As I write you, it is May 3 and I'm running late on my article and in getting the PULSE out. I apologize for the tardiness, especially when the timeliness of this communiqué is so vital!

Thursday, May 5, is the annual National Day of Prayer, which is so significant for America, drawing its roots all the way back to the first Continental Congress in 1775, who first called for a National Day of Prayer.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln re-issued the call for such a day. Our modern Congress established the National Day of Prayer by a joint resolution, signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1952.

Then, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan amended and signed the law declaring the first Thursday of every May as our National Day of Prayer. You can find out more about our National Day of Prayer at www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

This year, our citywide Pastor's Prayer Group is also issuing a call for the Church of Simi Valley to celebrate the Global Day of Prayer on Sunday, May 15, which is Pentecost Sunday. You can get the unique history of the Global Day of Prayer at www.globaldayofprayer.com.

In short, this movement began about five years ago and is issuing the call for Christians worldwide to pray in a continuity around the globe from 12:00 am Sunday, May 15 in the International Time Line zone to 12:00 am on Monday, May 16 in order to literally cover the world in Prayer for those 24 hours.

Here in Simi Valley, we are offering 11 Days of Prayer with a Concert of Prayer being hosted at at least one church every night, starting on Thursday, May 5 (National Day of Prayer) and ending with a big celebration on Sunday, May 15 (Global Day of Prayer). We have listed each night's times and locations on this month's calendar for you. For addresses, go to www.simichurches.com.

Let me encourage you to join in as many evenings as you are able. I know that not every night is possible for most families. There are school nights, sports activities, family gathering, work commitments, and the like.

However, let me just encourage you to make at least the night of Friday, May 13 a priority. That's the night we are hosting the Citywide Concert of Prayer at NewHeart. Let's come together in great numbers and united hearts along with any others from across the city who will be there!

I also want to encourage you to join us for Intercessory Prayer, which happens every 2nd and 4th Saturday morning of the month at 8:00 am in the Sanctuary. This month's dates are May 14 and 28. It all follows the word for us for this year - PERSISTENCE. You might remember in January, when I spoke about the directions of this word for us, one of them was that we are to be persistent in our pursuit of the Lord. Prayer is such a vital part of this!

Finally, I am excited that NewHeart will once again be present at a booth at our upcoming Simi Valley Street Fair on Saturday, May 14. We are looking for medical personnel who can give blood pressure readings and more. If you could do a few hours at the booth that day, please contact our TELL Director, Martha-Dale Lesmes at 805.583.3433 x108, or email her at mdlesmes@sbcglobal.net.

Persisting in prayer with you ...