National Day of Prayer
Started in 1952 by Billy Graham, this event is held every 1st Thursday in May, with the goal of petitioning the Lord to bless every major area of influence in our society.
As the Mackinac Area Coordinator, I am helping to bring groups together across our city/county to publicly celebrate and participate in this spiritually significant day and unite Christians in prayer for our country. We will plan to meet and pray at the Mackinac County Courthouse flagpole on Thursday, May 7th, 2026, from 12pm to 1pm. This year will be the 75th annual National Day of Prayer.
One of my favorite quotes is by Adrian Rogers, who said, "Prayer can do anything God can do, and God can do anything."
Brief Background: Formal Legal Establishment (1952–1988)
It wasn't until the mid-20th century that the observance became a permanent legal fixture.
1952: Prompted by the evangelist Billy Graham, who led a massive crusade in Washington D.C., Congress passed a joint resolution signed by President Harry S. Truman officially establishing an annual National Day of Prayer.
1988: President Ronald Reagan signed into law an amendment that fixed the date permanently as the first Thursday in May, ensuring it would be a consistent point of focus for the "Mountain of Religion" and the "Mountain of Government" each year.
The 7 Mountains Framework
In recent decades, the NDP Task Force has popularized the 7 Mountains of Influence model. This strategy encourages citizens to pray specifically for the pillars of society:
Government (National, state, and local leaders; the judicial system)
Family (Marriage, parenting, and the sanctity of the home)
Education (Schools, universities, teachers, and curriculum)
Business (Commerce, the economy, and the marketplace)
Media (Journalism, news outlets, and internet platforms)
Arts & Entertainment (Film, music, sports, and social influencers)
Religion (The church, ministries, and spiritual health)
Note: these are not political rallies, nor critical of any person, but prayerful and Biblical.
Here is for more information on the Saint Ignace, MI gathering https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/events/gathering-search?z=49781
If you do not live near Saint Ignace, MI, check here to find a local gathering near you https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/events/gathering-search
If you would like to learn more about the NDP Task Force, including how to volunteer to help and/or create your own NDP event, please click to visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org.
If you cannot attend a local event, no doubt the Lord will still honor your prayers and we would appreciate it if you could tell others about this great opportunity for the Lord’s body to unite in prayer for Him to help and to bless our nation.
