- 5/1/2025
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR) delivered remarks at a National Day of Prayer observance.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon, good afternoon, there we go, and sister what a privilege it is to follow
00:09you and prayer, we're just people kind of right here and right now, so, and it's always
00:14good in your real estate since you tax collector is a prayer of man, we need to see the tax
00:18collectors need God's righteousness like everybody else does, so it's my honor to pray in your
00:26commandments, okay, and we know our families need prayer, so come in prayer for them, Father,
00:34and let's just stop there, and the fact that we can call you Father, and the fact that you
00:41have made creatures that you love who bear your image, we have no worthiness on our own
00:48to approach you, to speak to you, to ask anything, and yet because of the great love that you
00:54love us, we allow us to bow, and we acknowledge the importance of families in your mind, the
01:04fact that you made everything, you created weekly, you ordered creation, you made everything
01:10out of nothing, you finished, you created man, you created woman, you finished family.
01:18The great deceiver Savior has always tempted families to walk apart from their ways, to do things
01:28according to their own designs, to follow the ways of the world, follow the ways of the culture,
01:32and so we know that our family is one of them. We see the effects around our nation, the world,
01:42and our state, and our communities. We see walls that have broken down. We see the effects around our
01:54nation, the world, and our state, and our communities. We see walls that have broken down. We see wounds
02:02that need to be bound up. We see generational sin, generational consequences. We see so much pain,
02:12so much suffering in our world. Our families are hurting. And yet there's hope. There's hope not because
02:24of us, not because of anything that we're doing, but because of the cause. Because of the good news
02:32gospel of Jesus Christ, there's hope that we can cling to. You're making all things new, including families.
02:42And so I pray specifically that for our young women, our young men and our young women, they will come together in Biblical marriage.
02:54They will come together and they will, they will have children, they will raise children, they will raise up the next generation.
03:02They will walk in fear and affirmation of the Lord. And we ask for that. We ask for a brighter future.
03:08And yet we don't leave anybody behind, so we pray for the people who are currently feeling the effects of the devastating sinful world.
03:16I pray for our single moms. Our hardest job in the world is to be a single mom.
03:22I pray for your mercy and your grace for them. To be able to care for their children and raise up their children.
03:30I pray for fathers to fulfill their responsibilities to their children.
03:36I pray for the men and women who are in our school by now, who are considering the possibility for yet a better life, a different life.
03:45I pray that you would create in them the desire to actually be the fathers and mothers they need to be.
03:52I pray for the church. I pray for conviction upon the church to step into the breach.
03:58To be foster parents and children who are in foster care.
04:04To give them a loving home on two free bases.
04:07I pray for Christian parents to adopt children.
04:12I pray against the wickedness of worship, and they will be ended permanently in our state and the world.
04:22But God, with the great love of which you love us, you have saved us.
04:29We can do none of these things harm us.
04:31We ask for your spirit to fall upon us and empower us, to convict us, and to love our families.
04:37And I pray for the government and her initiative, for the faith initiative in the government,
04:42that we would find ways for your government to come alongside the church and alongside the people.
04:48And to be able to minister to our families.
04:52And the government, get out of the way.
04:53And the government, get out of the way.
04:54And the government, get out of the way.
04:55And just let your church do this thing.
04:58And so we thank you.
04:59We thank you to these people.
05:00Thank you to our heart for you.
05:01Our heart for our state.
05:03And let's pray the blessings upon you.
05:05And I pray these things in the mighty and saving name of Jesus Christ.
05:10Amen.
05:11Amen.
05:19Thank you, Tim.
05:21Thank you, Tim.
05:22Great job.
05:23We appreciate you for a job well done.
05:37Jesus said, you pray, and I'll meet the need.
05:42You call, and I will hear you.
05:48It's up to you to be concerned with the lost souls so far.
05:53And ladies and gentlemen, did you know that there's a whole community of people, creative talents and skills, musicians, singers, writers, poets, who are in a community trying to survive.
