Flood survival tops area prayers
By DeAnne Hilgers
The Forum
Scores of local Red River Valley residents raised their hands and bowed their heads in prayer Thursday to thank God for protecting them from the record flood that devastated but didn’t destroy them.

Thursday was National Day of Prayer, and for the past few weeks the nation has been focused on the valley as its river seized and swamped towns on both banks in its surge toward Winnipeg.

Of all liberties, prayer is the most precious, said Jo-Ann Logan, the event coordinator.

"One prayer can change a person," Logan said. "Many prayers can change our Red River Valley, our state and our nation."

The noon gathering on the lawn at Fargo City Hall included a children’s choir from Park Christian School, and prayers from children, pastors and civic leaders.

The prayers were for physical revival of homes, businesses and churches, and for spiritual revival within hearts.

"Our community is a community that puts its trust in God, number one, and ... we’re a community who has felt the power of prayer," Moorhead Mayor Morris Lanning said.

Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness offered a prayer for those communities hit hardest by the flood.

"We ache for those people here in Fargo who have been affected by the flooding, whose homes have been damaged or destroyed," he said.

But he also offered thanks for the sacrifices, sense of community, determination and commitment that helped Fargo through the flood.

The youth, in particular, deserve thanks, he said. Furness, who returned Tuesday from the President’s Summit for America’s Future, encouraged the gathering to carry out the goals of the summit: giving children a mentor, a healthy start, a safe place to learn, marketable skills and an opportunity to give back to others.

"As our youth volunteered for us, show us the way to volunteer for our youth," Furness said.