HAVE YOU CONSIDERED...
Impressed by this call to prayer
Dr. French O'Shields

Is there an award for Governor of the Year? Probably not. If there was, my choice for 2007 would be Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia.

What he did on a Tuesday in November 2007 is enough to win my vote. With an epic drought threatening his state's water supply, he called Georgians to gather on the steps of the Capitol for a PRAYER SERVICE. With he and his wife, Mary, participating, the governor clearly stated the purpose: "We've come together here simply for one reason and one reason only: To very reverently and respectfully pray up a storm."

I was deeply impressed and encouraged by this action of Gov. Perdue as all Christians should be. Was everyone pleased? Of course not. Many were and expended great effort to attend the service. Others, who couldn't attend, paused in their homes and work places to voice their prayers in response to the governor's call.

Were there protesters? Of course. Some 20 from the Atlanta Freethought Society protested having a prayer vigil at the seat of state government. But, then today what faith-related public event is not accompanied by protesters?

All the regional and national media did not consider it of news value. But gratefully some did and the event was known nationwide.

Personally, I consider it a significant event and applaud Gov. Perdue for his courage and boldness. I find it tremendously encouraging. Why? Let me share my reasons.

It gives me new encouragement and hope when a notable elected public official:

- Places public acknowledgment of his/her personal faith over political popularity;

- Recognizes that some crises can only be solved by God's, not man's, intervention;

- Considers bowing before the altar of prayer more important than bowing before the altar of political correctness;

- Puts the good of his people above an erroneous interpretation of the "separation of church and state" that seeks to totally remove God from our national life;

- Seeks guidance to governor from God rather than political polls or strategists.

We have been blessed that some previous leaders were men of God, sought wisdom from the Bible and governed believing a blessed nation is one whose god is the LORD.

I am impressed and grateful that our current President Bush in six years in office has called our nation to a day of prayer 44 times. Who can ever forget after the tragedy of 9-11 seeing the members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, conservative and liberals, praying together standing arm in arm on the steps of our nation's Capital.

Nor can I forget the 1989 presidential debates when vice presidential candidate Dan Quayle was asked, "As president of the U.S., in a severe crisis, what would you do first?" Without hesitation he humbly replied, "PRAY."

Remember the response? The media and late night show hosts ridiculed him as a joke; the pseudo-intellectuals called him a simpleton; the atheists jeered; but true Christians CHEERED!!!!

I was among those who cheered. Still am and for good reason. I believe God-fearing public officials who can lead our nation to return to our spiritual roots and to truly be "One Nation Under God" are essential to our nation's survival. May Gov. Perdue's tribe increase. We dare not accept anything less. Otherwise, the nation we lose may be our own.

Dr. French O'Shields is a Gaffney native and a retired Presbyterian minister.