Tyler Leaders Stress Importance Of Prayer

05 May 2011

The National Day of Prayer has been recognized by the United States government since 1952. Tyler Leaders will mark the day with the mayor's Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.
            Photo By heyFilbert

By Raymond Billy | ResonateNews.com

The National Day of Prayer, to be commemorated Thursday, is a time in which the nation's civic and religious leaders join together in a rare display of unabashed unity. Continued court challenges to the presence of religious symbolism in public life have made prominent figures on both sides of the sacred, secular divide more reluctant to display such comity.

In Tyler, Texas, however, the chasm between the faith community and public institutions is largely bridged by several leaders who have a foot in both worlds. These leaders say that a nationwide observance of prayer is acceptable, if not necessary.

The Rev. Ralph Caraway is a member of the Tyler City Council representing District 3, in addition to his day job as pastor of Saint Louis Baptist Church. He said that the United States' founding objectives, based largely on a desire for freedom of religion, make having a day extolling communication with God that much more meaningful.

“I value that I live in a country where I can pray openly and freely. I think a lot of people take for granted that we have such a privilege,” Caraway, 57, said.

Cary Nix, 52, the first-term Smith County commissioner representing Precinct 2, said the day of prayer is a way for the country PRAYER BREAKFAST

Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass will hold a prayer breakfast at 6:30 a.m. Thursday at the Harvey Convention Center. The center is located at 2000 W. Front St. The event marks the National Day of Prayer, which was instituted by Congress in 1952. to get back to its roots.

“Prayer is very important. This country was founded on Christian values and we've turned our back on God as a nation,” said Nix, a deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Whitehouse, where he lives.

Caraway said the U.S. government has been less effective as public emphasis on God has been de-emphasized.

“Belief in God once gave the whole nation structure. Even though we had a government, the government was under the authority of God,” he said.

Rev. Orenthia Mason, who represents District 2 on the Tyler Independent School District Board of Trustees, said disunity between demographic groups in the U.S. can be traced to people's distant relationship with God.

“The Bible teaches us to love our neighbors. A lot of people in this country don't have any concept of what that means,” said Mason, 58, pastor of Cole Hill Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Tyler. “There's so much racial, ethnic and religious tension in this country and I think a lot of it is because people don't have a relationship with God.”

Notwithstanding America's past — which includes the subjugation of racial and ethnic minorities and women — Caraway, who is black, said he loves America. He said the U.S. has been at its worst when godly principles weren't at the forefront of government policy.

“We have good and bad options and choices we could take. God always allows us to make the choice,” he said. “Even though this country has some shameful ways in its history, there's never been a more noble country. I'd choose the U.S. to live everyday.”