Today will be celebrated around the nation as National Day of Prayer, and the local organizer says it couldn’t come at a better time.

“Our county is definitely in trouble,” said Robert Bradley, a member of the Andalusia Ministerial Association. “It seems like everyone is going against being a Christian, and this country was founded on Christianity. Today is the time to get out and pray.

“The country is facing so many difficult issues — economy, personal issues,” he said. “And people need to pray about those issues. Today’s forum is just that opportunity. We need to decide what is important and what we need to do about those issues.”

Bradley said the event will kick off at 11 a.m. with “good gospel music.” The music will be followed by a service at 12:15 p.m. on the courthouse square featuring messages by Ted Watson, the Rev. Clyde Northrop and Judge Frank “Trippy” McGuire — to name a few.

“We know it’s hard to get away from work and to the square by noon, so it was our thinking to have it at 12:15 p.m.,” he said. “We won’t keep people too long. We just want to do our part and pray for our country and what’s important.”

The National Day of Prayer was established by the U.S. Congress in 1952 and was made into a law by President Harry S. Truman, with idea of establishing a day of prayer specifically geared towards events from the local level to world politics.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan designated the first Thursday in May as National Day of Prayer.

In Florala, residents will have three opportunities to celebrate National Day of Prayer — 9 a.m. at Florala Health and Rehab, noon on the square and at 7 p.m. in the Old National Guard Armory.