DALTON, Ga. — Randy Southerland said if someone would’ve told him 20 years ago he would speak during a prayer service he wouldn’t believe it.

“I’m glad Jesus can take a beer bottle out of your hand and replace it with a Bible, get someone off dope and give them hope,” he said.

Southerland, associate pastor of Concord Baptist Church in Fairmount, was one of the speakers during Whitfield County’s 30th National Day of Prayer observance held Thursday on the Whitfield County courthouse lawn.

“Prayer is not welcomed in many places anymore,” he said. “I’m thankful for the steps of the Whitfield County courthouse where prayer is welcome and so are you.”

Some attendees filled seats on the lawn, while others stood under trees listening to speakers deliver their prayers and the sounds of the Master Peace Quartet.

The theme was “Unity” with Ephesians 4:3 — “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” — as the Scripture.

National Day of Prayer is observed across the country on the first Thursday in May. It was brought to Whitfield County by Bernice Spangler of Center Hill Baptist Church in Chatsworth.

“The Lord brought it to my heart to do something with prayer,” she said.

Spangler prayed for families during Thursday’s observance, asking God to bless the elderly, their families, the sick and shut-ins, and newly married couples.

“My heart is so tickled today just to be a part of this,” she said. “I got saved and married in 1978.”

She encouraged everyone to “put Christ above all.”

Wayne Saylors, a deputy with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, said a prayer for public servants.

“Public servants go in many different directions,” he said.

Saylors asked the audience members to keep the families of public servants in prayer during their time away from home.

“Times have changed and public servants are facing things they haven’t before,” he said.

Saylors prayed for a “hedge of protection around our public workers.”

Jacob Dunn, 13, of Cleveland, Tenn., prayed for the youth.

“I pray that you (God) will help our youth and this generation,” he said. “I pray for the next generation that you keep them off drugs, alcohol, and help us serve you.”

Dunn asked that God “put fear in their hearts and not let us compromise.”

During his prayer for the community, Ernesto Mendez, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida in Dalton, said he’s thankful for the opportunity for citizens to gather together.

“We have different cultures, languages, religions and social positions, but you are only one God for all,” he said. “The creator for heaven and Earth, and for that reason we are coming together in unity.”

Mendez prayed for help in working together for a better community for everyone’s children and grandchildren.

“This National Day of Prayer is different than any other because we are making a commitment to stay together in unity,” he said.

Stephanie Byrd, of Dalton, said this is the 10th year she’s attended the observance.

“I like to come out and worship the Lord through prayer with the community,” she said. “I thought this was a good service, I enjoyed all of the prayers, and songs that helped prepare our hearts for those prayers.”