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A candidate’s journey often begins with gathering signatures on a petition.
Yet as Election Day approaches, some local churches are focused on heavenly petitions — offering prayer meetings, sermon series and even a parishioner-penned booklet.
Thursday, worshipers gathered at Fortville Church of the Nazarene for the first of three prayer meetings. Remaining prayer meetings will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 and 31 at the church, 701 S. Maple St.
They’re “nights of concentrated prayer and worship for our nation and the upcoming elections,” said Phil Edwards, pastor. “We’re praying for our government leaders, no matter who they are … (and) for the next person who is the president.”
Brookville Road Community Church also plans to have a prayer gathering at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 in its building at 7480 W. U.S. 52, New Palestine.
”As Christians, we love our neighbors and the nation God has placed us in, so we want to pray for God’s blessings on our country,” lead pastor Kris Sorensen wrote in an email. “Psalm 47:8 tells us that ‘God reigns over nations.’ I think it is important that we pray to let Him know our dependence on Him and ask Him to establish rulers who do His will for His glory and the good of His people.”
Brown’s Chapel Wesleyan Church has a weekly prayer meeting at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the church, 994 N. CR 600E, Greenfield. Lead pastor Theo Griffin wrote in an email that the Oct. 31 prayer meeting will be “a service devoted to praying for the election.”
Mt. Comfort Church will have a prayer gathering at 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at the church’s Philly Campus, 2265 W. U.S. 40, Greenfield. It’s not a formal service but a time when people can come in and pray.
Sunday, the church begins a sermon series: “Finding Hope: Navigating The Political Tension.” Sunday’s opener will emphasize “the importance of our faith influencing our politics versus our politics influencing our faith,” lead pastor Ethan Maple wrote in an email. Topics on following Sundays will be: what the Bible says that relates to several high-profile election issues, treating each other with respect regardless of who wins, and “how we move forward from the election and find hope in Christ,” Maple wrote.
Parishioners of Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine wrote prayers for the election season and made a 40-day prayer guide.
“So many people have noticed how anxiety-producing these election seasons have been in recent years,” said lead pastor Mark Havel. So the church invited people to write non-partisan prayers to read daily, with the 40th prayer being on Election Day, to “lead us in a faithful, peaceable way toward Nov. 5,” he said.
“They’re on themes like unity, peace, leadership and love of neighbor,” Havel said. “We’ve been collecting them, and they’re lovely.”
The election devotional is also viewable online through the church’s website. People of various ages, from fifth grade through adulthood, offered prayers. Among them, one prayer asks “for wise minds and discerning hearts among our leaders and in ourselves.”
Nobody names candidates as they talk about their election prayers, but about looking to God.
“I hope those who attend our prayer night will walk away with a sense of peace and confidence that our God is securely on His throne, orchestrating His sovereign will,” Sorensen wrote.
Similarly, Edwards said prayer meetings at his church won’t push a candidate but will instead pray for the next president. “No matter who that is, we want to pray for them, and pray for their family, and that God would give them wisdom and guidance and direction.” He said people will also pray for the nation, “that God would pour out His presence on us once again.”
Maple, who like Edwards has in recent years won a local election (Maple to New Palestine Town Council in 2023, Edwards to Mt. Vernon School Board in 2020), said it’s important for people of faith to have the proper focus during the election season.
“We are inundated with political noise, bringing the candidates and issues front and center in our daily lives. It is unfortunate that lies are being drawn, relationships are being stressed, and hope has become aligned with a political party. The church has a responsibility to focus our attention back to God and bring Christ into the conversation,” Maple wrote.
“I’ve had several conversations with congregants and community members … my job isn’t to tell them who to vote for or why, but to help them navigate this difficult season as a Christ-Follower. Sometimes that’s a listening ear, sometimes that’s a new perspective, and sometimes that’s pushing back on ideas.
“Regardless, it’s about quieting the distractions so they can have a renewed focus on God.”
