CRESTVIEW — The Rev. Sanford Hayes says that faith can solve all the world's problems.
And the "Christian weapon" that can do it is prayer, he said.
"Prayer is an essential tool God has given to us to communicate our needs and thankfulness to him," Hayes said during the city's 12 p.m. National Day of Prayer observance Thursday outside city hall. "Prayer is a telephone line from God to man that you can use at any time, without reaching or receiving a busy signal or being put on hold."
Prayer can mean different things to people.
See photos from Crestview's National Day of Prayer observance>>
It "can be a multitude of words or just a few words," Hayes said to just more than 30 people. "It's not what you say that counts, but what you mean when you say it."
But however you pray, one thing is certain for believers: "Sincere prayer brings true results," Hayes said.
Crestview area residents, including a number of city, county and law enforcement officials, united by faith, gathered outside city hall's entrance to sing "God Bless America," listen to guest speakers, and ask for blessings.
National Day of Prayer, held the first Thursday of May, is significant for Christians, Mayor David Cadle said.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is important that we have events like this in our country," he said. "Stand tall, stand firm. What our country was founded upon comes under attack more each day."
Some of those attacks come from societal ills, Hayes said.
"Throughout America today, Christian communities have come together to pray and to fight against the ill effects of crime, … corruption, racism, terrorism, economic pitfalls and other factors that are destroying the very fabric of the United States of America."
Crestview had two National Day of Prayer observances: the city-organized noon event and a 6 p.m. observance presented by the Baker and Crestview Area Ministerial Associations.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Faith unites Crestview residents on National Day of Prayer