Considering the recent attacks against Christianity, there could not be a more important time for Christians to be in prayer for our country. In the past several weeks we have witnessed a federal judge rule that a National Day of Prayer is considered unconstitutional (has no impact on this year’s event)and the Army last week decided to uninvite the Rev. Franklin Graham from praying at the National Day of Prayer ceremony to be held at the Pentagon on May 6.

On April 15, 2010, United States District Court Judge Barbara Crabb, for the Western District of Wisconsin, struck down the National Day of Prayer statute, 36 U.S.C. § 119, as violating the Establishment Clause. Crabb ruled that the statute serves no secular purpose, but rather calls the nation to engage in a religious exercise – prayer.

The National Day of Prayer belongs to Americans. It is a tradition that dates back to 1775 and it should not be for a judge to take away. We the people called for the day of prayer and for 59 years we have practiced our freedom to gather and pray.

The Rev. Graham’s offense for being asked not to appear at the Pentagon? Because he once called Islam "an evil and wicked" religion, and because he wants Muslims to know that Jesus Christ died for their sins. He refused to back down, even in the face of this blatant anti-Christian discrimination, saying that Muslims are in fact "enslaved" by their religion. The military dumped Graham because, according to spokesman Col. Tom Collins, "We're an all-inclusive military." Is Christianity included in this all-inclusiveness?

This is an attack upon religious freedoms in this country and this newspaper encourages the community to particpate in the following events:

-A Community-wide Prayer and Worship Service that will be held on Monday, May 3, at the Appling County Courthouse at 7:00 p.m.

-The Mayor’s Breakfast to be held on Thursday, May 6 at 7:00 a.m. at the Baxley Church of God.

-The National Day of Prayer Program to be held at the Appling County Courthouse Annex Building on May 6 at 6:00 p.m.

-Walk For Jesus, to be held on Saturday, May 8.