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Each year, the National Day of Prayer is celebrated nationwide on the first Thursday of May. 

At Broadway Missionary Baptist Church, 2024 would be no different. 

On Thursday, May 2, the National Day of Prayer breakfast took place at its location of 123 W. Broadway Street. 

“The right thing is for us to come and pray…and to talk to God,” said Pastor Chris Brown. 

Among others attending the church for breakfast and later joining in prayer were former Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner, current Mayor JoEllen Reed, City Commissioners Kitty Strode and Kenny Book, and Deputy City Clerk Dianna Layne. 

After an opening prayer, all of the attendees were welcome to a complimentary breakfast. 

From the look and taste, it was certainly not to leave others feeling empty. 

The meal included a medley of food options such as eggs, bacon, turkey and traditional sausage, biscuits and gravy, hashbrown casserole, as well as a variety of drinks and sweet treats. 

Shortly after the majority of attendees dined, Brown introduced prayer topics to all that were gathered. 

The topics mentioned were the United States, world, pastors, the sick, unemployed, racial unity, marriages, parents and families, the homeless and finances. 

First responders – including doctors, hospital staff, firefighters, and more – also made up one topic, while those high up in government administration – the U.S. President, Vice President, House of Representatives and other politicians – made up another. 

While Brown led the way in praying for a few of the topics, he was far from alone. 

Other local pastors and deacons from the church were present to take part as well. 

Reed, one of the first leaders asked to provide prayer, spoke. 

“We thank [God] first of all for this beautiful sunshiny day,” she said. “We asked to let that sunshine not just be in our environment, but to be in our hearts.” 

Specifically, Reed prayed for those in government, not just at the federal level but elsewhere too. 

“We ask God to be with us as we try to lead our communities…that we will work continually toward peace and we will work toward harmony,” she said. 

Former Mayor Ed Burtner, when asked to provide prayer for first responders, happily obliged. 

“We pray that they would be respectful in their duties [and] they would carry out their duties in an honest, respectful, and safe fashion,” said Burtner. “ We pray that you would help us understand and remember that we have a duty and obligation as citizens to be ever vigilant about things not going on in our community.” 

Referring to it earlier in the day as “the most important” topic, Brown concluded by praying for lost souls. 

“We pray for lost souls because we live in a world where not everyone is a believer in Christ,” Brown said. “We need to trust that God will, by his word and by his power, will restore our area [and] world so that true revival will take place.” 

As the breakfast came to a conclusion, Brown offered a few words for those in attendance. 

“I just want to thank you all once again for your time,” he said. “Don’t just stop praying once you leave here. Continue to pray.”