Ashland Gathers Before Sunrise for 45th Annual Community Prayer Breakfast
ASHLAND, Ohio — Before the sun broke across the eastern sky this morning, Ashland was already awake in prayer.
As people made their way across the Ashland University parking lot in the cool, calm early morning air, there was a quiet beauty over the city, the kind of morning that makes a person pause, look up and remember the words of Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
That spirit carried into the Ashland University Convocation Center, where community members, pastors, elected officials, first responders, veterans, educators, business leaders and families gathered at 6:30 a.m. for the 45th Annual Ashland Community Prayer Breakfast, held in connection with the National Day of Prayer.
The event, sponsored by the Ashland County Ministerial Association, opened with prayer from Pastor Dave McNeely, president of ACMA, followed by the presentation of the flag by the Ashland City Police Department. Calvin Houser led the Pledge of Allegiance and “God Bless America,” setting a patriotic and reverent tone for the morning.
County Commissioner President Jim Justice presented a proclamation from the Ashland County Commissioners, noting that throughout American history, people have turned to prayer for strength, inspiration and solidarity. The 2026 National Day of Prayer theme came from 1 Chronicles 16:24: “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all people.”
The proclamation called on citizens to give thanks for the freedoms and blessings often taken for granted, while also praying for military members, first responders, local communities and the nation. Commissioners Michael Welch, Denny Bittle and Jim Justice proclaimed May 7, 2026, as National Day of Prayer in Ashland County.
Mayor Matt Miller followed with a heartfelt reflection on the power of prayer, quoting from the hymn “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” Miller reminded those gathered that prayer has long been woven into the life and progress of Ashland.
“There is nothing you can do in your life that will benefit you more, your family more, our community more than pray more,” Miller said.
Miller pointed to the growth and renewed energy visible in Ashland, saying much of what the community is seeing today began years ago with people quietly praying for revival in the city. He spoke of groups who prayed at the Salvation Army chapel, others who prayed near the Pump House District and one woman who, before her death, had driven every street in Ashland, praying over each home and business she passed.
“God answers our prayers,” Miller said. “And so today, when we say these prayers, you say them with enthusiasm and energy and hope, anticipating the great thing he’s about to do.”
Special music was provided by Pastor Dave Langdon and his wife, Dawn, with the song “Gods still doing miracles” Langdon told the crowd the song was meant as an encouragement that God is still doing miracles.
The keynote speaker was J. Craig Brown, CEO of Christian Healthcare Ministries. Brown delivered a powerful message centered on prayer, surrender and alignment with God’s purpose.
Brown said prayer is not simply a ceremonial gesture or a last resort when all other options have failed. Instead, he described prayer as the place where the human heart comes before God and begins to align with what God is already doing.
“Prayer is not what gets God ready to do our will,” Brown said. “Prayer is what gets us ready to do God’s will.”
Brown shared personal stories from his own life, including a chance meeting at a White Castle with Dr. John Rawlings, a longtime pastor and mentor to many. During that encounter, Brown said Rawlings challenged him with a question that stayed with him: “When are you going to say yes to God?”
Brown said that moment reshaped the way he prayed. His prayers became less about asking God to bless what he was building, and more about asking God what He was building and how Brown’s life could align with that purpose.
Brown also shared the moving origin story of Christian Healthcare Ministries, tracing it back to Bruce Hawthorne, a small-town minister whose wife and young daughter were killed in a 1981 crash. Facing grief, loss and more than $54,000 in medical bills, Hawthorne prayed for a miracle. After supporters of his ministry responded with prayers, cards and financial help, every medical bill was paid within 45 days.
From that tragedy, Brown said, a vision was born: Christians helping bear one another’s medical burdens. What started with a small group of believers eventually grew into Christian Healthcare Ministries, which now serves hundreds of thousands of believers across all 50 states.
Brown said what began with a desperate prayer and an act of obedience has now grown into a ministry that helped satisfy more than $1.5 billion in medical needs last year.
“It all began with a desperate prayer followed by an act of obedience,” Brown said.
Brown closed his message by calling Ashland to be a community of prayer not just in ceremony, but in daily life.
“May God make us a people of prayer,” Brown said. “May God make us leaders of prayer and may God bless our families, our churches, and our nation.”
Following Brown’s message, the breakfast moved into a time of guided prayer over several areas of community and national life. Prayer leaders asked different groups to stand as the room prayed over military veterans and families, national leaders, state officials, social service agencies, business leaders, healthcare providers, city and county officials, law enforcement, firefighters, educators, pastors and ministry leaders.
Lenroy Jones, online pastor for Bethel Chapel and a veteran himself, prayed over military veterans and families who have lost loved ones in service to the nation.
State Representative Melanie Miller, who also serves as director of the Ashland Pregnancy Care Center, prayed for national leaders, including the president, vice president, members of Congress and the United States Supreme Court.
Joel Zook of Southview Grace Brethren Church prayed over state elected officials, judges and employees, asking for wisdom, humility and strength for those entrusted with leadership in Ohio.
Garrick Bailey of Substance Church prayed over social service agencies, business leaders, civic leaders, healthcare workers and those serving the community in countless ways.
Ralph Eichelberger of Eagle Wings Chaplain prayed for city elected officials, law enforcement, sheriff’s deputies, State Highway Patrol troopers, firefighters and probation officers, recognizing those who protect, serve and respond when people are facing their hardest moments.
The morning also included prayers for county officials, township leaders, educators, universities, seminaries, Christian schools, homeschool teachers, spiritual renewal, pastors and ministry leaders.
Near the close of the event, attendees were asked to fill out prayer request cards. Leaders with the Ashland County Ministerial Association said those requests would be prayed over by ministers and ministry leaders in the coming weeks.
The prayer breakfast closed with remarks and prayer from Pastor Tim Bright of Encounter Jesus Church, vice president of ACMA.
For 45 years, the Ashland Community Prayer Breakfast has brought the community together around faith, gratitude and service. This year, under the quiet glow of an early May morning, Ashland once again gathered not just to eat breakfast, not just to sing and listen, but to pray for its families, its leaders, its first responders, its schools, its churches, its nation and its future.
And as the morning began, so did the message of the day:
This is the day the Lord has made. Ashland chose to rejoice and be glad in it.
Special thanks were extended to the Ashland County Ministerial Association, ACMA officers Pastor Dave McNeely, Bobby Brown and Keith Tyson, Prayer Coordinator Melanie Miller, ACPB Chairman John Bouquet, Karen Hetrick, business and church sponsors, elected officials, prayer leaders, Jimmi Delay for photography and Amanda with the AU Convocation Center serving team.
