On Thursday, at both Middlesboro City Hall and the Pineville Courthouse, National Day of Prayer was observed with special events.

National Day of Prayer was first introduced in 1952. A bill was passed by the President of the United States to observe a day each year, to be held on a day other than Sunday, to hold a National Day of Prayer.

The theme for this year’s National Day of Prayer was “Love One Another,” and it comes from John 13:34 which states, “Love one another. Just as I have loved you.”

The event in Pineville was led by Judge Executive Albey Brock and included local ministers, business and community leaders, and other dignitaries who prayed over the community.

In Middlesboro, National Day of Prayer was observed in the Middlesboro City Hall at noon with Mayor Rick Nelson opening the program.

Guests for the event also included local ministers, community and business leaders, members of the community, and other dignitaries.

Prayers over the community included repentance, church, government, strongholds and addictions, youth, education, community and first responders, business, family, national and military, and the environment.

Every year since 1952, the current president has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation. In 1983, the first observance for National Day of Prayer was held at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C.

In 1988, the law was unanimously amended by both the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on Thursday, May 5, 1988. This amendment designated the first Thursday of May as a day of national prayer.