At noon Thursday the steps at the Lincoln County/Brookhaven Governmental Complex in Brookhaven filled with leaders and community members. Quietly they stood in little pockets of groups, waiting to pray for the good of the nation.

Every year for the last 70 years, people across the country have come together to pray for seven “Centers of Influence” – government, the military, media, business, education, churches and families. What began back in 1952 has become the National Day of Prayer.

Speakers included Brookhaven Academy Headmaster Jason Case, Pastor Tyler Bridge, Brookhaven School District Superintendent Rod Henderson, Lincoln Baptist Association Director of Missions David Williams, Mayor Joe Cox, First Baptist’s Nick Wolfe and others.