06:16And that community that they have is called the creative economy and coming now to pray for that community, the creative economy, professor emeritus at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service and representative of the Little Rock Christian Business Men's Connection, let's welcome my good friend, Dr. Mark Peterson.
06:52Dr. Mark Peterson.
06:53My name is Dr. Sanders, brothers and sisters in Christ.
06:56We need to be named in our Savior Jesus Christ.
06:59This is the name whose Lord has made us rejoice in the Himalayas.
07:03The most incredible thing in the world is that the sovereign living God of the universe seeks to know us, the creator of all that is, wants us to not just know about Him, but to know Him as we know each other and we know our loved ones.
07:20He also tells us that we are to have no fear, that we are to bring our words to Him because He cares for us.
07:27Herman Arthur asked me to, invited me to pray for a creative economy for which he has been very involved.
07:34This is a vital part of our overall economy and as JC mentioned, it includes many dimensions, art, music, theater, dance, design, poems, writers, but we are all creators in our own way.
07:49And in our own relative way, we mean by the creator of the universe.
07:54As Reverend Arthur has pointed out, the creative economy is the creator's economy of which we are all part.
08:01So let's bow our heads in prayer.
08:03Our dear and dear Father, we come to you in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach.
08:09I thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are gathered here today to pray to you, to seek your mercy for our sins, in your hand of protection and guidance upon our cities, our state and our nation.
08:23We hold up to you all who are broadly creative economy and your creator's economy.
08:29I ask that you draw us to you, convict us, guide us and direct us, that we may fulfill your will and destiny for our lives and be a witness to all you bring across our paths.
08:40I hold up our leaders at the community and city level, the state level and the national level.
08:46I ask you, draw them to you, that they may know you and carry out your will.
08:51We implore you for your mercy, because we, as a nation, have departed from you in so many ways.
09:00Forgive us of our many sins, that we may be spiritually clean and shine your light upon it and darken the culture of the world.
09:08We ask all this in your name. Amen.
09:11I'd like to end with the story, but at first I have a quote called The Greatest Danger.
09:16It's probably the greatest spiritual danger that many of us in our loved ones will face.
09:21And at the end, I'll pass out copies to everyone here.
09:26The story is, have you ever met a real ambassador?
09:30I will never forget the day I met the ambassador to the United States from the Fiji Islands.
09:37He was wearing beautiful clothing from his nation.
09:40He exuded confidence, warmth, and a sense of purpose and mission.
09:45He gave us a glimpse into the soul of his nation.
09:49And he invited us to have a relationship with him, his people, and his king.
09:56We too are called to be ambassadors, ambassadors of Christ, not representing merely a king and a nation, but the king of kings and the lord of lords.
10:06We are to give people a glimpse into the kingdom of God and invite them to have a relationship not just with the king, but with the king of kings and the lord of lords.
10:35Let us seek the lord with all our heart, mind, and soul, imploring him for mercy and guidance and protection for our nation, for we have many foreign and domestic enemies.
10:48And let us go forth to be a witness to all that the lord brings across our path.
10:54For time is short, eternity is forever, and we're not guaranteed to be.
11:03Thank you, Dr. Mark Peterson, for a great, great prayer.
11:13I'm a Black Baptist preacher, so I'm not used to these tainted prayers today, so I have a little out of place right now, but I'm sure it'll fire up every little.
11:26Thank you all for being here, ladies and gentlemen.
11:30I appreciate you.
11:32So I did what Jesus commanded.
11:34I did in prayer and gave up our own means.
11:38And with the savior by my side, I traveled on my knees.
11:44Traveling together on this journey that we have to better our state, the great partnership is with the church and government.
11:57And to come now to pray for spiritual leadership for our pastors and church officials, the pastor of the St. Paul Baptist Church of Terrell, Arkansas, and the commissioner of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, he's the pastor, Gary Tabor. Let's welcome him as he comes.
12:18Greetings once again. I'm from a place called Terrell, Arkansas, and my last name is Tobar, T-O-B-A-R.
