The 2025 National Day of Prayer will be Thursday, May 1.

Special services will be held in both Middlesboro and Pineville at noon with local government officials, ministers, business and community leaders leading prayers for our nation.

President Harry S. Truman proclaimed a National Day of Prayer to be observed on July 4, 1952, as a day set aside for Americans to give thanks, in accordance with their own faith, for our freedoms and blessings. President Ronald Reagan moved the observance to the first Thursday in May in 1988.

This year’s theme is “Pour out to the God of hope and be filled.” It’s based on the Bible verse Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The Middlesboro event will be at noon at the City Parking Lot and is organized by co-chairs Micheline Carey and Jean Roark.

“It means a lot to come out as a community united as one to thank God for all He has done for our community and country, if ever our world needs divine intervention and help, it is now,” Roark said. “Everyone please  come and join us.“Please join us for this special time together as we lift our heart in prayer for God’s wisdom and guidance for our world, our nation, and community.”

The Pineville event will be at noon in the Old Bell County Courthouse in the second floor courtroom. Debbie Gambrel, from the Pineville organizing committee said Judge-Executive Albey Brock and Mayor Shawn Fugate II will be leading their program.

At both services, community members will lead 12 different prayers, including prayers for the military, government, family, law enforcement, education and many more.