The final day of 40 Days of Prayer 2018 may be drawing near, but one of the campaign’s cornerstone activities is still to come.
Forty Days, a coordinated, community effort to promote peace and unity through prayer, ends Friday, having kicked off Oct. 1.
Participants are readying for the Prayer Walk, which is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Kent Jobe, senior minister of College Avenue Church of Christ, said the time of the walk was purposefully set to allow area churches the opportunity to incorporate the event into or to participate in addition to their regular Wednesday evening services.
Participants will gather at the El Dorado Police Department and move to other prayer stations — City Hall/Central Fire Station and the El Dorado School District administrative office — before making the final stop on the west side (Washington Avenue) of the Union County Courthouse.
“There will be two prayers, two prayer leaders at each prayer station,” Jobe said.
He said organizers are keeping an eye on the weather. Forecasts call for a 50 percent chance of rain Wednesday.
In the event of inclement weather, the walk will be held in the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium.
It is a possible scenario with which Jobe and other 40 Days participants are familiar.
The same backup plan had to be employed last year when rain threatened the walk, forcing participants to make the call early in the afternoon. It turned out to be the right call as rain drenched the area a short time later.
“It ended up being really good, but it’s not the same as outside. In my opinion, I think it’s more impactful when it’s at the different places,” Jobe said.
Approximately 70 to 80 people attended the 2017 event at the auditorium, compared to a crowd of 200 - 300 that participated in the first Prayer Walk in 2015.
The walk was not held in 2016 because it coincided with Election Day.
Jobe said he is hoping for clear weather and 2015 numbers this year.
“We want to try to recreate that. The first one is the way we want it. If there is a change, the auditorium has already been reserved, and if there’s a change, and it has to be moved, we’ll make it known as quickly as possible,” he said.
Since Oct. 1, residents throughout the community have been focusing on different prayer topics that are posted each day in the News-Times, on social media and through other outlets.
Jobe lamented two shootings that occurred in October as 40 Days was ongoing and left three people dead and three injured.
The shooting death of an 11-year-old boy sparked the event in 2015. The idea was introduced by El Dorado City Council Member Judy Ward, who said one of its tenets is to try and curb violence in the community.
“I know people want the violence to end, and I know it doesn’t seem to be that way, but that’s not the way this works,” Jobe said.
“It’s about praying for God’s presence in the midst of struggle. We’ve prayed about a number of negative things, and we’re looking forward to the day when all of those negative things can be eradicated,” he explained. “It doesn’t mean that prayer isn’t effective. One of the things is people praying for the same thing on the same day. Concentrated prayer is very powerful.”
Jobe also pointed out that 40 Days is meeting its goal of bringing the community together.
“Everyone is pitching in. There is no one person in charge. There is no particular religious affiliation. We’re all trying to come together in the name of unity and calling on God on behalf of His people and wanting his will to be done. The more the merrier,” he said.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.