12:37In other words, I say that because when I went to D.C., Mr. Weyer, I was trying to be sophisticated after being selected for 6,000 applicants to be the recipient for the 8th of the Randolph Institute.
12:53When I got there, I told them I was from Terrell, Arkansas, and they corrected me. It was Terrell.
13:00Thank you, Governor. Honor, if you would bow your heads with me for the prayer of our leadership and our pastors.
13:15Gracious God, we pray for our pastors and leaders in personal life.
13:24Protect their marriage and keep their families at home in the face of the new and challenges of their lives and ministry.
13:32Give them wisdom and balance their demands in our churches and homes.
13:36May their relationships in their spouse and their children be marked by a prayer of trust and open communication.
13:45Provide them with a time of rest, refreshment, and renewal that they may serve the capacity and longevity.
13:55Most solemnly, we ask to use our pastors and leaders, might it be in this generation.
14:04May they be a voice of truth, hope, and reconciliation in a world that is destined for the gospel.
14:12Open doors, open doors of opportunities to them to impact lives beyond the walls of the church.
14:21Give them favor with the community leaders.
14:24Lord Jesus, we pray for our pastors and leaders personally walk with you.
14:31Keep their arms tender and responsive to your voice in the midst of the demands of the measure of ministry.
14:39Help them to prioritize their own spiritual growth and intimacy.
14:43Holy Spirit, we ask you to gather our pastors and leaders, you as our shepherd.
14:50As David said, the Lord is my shepherd.
14:55Comfort and compassion of understanding for the needs of our congregations and our partnerships and our communities.
15:04Finally, we ask you to lead and direct us to equip and mobilize more laborers for kingdom extension.
15:15God, our families, uphold and refresh them spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally so that the abundance and overflow can be shared throughout the beloved community.
15:30We honor our pastors and our spiritual leaders and declare and decree your power as the message and success over their lives and membership.
15:43I pray in Jesus' name.
15:46Amen.
15:46Amen.
15:52Thank you, Pastor.
15:57I got a little education.
15:59I know it ain't right.
16:01I ain't never seen a Black Baptist preacher read or pray.
16:06I just ain't never.
16:08I need to.
16:09I know you're real.
16:10You're a friend of mine, so I need to touch you to make sure you're real.
16:13Thank you, Pastor Tobar.
16:17Let's give God a hand for him.
16:19As I prayed on, I saw souls saved, twisted persons healed.
16:30I saw God's workers' strength renewed while laboring in the field.
16:37Coming now, it's a change to program.
16:41We have a special guest who's going to join us in prayer for addictions to technology.
16:48Morgan Orbington is coming now.
16:52Let's welcome her as she covers.
16:53Praise the Lord.
17:02It will be a calm prayer, but I am a Catholic preacher.
17:07Oh, what?
17:08Just how you know.
17:10I just want to get that out there.
17:13But our thoughts and prayers are with Ethan and his family.
17:17He unfortunately is involved in a car accident this morning, getting down here.
17:21So he is going to be okay, though, so we thank him for that.
17:25And it's honored to read his prayers.
17:27So please bow your heads.
17:29God of heaven and earth, please hear our cries today.
17:32Please forgive us of our sin.
17:34Please forgive us of our idolatry.
17:37Thank you, God, for forgiving me and leading me away from the idol of video games and screens
17:42and back to you.
17:44I was going to video games, God, instead of you, for my joy, my contentment, to help me
17:51with my stress, instead of to you who made me and can actually lift those burdens from
17:55me.
17:56I ask, Father, I beg, I plead for you to intercede, to act through the power of your Holy Spirit
18:03to change the hearts and minds of the citizens of the state of Arkansas, to turn away from
18:08the screens and back to you, Lord.
18:10Help them see what their souls already know, that TikTok is not going to save them, YouTube
18:16is not going to save them, not Instagram, not Snapchat, not Fortnite, not Candy Crush,
18:23not Fox News, not CNN, no, Father.
