When did the National Day of Prayer begin?
Days of prayer have been called for since 1775, when the Continental Congress designated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln called for such a day. Officially, the NDP was established as an annual event by an act of Congress in 1952 and was signed into law by President Truman. The law was amended in 1988 and signed by President Ronald Reagan, establishing the NDP as the first Thursday of May each year. Is the National Day of Prayer exclusively a Christian event? This government-sanctioned day is offered to all Americans. However, the efforts of the NDP Task Force are executed in alignment with its Christian beliefs. Is the National Day of Prayer a Political Event? No. The NDP as mandated by our government belongs to all Americans. It is not sponsored or owned by any one group. Every American can observe the NDP in his or her own way. Each year, the President issues a proclamation in support of this significant day. Who is behind the National Day of Praye
