Chris Sanders (File photo) [Click to enlarge]

Although it wasn't until 1952 that Congress and President Harry Truman declared an annual National Day of Prayer, organizers of the yearly event note that as early as 1775, the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in the possible formation of a new nation.

Sine 1998, the National Day of Prayer has been observed each year on the first Thursday in May. Shelbyville's annual National Day of Prayer Luncheon will be held that day at First Baptist Church, with former Tennessee Titan Chris Sanders as the keynote speaker.

The theme for this year's event is "Prayer! America's Strength and Shield," and tickets to attend are $6. Tickets may be purchased from National Day of Prayer board members or First Baptist Church.

Special music will presented at the luncheon by Zach Kirby. Kirby, who has just moved to Shelbyville from Georgia, is First Baptist Church's new minister of music.

Marilyn Massengale of Shelbyville will do a theme interpretation.

Sanders spent seven years with the team now known as the Titans, starting in Houston and moving with the team to Memphis and then Nashville. He retired in 2002 from the Cleveland Browns after injuring a spinal disc.

Sanders was the 2000 winner of Pro Football Weekly's Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award for his work with the hungry and homeless through the Sanders Foundation. He is now a motivational speaker on topics like goal-setting, abstinence, race relations, physical training and men's issues.

National Day of Prayer will focus on praying for seven centers of power, including government, military, business, church, family, education and media.

"By remembering these specific prayer points, we cover all Americans with God's power," according to the National Day of Prayer web site, www.ndptf.org.

Board members for the local observance include Thomas Smith, chairperson Barbara Blanton, Kay Rose, Jody Lambert, Shannon Lemmon, Marshall Lile, John T. Bobo, Paul Whitaker, Gary Haile, the Rev. Charles Williams, Ted Phillips, Arnold King, Ron Chilton, judge Lee Russell, David Feldhaus, Johnny Reed, Mayor Eugene Ray, Karen Thrasher, W. E. Nelson, David Brown, Ron DeWitt, Bro. Charles Redmond, Dan Buckner, Deborah Peters, Steven Flippo and Steven Caine.