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The Hamblen County National Day of Prayer service took on added meaning Thursday at the Veterans’ Memorial at the Hamblen County Courthouse.

With nearby First Baptist, First Presbyterian and Centenary United Methodist churches in the backdrop, Dr. Dean Haun, pastor of First Baptist Church discussed the renaming of the event in memory of the Rev. John Griggs, who was minister of prayer at First Baptist for 26 years.

“John Griggs for years and years was the coordinator of this event for our county,” Haun said. “I visited him a month before his death. I went into his room and he had various medical (equipment) hooked to him. I said, ‘Brother John, how are you doing?’ He looked me square in the eye and he said, ‘Pastor, be faithful unto death and I’ll give you the crown of life.’

“He was that. He was faithful until the very end with The Lord,” Haun said.

Griggs, who died April 8 at the age of 91, usually came to the event dressed in a suit, a sweater vest and a hat and was recognizable to many in the community. Florence Sanders Griggs, his widow, was present at Thursday’s service.

The Service

This year’s theme was “Are We Desperate?”

Rev. Ryan Harrell, pastor of the new King’s Corner Church, asked “Are We Desperate for the Lost and their Salvation?”

“I have to be blunt, I know no other prayer when it comes to evangelism than a desperate prayer,” he said. “Why are there 100 or more churches in our community and our community is plagued with the lack of your word? How can there be so many of us and such a famine for your word?”

Harrell noted that a Bible had been placed in the last Hamblen County time capsule that was unearthed in recent years.

“When we would open it and see it today, people who would claim to be your people,” Harrell prayed. “We’re in fear that if we put a Bible into a time capsule today that the generation who found it next time would ask, ‘What’s that?’

“Lord, would you change your evangelism strategy to let us effectively reach our neighbors and give us a burden for them?” he said.

Rev. Javier Gonzalez, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Gracia y Verdad Baptist Church, asked “Are We Desperate for Confession and Repentance?”

“We cannot keep going thinking that there’s nothing wrong,” Gonzalez said. “Sometimes, we try to ignore it, but it’s not about us, it’s about God. It’s about His glory. We’re going to pray. We’re going to confess.

“We have sinned against you,” Gonzalez said. “We confess that you are holy. We confess that you are faithful. We confess that you are merciful. We have rebelled against your will. We have been disloyal to you. There are so many people in our churches that are living in sin and practicing sin like nothing has happened. Like everything is OK, but we know that you hate sin. Before revival can happen to this country, this state and this town, we need to repent, to confess because we are going our way. That’s not your way.”

The Rev. Howard Shipley asked, “Are We Desperate for our National and Community Leadership?”

“God’s word admonishes us to remember those who are over us politically,” Shipley said. “To make sure we have these wonderful privileges we has as members of the United States of America. Their tasks are not an easy one. There are those who criticize them for what they do. We pray that they may lay aside their personal agendas and they may work together to accomplish what is best for this great nation.”

Bobby Davis, member of Rock of Ages Baptist Church, asked, “Are We Desperate for our Community?”

Davis centered his remarks around the thoughts, “Together,” “Unity” and “Do something.”

“When you get together, connect,” Davis said. “You’ve got to link and bond together. It doesn’t matter what color you are. It doesn’t matter what your bank account, height or weight says. It doesn’t matter about the job title you are. It’s about if you are born again. These people are my brothers from a different mother, but the same Father.

He said that Morristown, Hamblen County, young and old needs all to connect together.

“In humility, come in unity,” Davis said. “We talk about doing something. Let’s be about it. Some say we can’t. The blood still works.”

Rev. Justin Graham, pastor of The Avenue Church, asked “Are We Desperate for our Churches, their Leadership and Spiritual Unity?

“Lord, we’re so grateful for your mercy and kindness towards us,” Graham said. “We’re so grateful for who you are and you are worthy of all glory, honor and praise. You alone are worthy. Thank you, holy spirit for your presence and we give you thanks for having the freedom to come stand right here and call on you.”

Graham asked for forgiveness for the church sitting on its hands and not being the hands and feet of Jesus.

“I’m thankful that you would have mercy on us today,” he said. “I thank you for every single pastor on every church in this region who lifts high the name of Jesus. I pray for every pastor, their spouse and children that you would bless them.”

Calvary Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Larry Parrott offered the closing prayer.

“God is so very good,” Parrott said. “Take a moment and look around. If you could have scripted this day, could you have done any better? What a beautiful day we’re enjoying. To God be the glory.”

Parrott took a moment to talk about Griggs.

“He said something a few years ago that has stayed with me and carried me over the years,” Parrott said. “He was with a man who was lost and said to him, ‘Brother, have you prayed to receive Christ yet? Or are you somewhere on the way?’ That pretty much encapsulates what we’re about. You’ve either prayed to receive Christ or you’re somewhere on the way.”

Michael Turner, minister of music at Manley Baptist Church, led the crowd in “Thank You, Lord” by Seth and Bessie Sykes.