58:1.

“Due to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God lovingly listens to our prayers,” Nettle said. “We can do nothing more important than pray for our nation and our world, humbly asking for God’s healing, leading and protection.”

The planning committee is made up of Nettle, who is the chair, and two other volunteers and is open to anyone who wants to join.

For more information or to RSVP, call 601-638-5142 or email wjnettle@yahoo.com.