The year has been a challenging one for many countries including the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a fall in many economies. However, some persons have not given up on the year yet. One of such persons is the governor of Mississippi, Tate Reeves. Hence, he called for a statewide day of prayer, humility and fasting.
On Wednesday, the governor aired a press conference on Facebook Live. He talked about the issues Mississippians faced throughout the year. The issues ranged from COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, unemployment, and natural disasters. In his words:
"This has been a challenging, dare I say a very, very hard year for so many of our fellow Mississippians. There has been so much suffering and for many of our fellow Mississippians, we continue to suffer. As we close out this year, I felt the need to go to God in prayer for our state. Ever since the beginning of this pandemic, weve tried to hold opportunities for our fellow Mississippians to pray, to pray together so we can be together. We know that there is power in prayer. In fact, it is what God commands us to do.
"Today, I will sign a proclamation to declare a day of prayer, humility and fasting on this upcoming Sunday, December 20. As we have done throughout the history of this country, we will go to the Lord and ask for His protective hand over us as we conclude the year 2020 and as we enter the year 2021."
The proclamation by the governor was read by Rev. David Tipton. He also added that it was not compulsory for everyone to participate in the day of prayer, humility, and fasting. However, he encouraged the people of Mississippi to "devote themselves in continuous prayer as we rise to each new day and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips invoking thy help to our efforts.”
The governor continued: "We seek that our country may be protected from all the dangers which threaten it; that our civil and religious privileges may be preserved inviolate and perpetuated to the latest generations; that our public counsels and magistrates may especially enlighten and direct it at this critical period."
After signing the proclamation, Reeves stated that "2020, as challenging as it has been for all of us, has truly shown the true spirit of Mississippi and the true, loving, kind type of people that we are. He appreciated the people of his state for building up an even better Mississippi." Thereafter, he invited Rev. Danny Powell to lead a closing prayer.
Frequently, Mississippi gets listed among religious states. A 2015 Gallup survey ranked Mississippi as the most religious state in the Union. For 11 years in a row, Gallup found out that the state repeatedly had the highest share of residents who identified as "very religious".
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