18:26Nothing but the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ, and believing in Him will save
18:32our souls.
18:33Those things may be fun for a moment, but on our deathbeds, what will we talk about, Father?
18:38Won't it be the relationships, the people you put in our lives, mothers, fathers, sons,
18:43daughters, husbands, wives, and friends who we love and love us about, looking up at the
18:48people we care about?
18:50I hear you calling me to leave people away from technology and back to use, and that's what
18:55I'm going to do.
18:56Father, work in your spirit to break addictions in our students, in our parents, in our great
19:02parents, to phones, break our addictions with dopamine, that short, fleeting, good feeling.
19:08Help us recognize when our devices and all they promise are leading us squarely along the
19:14broad path that leads to destruction.
19:16Let us follow the narrow path that leads to life.
19:20God, please act in this state to help us redeem our time.
19:25Let us use it for good, for your will and to accomplish your purpose, and let us have
19:30the courage to repent and admit when it's leading us into sin.
19:35And that if we can't get out of that sin on our own, that we would confess to you and
19:39to others and ask for help.
19:42God, help us.
19:44We are your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.
19:47For good works that we should walk in them.
19:49As you created each and every one of us, whether we are male or female, tall or short, whether
19:55we have disabilities in our weaknesses and in our strengths, where we are weak, God, you
20:01are strong.
20:02God, I love you.
20:03Please help the citizens of Arkansas and our leaders be strong, to stand firm, and have
20:08courage to follow you no matter what the cost.
20:11I pray this all in the name of Jesus.
20:13Amen.
20:14Amen.
20:21Thank you, Morgan.
20:22What a great job.
20:23We appreciate you stepping in at a moment's notice.
20:27We thank you.
20:28Thank you for that.
20:31I said yes to the Lord.
20:34Jesus, I'll take the job.
20:36Your heart, I want to please.
20:37I'll heed your call and swiftly go, traveling on my knees.
20:46The very timely prayer is coming now for our community is filled with mental brokenness
20:55and to come from the Center for Healing Hearts and Spirits, a person I've known for more
21:01than 25 years that's welcome to pray for our mental health and wellness.
21:07Ms. Joyce Serena.
21:08Good afternoon.
21:09Good afternoon.
21:10First of all, giving all accolades to our governor and all the dignitaries here and, of course,
21:27the God Almighty.
21:28I first want to extend to our governor thank you for assisting victim services agencies throughout
21:45our state to work with those who have been traumatized through sexual assault, domestic violence,
21:54homicides, and et cetera.
21:56We thank you for assisting us.
21:57We thank you for assisting us.
21:58We thank you.
21:59We thank you.
22:00We thank you.
22:01We thank you.
22:02We thank you.
22:03We thank you.
22:04We thank you.
22:05We thank you.
22:06I am.
22:07I don't get here in Little Rock working with victim services every day.
22:11But I am Eastern Arkansas, the daughter of Baptist Mother and Methodist Day.
22:24So, you know, this prayer may go either way.
22:25But one thing they did is do and teach all of us.
22:31And I'm a living witness because I'm a mother of a homicide.
22:38Prayer changes things.
22:41So, let us pray.
22:42Gracious and loving God, in this quiet moment, we come before you just as we are, carrying
22:55thoughts, emotions, and burdens that sometimes feel too heavy to bear.
23:04I ask for your presence to surround us now, gently and powerfully, bringing peace to our
23:14minds and restorations to our spirits.
23:17Lord, you know the balance we face within, the anxious thoughts, the restless nights, the
23:26weight of worry, and sadness that sometimes creeps in without warning.
23:33You see what others felt.
23:35You understand, even when we can't find the worms.
23:40Thank you for being a constant refuge when everything feels uncertain.
23:47Today, I ask for your healing, touch on our minds and emotions.
23:53Replace confusion with clarity.
23:56Trade our fears for your calm.
23:58Help us to recognize the truth when lies drive us.
