FRANKLIN
Although the National Day of Prayer is little less than a month away, pastors in Franklin are organizing a Community Day of Prayer on Saturday, April 14, at 3:15 p.m. But this service to lift up the city won’t take place in a church sanctuary. Instead, as a way to attract more people it will be done on Armory Field. Further, this will take place between games of the PDC Hurricanes and Stratford University Cardinals. That first game of the double-header is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

The Rev. Dr. Charles Qualls of Franklin Baptist Church and the Rev. Anthony M. Rawlings of Celebration Church said on Tuesday they anticipate the program to commence at 3:15 p.m., and last no more than 30 minutes, just in time for the second game, which is set to begin at 4 p.m. They added their gratitude to PDC Hurricanes Head Coach David Mitchell and PDCCC President Dr. Dan Lufkin for allowing the service to take place when and where desired.

In addition to Rawlings and Qualls, two other pastors are involved in setting up the service: Matt Kidd of Kingdom Life Ministries and the Rev. Nathan Decker of High Street United Methodist Church.

The service will focus on four needs for Franklin: Community, Education, Leadership and Peace. So far, Mayor Frank Rabil is scheduled to speak on the second topic. The pastors want a diverse mix of adults and teens, black and white as speakers.

The idea for this program began about a month ago, said Rawlings and Qualls. They said they found a need to call the community together.

Rawlings, who will serve as event emcee, said “My greatest hope is that people will see themselves coming together. As a city, we’re better together.”

“Differences are so easy to see,” said Qualls. “People can be brought together in fellowship and have prayer in common.”

Both men hope this service will be the first of many to come.

For more information, contact Rawlings at 304-5195 or Qualls at 562-5135.