Copyright Kevin Long |
Despite
the recent lawsuit claiming the event violates the separation of
church and state, Gov. Rick Perry leaves his Day of Prayer and
Fasting on the calendar for Aug. 6. Is Perry’s
prayer movement starting a trend at the local government level?
Perry
isn’t the only one with a vision. In June Linda Thompson, mayor of
Harrisburg, Penn., shared her vision to pray and fast with a local
ABC affiliate.
“Things
that are above and beyond my control; I need God,” Thompson told ABC. “I
depend on Him for guidance. Spiritual guidance. That’s why it’s
really no struggle for me to join this fast and prayer.”
Perry
also values looking to God for guidance. On
the website for Perry’s event, The Response, he says, “As a
nation we must come together, call upon Jesus to guide us through
unprecedented struggles.”
Pennsylvania’s
state capital is in need of a financial fix, and balancing the budget
seems to be a task only cut out for the One who has already paid all
debt. The city has come close to bankruptcy as rising costs continue
to put the capital’s pocketbook deeper into the red. The debt is
estimated to total $3.5 million by the end of the year.
Despite
several disagreeing blog posts, disappointed protestors, many
citizens’ beliefs that the prayer and fasting campaign would be
unconstitutional, and even fellow workers stepping down from their
positions, Thompson turned to God.
The
multi-denominational event, held June 21 to June 24, included
Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders. The City of Harrisburg website
tells of Thompson’s appreciation for the support she received during
the event. A post on the site reads, “ She
recognized the friendly global response to the message that progress
is sometimes positively achieved through a spiritual commitment to
human community.”
Thompson
held a press conference Monday regarding the financial disaster,
outlining a recovery plan. City council will vote on
the Act 47 Recovery Plan—the proposed solution for Harriburg’s
budget crisis—Tuesday evening.
Cheri Fuller and Cindy Lamb Curry 
Marilyn Hickey 
Charisma Staff