I’ll never forget this Thursday.

It started with an event for Durham Business Leaders during which UNC’s Bobby Jones shared his testimony and led us all in prayer. He’s a wonderful man. I didn’t get the official count, but I think that attendance was nearly 1,000.

A few hours later I had the incredible privilege of delivering a prayer for the marketplace as a part of the National Day of Prayer Event in the Plaza just outside of the Carolina Theater, and then to present DurhamCares to a lunch for Durham pastors.

Candidly, I was not sure what to expect from a 90 minute program of prayer. I’m not sure that I have ever prayed more than 10 minutes at a stretch in my life. As I looked at the program, I couldn’t help noticing that I was one of the few non pastors on the agenda. So I’d be praying along with the likes of Ron Lewis and JD Greear…kind of like my singing with the ranks of Elton John and Bono. Long story short, my prayer went well, I think that God gave me just the right words at the right time, and I hope that HE found it worthy.

The real story however was the amazing assembly of prayers that was started off by Andy Thompson of World Overcomer’s church. Wow, that man is gifted. I used to listen to Lenny Kravitz before soccer games to get me fired up…maybe that’s why I was average at best. If I had Andy driving with me to every game, I’d be writing this from the Team USA training camp.

Andy was just the start and other prayers came from great pastors in Durham, both white and black. That was one of the wonderful parts of this service: blacks, whites and Latinos worshipping together. They say that Sunday morning is the most segregated time in Durham. Well, this past Thursday in front of the Carolina Theater was it’s most unified.

There were two highlights though for me that were equally powerful:

1. Elaine Bushfan and Jim Hill, she an african-american woman, and he a white man, together the judicial leadership of Durham, holding hands and leading a prayer together. Awesome.

2. Lt. Col. Natalie Perkins, Warden at the Durham County Detention Center. Half way through her prayer for law enforcement she broke out in song…now, that woman can sing along with the likes of anyone. I don’t think that I’ve ever heard a more beautiful voice…and that from the warden of the jail!! Incredible.

I could go on and on. Also excellent and moving were Chris Rice, Barry Engelbrecht, John Atkins, Dupsy Omotosho, Kenesha Luney and David Lobach.

The day was an incredible success and is due in very large part to the excellent vision, leadership, and passion of Wendy Clark, an area businesswoman with an incredible heart for God and Durham.

Lastly, the lunch afterwards (also arranged by Wendy) was memorable as it presented a special opportunity to introduce DurhamCares to more than 75 Durham pastors and guests. I was incredibly encouraged with the reception I received and am grateful to the very kind introduction of Brad O’Brien of Summit Church and Hope for Durham. After describing DC, I asked them how DurhamCares might serve them and their congregations and I hope that over the years to come we do just that.