Donna Reilly of Altoona and Woody McCready of Duncansville pray during the Blair County National Day of Prayer on Thursday at American Legion Park in Hollidaysburg. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

HOLLIDAYSBURG — More than 100 local residents, elected officials and faith leaders gathered for the 74th annual National Day of Prayer in Legion Park on Thursday afternoon.

A number of local pastors offered prayers for the country, children, educators, government officials and the military, among other topics.

Pastor Gary Dull of Faith Baptist of Altoona, whose The Way of Truth Ministries sponsored the event, introduced six Blair County pastors to deliver a succession of prayers, each with a different focus.

Pastor Erik Lingenfelter of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Claysburg, Pastor Jethniel Wyler of Puzzletown Road Bible Church in Duncansville, Pastor Barry Yingling of Woodcock Valley Bible Church in James Creek, Pastor Denny Mallonee of Faith Baptist Church of Beaver Springs, Pastor Tim Allen of The Way of Truth Ministries and Jon Gross of Puzzletown Road Bible Church all offered prayers for members of the community and the country as a whole.

City Councilman and local pastor Dave Butterbaugh delivered the keynote speech, reminding attendees that Pennsylvania is land set aside by a king for a Quaker, for use by Christian people.

From the founding of the country, American leaders have called on prayer and on their constituents to pray, Dull said, expressing his gratitude that this tradition has continued to the modern day.

“I think it’s one of the most important things we can do as Christians and as a nation because it brings God into focus,” he said. “That’s what we did here today, that is our purpose.

According to Dull, it is important to pray for elected officials as prescribed in the Bible in the Book of Timothy.

“I believe that when we pray for our elected officials in those ways, God does grant them wisdom and strength,” Dull said.

Dull said he was “encouraged” by the good turnout for the event, saying that he is very appreciative of everyone who attended.

Kimberly Albright, who drove into town from her home in Claysburg, said that the service was “beautiful.”

“We need healing, we need love, we need to all come together,” Albright said. “It’s not all about religion.”

Albright cites a serious motorcycle accident while riding with her husband that could have taken her life as the catalyst for her reaffirmed faith.

“I was very lucky, and that very moment I knew there was a God,” Albright said.

Altoona resident Teresa Kolarczyk said that she found the event very moving for her first time attending.

Kolarczyk said she attends Buckhorn Bible Church in Ashville.

“(The prayers offered during the event) were all interesting to me,” she said. “I enjoyed that.”

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.