Prayer Power

The names Columbine and Kosovo likely have never been uttered in the same sentence during a National Day of Prayer before--certainly not in Ventura County.

But the two locations were spoken of often Thursday as thousands of people offered prayers during public gatherings held at a Ventura Harbor hotel, under sunny skies at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks and near the Ventura County Government Center’s fountain.

“We pray today for our children who seem to be growing up much too early,” said Ventura Fire Chief Dennis Downs.

“Let’s give a big hand to the Lord for releasing the three hostages in Serbia,” exhorted John Huffman, pastor of South Coast Fellowship in Ventura.

“This song is dedicated to the children in our high schools,” said Camarillo singer Fawn Parish before she broke into a haunting rendition of “How Long?” a musical entreaty for peace and understanding.

In Ventura, the 26th annual National Day of Prayer Community Breakfast was marked by tones of reconciliation and healing--in stark contrast to last year’s fiery oratory from a leader of Operation Rescue, the national antiabortion group.

This year, the troubled youth of the nation and residents of war-torn countries were in the prayers of dozens of ministers of all faiths from around the county.

Michael Reagan, son of the former president, emceed the prayer breakfast in Ventura.

“As we look around the globe, here at home and in the Balkans, we need this day,” he said. “I’m lucky to have Ronald Reagan for a dad, since I can quote him. I’m even luckier to have God in my life.”

Joseph Spirito, Ventura Unified School District superintendent, said his job has become more challenging since the Columbine High School shootings in Colorado, because of several copycat bomb threats. “This last couple weeks have been the most difficult of my life.

“I can’t tell you what I go through when I hear: ‘A bomb is going off at 1 o’clock.’ A parent group called Mothers in Touch tell me they pray for me. I believe they help give me good spiritual guidance.

“I have to take the responsibility . . . for the children’s safety at school,” he added. “You can’t make these decisions on your own. With all these prayers, I somehow think I just can’t miss.”

Spirito said he is amazed at how much he feels the power of prayer behind him when making decisions these days.

“Protect our children from gangs and guns and drugs. Fill our schools with your grace,” prayed the Rev. Mark Patterson of Ventura’s Community Presbyterian Church. The senior pastor spoke at the prayer breakfast and at the lunchtime rally at the government center.

“Someone once asked me, ‘Why do you pray? It won’t do you any good. It’s just a coincidence,’ ” Patterson said. “I told him, ‘You may be right. But I’ve noticed that when I pray, coincidences happen more often.’ ”

On the grounds of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, dozens of local ministers turned out at noon for a celebration of worship. More than 400 believers raised their hands and voices to thank God, to ask forgiveness, and to rejoice in prayer.

Larry DeWitt, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, talked about ongoing war atrocities and the hundreds of thousands of people suffering in the Balkans.

“We are not put here on earth to fight with each other. We are here on earth to love each other.”

Eleven-year-old Sarah Taylor attended the event with her fifth-grade class from Hillcrest Christian School in Thousand Oaks. Prayer has helped her during times of worry, she said. When her father had knee surgery, she prayed for his fast recovery.

“When you pray, it really comes true,” she said.