Herbert Allen preaches about love Thursday evening during the National Day of Prayer at Mt. Cavalry Baptist Church. 

Jocelyn Young began tapping at the keys just after 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. 

Above her, the light shone through the soft pastels of a stained glass window, falling gently on the sanctified walls of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in New Iberia. It was the end of a long National Day of Prayer. 

At 7 a.m., Highland Baptist Christian School played host to a prayer breakfast, and at noon another prayer was held on the steps of City Hall. They met at City Hall in Franklin too, and in St. Martinville at the St. Marin Parish Sheriff’s Office training facility.

As the 2018 National Day of Prayer came to an end, about 75 people met at Mt. Calvary to pray for the nation, for the world and for one another. 

“We get together today to pray for our country,” Ursula Daniels, near the end of the processional, said. With that, the congregation rose and sang “Lift Every Voice.” 

The Bulk of the night’s “prayers for unity in America” were split into topical sections under the heading “Let’s Talk.”

District 5 New Iberia City Councilwoman Sherry Guidry, there as a surrogate for New Iberia Mayor Freddie DeCourt, read the first of several proclamations declaring the day an official day of prayer. The mayor’s proclamation called prayer “part of the nation’s heritage,” citing the 1775 Continental Congress’s original day of prayer, 

Marva Spencer, legislative assistant to Rep. Terry Landry, D-New Iberia, read Landry’s proclamation, House Bill HR144. 

Stephen Etienne spoke about homelessness in the area, and about the Iberia Homeless Shelter, of which he is the director. He highlighted the need for better mental health services, and the difficulties particular to rural homelessness.  

Adam Curley, a veteran, preached about the federal government and the military. He asked all veterans present to stand and salute the flag, then sermonized his way into song — a stirring rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” 

Carol Whipp, of the Iberia Council on Aging, spoke of the elderly. 

“If I asked the elderly to stand, almost everybody would be standing, so I’m not going to do that,” she said, noting Jesus held the elderly in high esteem, for they were key to passing the faith onto the next generation. 

Nursey Ozenne McNeal, Iberia Parish School Board member for Districrt 2, spoke about education and the youth, reading from the Book of Matthew. 

“Bless our children with knowledge, wisdom, discernment and integrity,” she said. 

Brandon Williams, assistant chief of police in the still-forming New Iberia Police Department, spoke about the future of policing in the city. 

“You’re going to see the compassion and understanding that you deserve” from the department,” Williams said. 

“If you come in with a complaint, know that it’s going to be heard. Now, will you always be happy with me? No. But you will always be heard,” he said. “It’s a new day.” 

Rosalind Bobb, whose son was murdered in 2006, spoke about bereavement. In 2015 she began a grief ministry, L.I.F.E., which has since ballooned in popularity, attracting more and more grieving parents and relatives from across the area. 

“We’re still losing our kids in the street. But it brought me closer to Him,” she said. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” 

Herbert Allen, with his eyes closed tight and his head bowed, preached about love. 

“Love does not have a color!” he said, raising his voice. “Master, I’m asking you, please — let us find love in one another!”

When it was all over, some two hours later, the congregants went to a back room to enjoy cake and punch, or they mingled out front in the parking lot, just as the sun began to drop below the horizon on another day of prayer.