May 9, 2026

Stronger Together Day of prayer events well attended

Those fortunate enough to have attended both National Day of Prayer events in Rocky Mount were treated to two very different functions.

The Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast featured the often fiery oration of long-time preachers and their messages of faith and inspiration. The Nation Day of Prayer event held at noon was more about the thoughts and faith of community leaders, philanthropists, first responders, the military, nonprofit directors and church leaders.

Common to both events was uplifting Christian music, older well-known classics that were familiar to those who sang along with the events’ gifted vocalists and the welcoming remarks of Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson, who a read a proclamation at both events in support of the city’s participation in the National Day of Prayer.

“A National Day of Prayer has been part of our national heritage since it was declared by the First Continental Congress in 1775 and the United States Congress in 1952 approved as a Joint Resolution, ‘That the President shall set aside and proclaim a suitable day each year, other than a Sunday, as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups and as individuals,” stated Roberson.

Roberson spoke of own faith amid the city’s ongoing financial troubles at the Prayer Breakfast.

“I’m a believer. I believe in God. I believe he’ll fix the city of Rocky Mount, fix our country and fix our state,” Roberson said. “It looks like revival. It looks like God is working in us. And sometimes he has to break us. It looks like we’re in the middle of a season of that.”