The Bowling Green-Warren County Ministerial Association is calling for people of all walks of life to gather Thursday for a National Day of Prayer at Fountain Square Park.

The event, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., is for anyone wishing to attend for “focused prayer,” according to Chris Patterson, president of the association and pastor at St. James United Methodist Church.

“This is a non-denominational event,” Patterson said. “It is a time to commit our prayers to God for the following seven areas: government, military, media, business, education, church and family.”

Patterson said the event was moved to Fountain Square Park from the Warren County Courthouse to make it more accessible for those driving.

“I’m going to print up 100 bulletins, but I’d love to see more than that,” Patterson said. “I’d love to see it packed.

“It’s easy to be fractured as a nation, but now more than ever is a time to pull together and to be one in unity and purpose in mind,” he said. “President (Barack) Obama’s message was a rallying point and in this event we will rally around prayer. ... It is absolutely important to come together and be united in prayer.”

Residents scheduled to lead prayers include state Rep. Jim DeCesare, R-Bowling Green, retired Col. David Ciochetty, Susan West-Woodward from 90.7 FM, Potter-Gray Elementary School Principal Jim Tinius and others.

Patterson said the history of the National Day of Prayer goes back to George Washington, who in 1775 recognized the need of prayer to God for our nation. President Abraham Lincoln signed a congressional resolution in 1863 calling for a “Day of Prayer and Fasting” during the Civil War.

The National Day of Prayer was unanimously passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1952 recognizing a National Day of Prayer. And in 1988, President Ronald Reagan officially signed into law making the first Thursday in May the National Day of Prayer.

— For more information, visit www.ndptf.org.