Teens to Kick-off National Day of Prayer
The Prayer Taskforce for one of the biggest Freedom Rallies, scheduled for May 5, is currently putting the finishing touches on the event that will take place in the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton, Florida. Freedom Rallies, themed “Let Freedom Ring”, are being organized by Christian teens across the country and will serve as the kick-off to the popular National Day of Prayer on May 6.
Matthew Puchferran, 17, organized the rally as the leading Teen Coordinator. He said the Prayer Taskforce, consisting of 50 teens and adults, were using the day to do complete unfinished tasks. Puchferran was busy himself and had to go to West Palm to get a helium tank for balloons.
“The Freedom Rally is a time where we can pray,” said Puchferran, “for the freedoms created in our country and for the freedoms God gave us. Freedom of religion, freedom to pray to Him.”
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He hopes that “teenagers realize that we do need to come together to pray and that the Christian community comes together more and break denominational walls.”
Sponsored by the National Day of Prayer Taskforce, the Freedom Rally is a similar event to the one that will be held in Washington D.C. but is organized by teens for teens.
The group held its first meeting on March 1 and was able to raise $12,000 in only two months.
“Every we’ve done has gone very smoothly,” said Puchferran, who began talking with pastors even before they team met. “It has God’s favor written all over it.”
Starting at 6 p.m., participants can begin enter the amphitheater where music will be playing, according to Puchferran. At 6:20 p.m., a raffle will be conducted, giving away certificates for anything from free pizzas to an Island Water skateboard, provided by local business.
A lot of them have been supportive, said Puchferran. Beginning at around 6:55, the Christian Dance Company will perform followed by Color Guard at 7 p.m., the official starting time of the event. The event will kick-off with the Star Spangle Banner and introduction by Christian Recording artist Phillip Rue, who will be the Emcee for the prayer observance. Orwen Hurter will lead worship. Approximately 50 minutes will be devoted to pray for the Freedom Five: government, media, education, family, and church. Each topic will have 5 minutes of talk and 5 minute of prayer.
Puchferran, who attends Covenant Center International in Palm Beach Garden, said he will concentrate his prayer on the government and for “judicial tyranny” to end. Each team in the Prayer Taskforce will take on a different prayer topic. “Homosexuality—my brother is on the team praying for that.”
Why is it important for Christians to pray together?
“First, God tells us to pray and second of all, Prayer works,” said Puchferran. “We gather in a large group to show our nation that there are Christians who do care about the nation.”
He referred to an instance in the Bible where the people of God were able to take down Jericho by marching around it and by praying.
“The secular culture that is being put in the media and schools I think is the biggest Jericho right now,” he said. Prayer for the country is essential to defeating these forces. “It’s not going to be done without God’s help.”
