The Annual National Day of Prayer is the First Thursday of May
This year that means May 3, 2012. This is the 61st National Day of Prayer celebration and the theme this year is “Blessed is the Nation Who’s God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12)
Local Tehachapi events include:
Prayer Breakfast
Sponsored by Kiwanis of Tehachapi @ Christian Life Assembly 920 W. Valley Blvd., Tehachapi, CA @ 7:00am to 8:30am . (more information below)
Noon Prayer Rally
12:00 – 1:30pm at 115 South Robinson Street in front of City Hall. Local pastors will be praying for our churches, military, families, schools, media, businesses, and our government.
Community Wide Church Service
7:00 – 8:30pm at Christian Life Assembly 920 W. Valley Blvd., Tehachapi, CA .
Chaplain Captain David Sarmiento, Wing Chaplain of the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, California Air National Guard, March Air Reserve Base, will speak at the Thurs., May 3 community Prayer Breakfast, the first of three Tehachapi events scheduled on the annual National Day of Prayer.
Sarmiento’s full-time base job, under the direction of the Wing Commander, includes support of personnel attached to the Predator drone program.
“We are lucky to get him,” said Chuck Stowell of the Kiwanis Club of Tehachapi, which sponsors the Prayer Breakfast. “He’s one of just three full-time National Guard chaplains in California and he has a tough job.”
“It’s my honor to come to Tehachapi,” Sarmiento said.
Chaplain Sarmiento advises squadron commanders on moral, ethical and spiritual issues affecting unit members and counsels those returning from and departing for deployment.
As Wing Chaplain, he provides pastoral care through worship services, counseling and visitation of unit members and their families.
Endorsed by the Assemblies of God, Sarmiento was ordained into civilian ministry in 2002. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
Chaplain Sarmiento began his military career as an enlisted Airman in June of 1995, assigned to the 261st Combat Communication Squadron, California Air National Guard in Van Nuys. He entered the Chaplain Candidate Program and the same year attended Commissioned Office Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
The breakfast will be held at a new location this year – the Christian Life Assembly, 920 West Valley Blvd. The program begins at 7 a.m. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased from any Kiwanis member, at the Apple Shed Restaurant, 333 East Tehachapi Blvd., at the door the morning of the breakfast or call Prayer Breakfast Committee Chairman Don Bowman at 661-822-5516.
The other events of May 3 are a noon prayer rally in front of City Hall, 115 South Robinson St., and a community church service at Christian Life Assembly, 7 p.m.
A privately funded organization, the National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Its mission emphasizes prayer for America and its leadership in the seven centers of power: Government, military, media, business, education, church and family.