House seeks prayer for state, nation

Members of the South Carolina House of Representatives stand together on the steps of the Statehouse Tuesday to make a public committment to pray for the safety of our nation and our troops four weeks before Election Day. At the microphone is Republican Speaker David Wilkins, the state chairman of Bush-Cheney campaign and to his is left is Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia, the state coordinator of the Kerry-Edwards campaign. AP Photo/Lou Krasky e-mail this story

More than 100 House representatives gathered Tuesday on the steps of the Statehouse to commit to pray and to ask citizens to pray as part of a bi-partisan effort called S.C. Prays.

"As state leaders we believe it is our obligation to set the example," House Speaker David Wilkins of Greenville told the lawmakers and more than 100 others gathered on the Statehouse grounds. "I believe God covets our prayers. I believe he will honor the prayers of a united South Carolina lifted up to him."

House Minority Leader James Smith, who along with Wilkins organized the non-denominational event, told the audience that "it is right that we turn to prayer."

"Our faith is something no agent of terror can ever take from us," he said. "Faith is stronger than any weapon in the arsenal of hate."

Greenville-area pastors said they liked the event.

"I think it's a great idea because that's what the Bible asks for us to do," said the Rev. Charles Jackson, pastor of Red Oak Baptist church in Greenville. "I think the problem we have in our country today is we have taken God out of the equation."

The Rev. Dave Steane, executive minister of First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, said he thinks it's important "for God's people to be aware of what's happening in the world and the culture in which we live and to seek God's will and God's involvement amidst all these situations."

Robert Miles, pastor of St. Michael Lutheran Church in Greenville, said people should not be surprised that lawmakers lead a call to prayer.

"They have a right to pray and a need to pray," he said. "And I think people have a need to see them pray. It's a good thing."

Wilkins, a Baptist, and Smith, an Episcopalian, said they came up with the idea following the terrorist bombings in Spain, which altered the course of national elections there. Wilkins is chairman of the state campaign to re-elect President Bush, while Smith is chairman of the state campaign for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.

"This has nothing to do with politics," Wilkins said. "It has everything to do with prayer, peace and patriotism."

Wilkins repeated the prayer of President and General Dwight D. Eisenhower during World War II:

"May the light of freedom, coming to all darkened lands, flame brightly - until at last the darkness is no more."

Smith said the call for prayer repeated an American tradition, born during strife among those writing the nation's Constitution.

"It was Ben Franklin who suggested that the framers stop and pray," Smith told the audience.

Rep. Bob Leach, a Greenville Republican, and Rep. J. David Weeks, a Sumter Democrat, offered individual prayers during the event. Rep. Floyd Breeland, a Charleston Democrat, sang "God Bless America."

Wilkins said about eight members of the 125-member House were traveling and could not come. He said no House members objected to the event, though some citizens did.

A small group of protestors, some dressed in biblical costume, gathered on the grounds hold signs objecting to a new electronic voting system.

Sarah Williams of Columbia, one of the protestors, said she did not believe the event was helpful.

"Prayer and platitudes isn't giving me trust and confidence in my government," she said. "Prayer is good but prayer without works is kind of useless."

Leslie Minerd, another Columbia protestor, said, "God isn't just on America's side."