24:02Try to take hold.
24:03And remind us that we are not alone in the struggle.
24:08Fill us with courage to reach out, to speak honestly, and to take steps toward healing.
24:15No matter how far they may seem.
24:20God of hope renew within us in deep sense of purpose.
24:25Help us to rest when we need rest.
24:28To seek help when we need support.
24:30And to extend the same grace to ourselves that you so afraid to give.
24:36Teach us to be patient with our journeys.
24:37To celebrate progress over perfection.
24:38And to trust that even in the hard days, you are working all things together for our
24:52good.
24:53Surround us with people who uplift and understand.
24:57Give wisdom to those who care for our mental well-being, counselors, friends, families, doctors.
25:10And for anyone struggling silent today, I lift them up to you.
25:15Lord, may they feel, may they feel seen, loved, and held in your peace.
25:23Thank you, Lord, for never getting up with us.
25:27Thank you for walking with us, Lord, always.
25:30Help us to believe, even when you're difficult, that brighter days are possible.
25:36And that with you, healing, is always within reach.
25:42In your holy name.
25:44Amen.
25:48Thank you, Joyce.
25:49Let's give her a nice round of applause.
25:57We've expanded this year's prayer for our schools.
26:00To help us to do so, we've invited a friend, a pastor of Waymaker Ministries of New Orleans,
26:15Louisiana.
26:16Let's welcome Pastor C.L. Johnson.
26:20We bring you greetings today to this great statement of our governor, Governor Sanders,
26:35and from Governor Jeff Landry, our parish president, and Cynthia LeChenny.
26:41A time when God is now calling America back to himself.
26:51We thank God for that White House and all the great officials.
26:56Dr. Hunt and I will ordain in this great city.
27:02We have been able to work in both states, the state of Louisiana and the state of Arkansas.
27:10And we originated an organization, 50 cents and three homeless ex-offenders,
27:18July 24th, 1997.
27:21From that day into this, we've been able to impact well over 10,000 undiplicated people
27:29for the glory of God.
27:32We have a statement.
27:33We are committed to help change lives and close what society says and there is no hope for.
27:45It is our endeavor to feed, clothe, shelter, and disciple these people until hope has been
27:53birthed in their hearts.
27:55Once hope has been restored, these saved people will become tomorrow's community leaders,
28:02businesses, church members, and social reformers.
28:06Indeed, when the devil has been forbade, God is turning it around for Israel.
28:16So we can just represent the better of Israel as well as what I want to do for Jefferson Parish children
28:23and youth planning there.
28:25One of the things that we're so happy to see Arkansas following the direction of the Ten Commandments.
28:33And I believe we shall see the greatest human God that we've ever seen in terms of our children.
28:42Let us pray.
28:43Father, in the name of Jesus, Arkansas needs you.
28:48We need you, God, to undergird all elements of our leadership.
28:55Lord, as represented here today, our Secretary of State and our tax collectors that are here.
29:04In the name of Jesus, this governor is a governor that is defending religious liberty and pro-family values.
29:13Now, Lord, we take authority over all the works of God.
29:18Satan, the Lord rebuke you.
29:20Our state shall be a state that lifts up the name of Jesus.
29:25Sick bodies will be healed.
29:27Transformed lives will come out of the prisons.
29:30And Father, we'll be careful to give you praise, honor, and glory.
29:36In the name of Jesus, we ask these prayers for all God's people, every person,
29:42Amen and Amen.
29:50Thank you for coming all the way from Louisiana to be with us and to pray for our state.
29:57Thank you so much.
29:59We appreciate you.
30:00I have often wondered and asked many politicians why the world would you want to sit in a position
30:07where to get so scrutinized and the family be held out in scrutiny and things would be so tough
30:16while I was elected to do something like that.
30:19And a person like that certainly needs to be undergirded with prayer.
30:24And so our next special, special guest, we certainly have been praying for her.
30:30The first woman to hold the position of chief executive officer of the National State.
