2009 National Day of Prayer Celebration Events

Osceola County, Florida

The NDP of Osceola County, Inc. held two preliminary NDP functions that were each attended by about fifty people. 

• March 26, 2009, an evening with Dr. Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel was held at Freedom Life Church in Kissimmee, (Pastor Greg Squires)
  
• May 2, 2009, a Pastor’s Prayer Breakfast was held at Faith Baptist Church of Kissimmee, (Pastor Peter Kolb).

On May 4, 2009, Task Force members held a Prayer Walk on the site of our forthcoming Celebration.

            On May 7, 2009 the National Day of Prayer Celebration was held at Veteran’s Park.  At least 300 people attended throughout the day.  The day began for the task force members with the setting up of eight tents, encircling a large central tent and then decorated, while sound equipment, chairs and display tables were quickly arranged.

Mayor Donna Hart opened the National Day of Prayer NDP Proclamation from the City of St. Cloud. Mrs. Bertha Chase, NDP Coordinator for Osceola County, led in prayer following the reading of the Proclamation.   Students from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes group at St. Cloud High School started the morning off well with moving, fervent prayers.  Throughout the day, in 30-minute increments, Pastors, Lay-leaders, and other community leaders offered prayers and Scripture readings at the microphone located on the main stage. These prayers and Bible passages could be heard throughout the park as well as by the traffic passing by along Highway 192. In some cases, several representatives from the same church shared their thirty minute time allotment. During the day, teachers and students from one particular school came to the park in small groups to pray. They visited every tent and spent much time in heart-felt prayer. It was a special blessing to each of the Task Force members, who appreciated the all-day long show of support by this local private school. celebration by reading the

Beginning at 12:00 Noon, groups gathered in front of City Hall in both Kissimmee and Saint Cloud, as well as on the steps of the County Courthouse, for an hour of prayer led by volunteer pastors from our communities. Twenty people were at the St. Cloud City Hall praying. One pastor at the County Court House reports that about 100 people were there. 

At the Osceola County Sheriff’s facility, several Chaplains and County Sheriff Robert Hansell held a special time of prayer. Several area churches had their doors open for prayer during the day, and the Good Samaritan Retirement Village sponsored an on-site National Day of Prayer Service for its residents.

At 5:30PM the Osceola County youth took the stage to lead the crowd of at least 200 people in a 90-minute session of prayers, testimonies, and song. Student musicians from several different churches formed the Praise and Worship team under the direction of Worship Leader Hope Dillon of Freedom Life Church. Hope said they had practiced together for 2 months in preparation for NDP.  The student’s choices in praise and worship music pleased the audience and brought them to their feet in joyous worship. This was a great time of fellowship and celebration, culminating with the Pastors and Youth Leaders guiding the gathering in a prayer of blessing over all of the young people who took part in the event. Many of our event visitors of all ages commented that the student-led time was one of the highlights of our 2009 event.

Eighteen students were awarded trophies for their winning entries in the 2009 Art & Essay Contest, which is open to all Osceola County students in the 4th through 12th grades.  At 7:30PM – All Pastors were called forward for a time of special prayer on their behalf.  The National Day of Prayer celebration ended at 8:00PM – with a call for assistance in cleaning up, and a great many of the large crowd remained to help dismantle tents and sound equipment, and clean up the park. Many hands made for light work and a wonderful end to our day!