White County residents will gather at the courthouse this Saturday for an annual day of prayer and fasting intended to unify the community and seek divine guidance for the state.
White County Pray for Tennessee coordinator Miranda Sherrell said the local assembly is part of a larger statewide initiative that began with a 2024 General Assembly resolution. Sherrell said the movement designates the month of July for prayer across all Tennessee counties following a successful inaugural tour by the resolution’s original sponsor.
“Well, I think they’re important because they bring together the community in one solemn assembly to be to pray to the Lord for his guidance, his blessings and the need of the state of Tennessee,” Sherrell said.
Sherrell said the vision for the event involves establishing a culture of prayer within every church across the state. Sherrell said this focus on spiritual leadership is designed to bring cities and communities closer together through shared faith.
“That means to me that we we look to God, who is our creator, for guidance and leadership and direction,” Sherrell said. “And we seek him in all that we do and in doing that, brings us closer together as communities, as cities and as a state.”
Sherrell said the gathering aims to foster a greater sense of trust in God among the citizens of White County. Sherrell said she hopes the event encourages people to support one another by sharing burdens and reaching out to others.
“It can only make our county stronger in the Lord,” Sherrell said. “It can it can only make us more trusting in God and hopefully bring us closer to him so that we can share each other’s burdens and lead the lost to the Lord.”
Sherrell said the invitation to participate has been shared through local newspapers, social media, and area pastors to ensure all residents feel welcome. Sherrell said the event is open to anyone in the community who wishes to attend the 10:00 a.m. assembly.
“I would hope that it’s something that sticks in their heart and makes them more eager to not only pray for our state but to be praying for our communities and our counties as a whole and and to be praying for each other,” Sherrell said.
Sherrell said the current social climate makes individual spiritual intervention and the call to love one’s neighbor particularly relevant for Tennessee communities.
“With the time we live in, I feel like that we need we need God’s intervention in each of our lives as individuals to hopefully love our neighbors as ourselves,” Sherrell said.
Sherrell said the event will take place regardless of weather conditions on Saturday morning.
“Thank you very much and just so you know, this event will take place whether it’s rain or shine,” Sherrell said. “We will be indoors if it’s raining on Saturday morning. Otherwise, we will be outside.”
The assembly is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on July 11 at the White County Courthouse.