30:38We appreciate her. We're praying for her.
30:41Ladies and gentlemen, let's stand to welcome our special guest to come speak now, ladies and gentlemen,
30:46the governor of the state of Arkansas, the honor of Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the governor of Arkansas.
31:11Gary, I'm going to take you with me everywhere you go.
31:24I always get that kind of reception.
31:27You know, it's great to be here today.
31:30And since we're all throwing out disclaimers, growing up with a father who was a Southern Baptist minister as well as a politician,
31:40I've learned quite a few lessons in my life.
31:43And generally, when you have this many pastors and politicians together, you can be assured of two things.
31:49One, you're going to be here a really long time.
31:54And two, you would probably have asked for money.
31:58So we get the ushers to go ahead and respond.
32:02Obviously, I'll be kidding.
32:05But it is an honor to be here with this distinguished group of people.
32:11And I see several members of the people who are often in these halls and glad to see you here and recognizing what a special day it is.
32:22So thank you for joining us at the Arkansas State Catholic.
32:26I want to thank each of the faith leaders that are here in the audience today, including those who have traveled from outside of our state.
32:33And a special thank you to Reverend Hunt and Reverend Thornton for helping plan and execute.
32:47I also want to give a special shout out to Secretary Jim Hudson, who delivered today's prayer for faith and family.
32:58Jim does a great job leading our team at our state at DFNA.
33:03And a lot of people don't know that he's actually a former pastor.
33:08But I think we all want a glimpse of that today.
33:11And Jim, I have to say, I think I might like Pastor Jim over Secretary Jim even more.
33:16So we are so thankful for your leadership and, importantly, for who you are and the way that you represent our incredible state.
33:25We are lucky to have you and blessed to call you our friend.
33:29And Morgan and one of my staff who stepped in at the last room and did a great job.
33:40And Morgan, I think you've gotten quite a bit of that spirit.
33:43So, you know, we get to see that every day in our office.
33:47But Morgan runs the faith office, which I was proud to bring back to the governor's office, something that had been missing for a long time.
33:55We do an amazing job.
33:56So thank you for what you do.
33:58You know, when President Truman announced the first National Day of Prayer back in 1952, he quoted the framers of the Declaration of Independence,
34:09who said they started their nation with a firm reliance on the protection of divine province.
34:18A lot has changed since 1952 and even more since 1776.
34:23But one thing that has never changed in our country, and I pray never will, is that our country is rooted on the solid rock of God's protection.
34:34As I mentioned, I grew up the daughter of a pastor.
34:37So saying things like that, frankly, never seemed very controversial, certainly not in my house.
34:45And it seems pretty obvious that the greatest country in the history of the world should shock its wealth, its strength, and its freedom to our Creator.
34:57From the moment the pilgrims put their hands together and bowed their heads at the first Thanksgiving,
35:02our country and our people have relied on God's grace and on His mercy.
35:09In times of unity and hope, and in times of division and pain, there is one common thread, prayer.
35:19And as Arkansas's 47th governor, I'm proud that is the case here in our state.
35:24As many of you know, I was proud to sign legislation this session, putting the Ten Commandments up in every classroom and every now and then.
35:32And I don't think anyone here feels like thou shalt not kill and thou shalt not steal would be controversial.
35:55Unfortunately, there's a loud minority that is misreading our Constitution and misrepresenting this new law.
36:05So today I ask that we come together and we send a clear message.
36:10Here we are from every corner of our state, every background, every denomination united in one God to say, in one prayer, in one voice, that we will always stand and we will always follow the one true Creator.
36:33As Paul wrote in Romans, rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
36:41Because Arkansas and America is never stronger than when our heads are bowed, our hands are lifted, and we're giving thanks and praise to God our Father.
36:53Thank you for being here, thank you for praying for our state, for our country, and may God bless each one of you.
37:00We are grateful for your service and for your willingness to stand with us today.
37:05Thank you very much.
37:06Thank you very much.