National Day of Prayer is observed in Ville Platte

The annual National Day of Prayer was held at Ville Platte City Hall on Thursday, May 6. The event is usually held at the courthouse, but the courthouse was unable to accommodate this year. Mayor Jennifer Vidrine told event organizer Connie Reed they could use City Hall. Reed said the mayor told her they are always welcome and can pray every day at City Hall if they so choose.
Sacred Heart Church’s Father Tom Voorhies opened with the Lord’s Prayer and quoted from the first letter of Timothy, chapter 2. Reed read a statement from Kathy Branzell, president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.
Mona Guidry recited a prayer from right-wing conservative Christian organization Intercessors for America’s elaboration of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Guidry began by reading the traditional Preamble and then used the organization’s definitions of each verse, thanking God for freedom, praying for solutions to illegal immigration and abortion, and asked for “God-fearing, constitutional conservatives to overturn ungodly decisions that have come through our courts,” especially when dealing with abortion and gay marriage. She also prayed for peace in the nation and thanked God for the military, its leaders, and to strengthen military families, as well as all law enforcement agencies and the nation’s leaders.
Guidry continued, thanking God for “creating us as one people and nation, from peoples of every tribe and tongue,” adding our country has traditionally been a melting pot and asked for unity among all groups in America. She also prayed for justice, asking God if there is any injustice, bribery, or blackmail going on behind closed doors, “we ask You to expose it and cleanse our judicial system from top to bottom.”
Guidry also prayed for Evangeline Parish and for God to watch over the American monetary system. She asked for an end to the COVID-19 virus and all biological warfare. She thanked God for the freedoms to worship, assemble, speech, bear arms, vote, and own property. She also prayed for an end to human trafficking. Additionally, Guidry asked God to watch over the nation’s children, saying, “For our children in schools, we ask that the parents become more engaged, watching over the curriculums so that nothing would be introduced to our children that would steal their innocence.”
Both Reed and Elizabeth Loop thanked all local officials from the city council to the police jury and the school board. Reed asked everyone to pray over Sheriff Guillory, Sacred Heart students in attendance, and the clergy.
Pastor Kevin West of First Baptist Church of Ville Platte gave the closing prayer and thanked Reed for bringing everyone together. He prayed for the city, parish, state, and the world, and all those with challenges. He also prayed for elected officials and all the churches, for strength and a spirit of revival.
Winston LaFleur, missionary with Ville Platte Christian Ministry, said of the event, “It’s lifting up our country. I’ve been working with the foreign missions, but we need it over here just as bad as they do, especially with prayer. We do not pray enough, and that is the only thing that’s going to keep us together.”
Guillory said the prayer event “means a lot because I’m a Christian. Also, I say a lot of prayers for Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to help me make the just and fair decision for the sheriff’s office and also for the parish. I wish everybody continues to pray for me. Prayers are definitely going to be on my side, and I definitely need it.”
Even though Ville Platte and Evangeline Parish are Christian-oriented, West and Voorhies said all faiths are always welcomed to participate in the National Day of Prayer. “It’s a blessing just to be able to pray and get together,” said Voorhies. “It’s just community prayer,” said West, adding, “Father Tom and I have worked together, and it’s great to see other people wanting to do the same things.”
Also present were William Reiszner, minister with Our Savior’s Church of Opelousas, Ville Platte Chief Administrative Officer Dirk Deville, and other members of the community.