Communities nationwide will observe the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 7.

In honor of the day, Picayune Mayor Ed Pinero, along with several community leaders, will host the Second Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, which will welcome the community for an hour of prayer inside The Link at First Baptist Church of Picayune.

“The whole point of this prayer is to coincide with the national day as well as offering different ideas about prayer and continuing to grow the concept in our community,” Pinero said.

The National Day of Prayer was declared by former President Harry S. Truman in 1952. Since then, the day has been observed annually on the first Thursday in May, according to the National Day of Prayer Task Force website.

The event’s keynote speaker will be Pearl River Community College President Dr. William Lewis. There will also be remarks from Pinero and several religious leaders, including Rev. Allen Hickman from Resurrection Life Worship Center, Rev. Keith Warden from First Baptist Church of Picayune, Rev. Josh Braddy from New Palestine Baptist Church and Rev. Harvey Bernard.

A continental breakfast will be provided for everyone who attends.

“This breakfast is all about the positive influence of prayer,” Pinero said. “Everyone is welcome to pray however they choose. It’s meant to be a very positive hour.”

Rev. Hickman and Warden are credited for coming up with the idea to hold an annual prayer breakfast on the national day.

“I think it’s important that authorities of a city, state and the nation recognize that they need wisdom beyond us and this breakfast gives our authorities a chance to publicly ask God for help through prayer,” Hickman said.

The breakfast will take place from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at The Link at First Baptist Church of Picayune located at 401 Goodyear Blvd.