At least 200 people gathered on the Michigan Capitol lawn Thursday for an afternoon of prayer amid the COVID-19 pandemic, singing worship songs and praying for families and elected officials across the state and country.
Dubbed the “Michigan Day of Repentance and Prayer,” the event featured prayers and comments from Rusty Chatfield, father of House Speaker Lee Chatfield, National Day of Prayer State Coordinator Sylvia Williams and other Michigan religious leaders from several denominations.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, was present for part of the event, although he did not speak.
Organizers said the event wasn’t a protest, calling it an “appeal to heaven” to guide residents and leaders through the challenges the pandemic presents.
“We’re going through a challenging time, families and businesses are stressed, and we feel prayer is the answer,” Rick Warzywak, director of the group Transformation Michigan, said ahead of the event.
About 200 people attended the gathering, and were “very peaceful and respectful,” Michigan State Police Lt. Darren Green said.
A majority of attendees were not wearing masks. Some in the group were closely gathered near the Capitol steps, while other individuals and groups were spread out across the Capitol lawn to maintain distance.
Some prayers waded into the major political issues of the day. One speaker prayed that Christians would turn out to vote in higher numbers this election cycle and not be apathetic about the electoral process.
Chatfield prayed that “constitutional order will be restored,” referencing concerns from the Republican-led legislature that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is overstepping her executive authority during the COVID-19 pandemic. A court challenge on the matter is ongoing.
Williams told attendees that God had instructed her to pray for Whitmer ahead of her 2018 election win, and in her prayer thanked the Lord for “delivering her from a hardness of heart.”
“She shall be saved - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will no longer be an alien of God, but she will be saved," she said.
Earlier Thursday, a group of between 40-50 people organized by the group Legally Armed in Detroit also gathered on the Capitol lawn.
Attendees of the rally, titled “Blacks and Latinos Against Racist Empowerment,” protested violent crimes and attacks against people of color.
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.