Student ministry plans national prayer event Published March 31, 2010 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Training Group's chaplains are joining with nonprior service students for a National Prayer Event, 6-7 p.m. April 22 at the Triangle Chapel. "We're calling it 'national,' because we will be praying for our nation," explained Chaplain (Capt.) Kenya Thomas, one of the event's organizers. "We hope to have 10 students from diverse religious backgrounds each reading a prayer concerning some aspect of our nation, including the the president, government, military leaders, deployed troops, military families and lost loved ones, world peace, other nations, military marriages, Haiti's recovery and world reform, including the debt crisis and health reform. After each completes his or her prayer, they'll light their candles. "We are hoping for high student participation," she continued. "Through auditions, we'll select a student to sing the National Anthem, perform a solo or share other creative talents such as music or liturgical dance. I already have a young man working on writing a poem titled, 'Why We Should Pray for Our Nation." The guest speaker is Chief Master Sgt. Lonnie Slater, 81st Training Wing command chief. Nonprior service Airmen from any faith tradition who want to participate can sign up at the white rope desk in the Fishbowl Student Ministries Center. For more information, call Chaplain Thomas, 377-2331.