Pastors and community members filled the council chambers at Greenville’s City Hall Thursday to pray for national, state and local elected officials, the nation’s military, area schools, churches and families.

The gathering was part of the National Day of Prayer.

“This room is no stranger to prayer,” Greenville Mayor Pro tem Jeddo Bell said. “Before every council meeting we have prayer. We pray not only for our community, but for the world.”

The theme verse for this year’s event is Matthew 12:21, which reads, “In His name the nations will put their hope.”

“If we’ve ever needed prayer it’s now,” said Allen Stephenson, Butler County Ministerial Association president. “… God is sovereign. He is in control whether we recognize that or not.”

Stephenson said it’s important for the community to come together to pray.

“Now more than ever we need to gather as a community and pray,” he said.

The first National Day of Prayer was declared by the Continental Congress in 1775. It officially became an annual event in 1952 when it was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan designated the first Thursday of each May as the National Day of Prayer.

Pastors taking part in Thursday’s event included Stephenson, Felton Stewart, Tommie Means, Johnny Padalino, Mason Halacker, Danny Dean, David Saliba, Carolyn Griffin, Allen Winn and Harold Simpson.