Hundreds join in prayer at Hall County National Day of Prayer drive-in service

Today's Hall County National Day of Prayer was unlike any other before it.

"We have never had this level of response," said Hall County National Day of Prayer coordinator Steve Johnson. Obviously we've never had this level of trials."

Hundreds of people gathered for a drive in service to join one another in prayer during these difficult times. So many people were wanting to be a part of it that they set up a secondary location outside the old Shopko in Grand Island, where they live streamed the service on a jumbo tron. They also aired the service live over the radio.

"National day of prayer is to just bring before our heavenly father our collected needs," said Johnson. "It's never been as great in our planet, in our nation, in our state, in our community."

On top of it all, the service took place right outside of CHI Health St. Francis. Who was at the center of those prayers.

"That was our first pick. We wanted to reach out and have the opportunity to express our gratitude," said Johnson.

"Show our community, show our health care workers, show those effected by covid-19, that we are here to support them," said the Grand Island New Life Church pastor Sean Amen.

This wasn't just one church. Several churches came together to provide the service for everyone to be a part of.

"The ball started rolling. Churches began coming on board one after another. Christian community after Christian community," said Amen.

Giving Christians the opportunity to unite in person once again

"Finally after a long furlough of being apart from Christians, missing that key element of fellowship, we get a sense of that today," said Amen.

And give everybody something we could all use.

Hope.

"i won't even put it as second to the physical maladies, i'll put it as primary. Is that of fear that is so gripping our country, our world. People need hope," said Johnson.

It's hard to argue that during these unprecedented times that hope isn't the greatest gift of all.