The first community gathering for National Day of Prayer (NDP) in Goshen was 2005 at Maple City Chapel. Our community came together with one desire, to lift up our city and our nation in prayer. Our NDP Task Force is represented by members of various denominations, united under the banner of Jesus Christ. Since that first meeting, we have continued planning a noon event each year through 2008.

 

In 2009, we started meeting at the Goshen Courthouse lawn at noon. 

Maple City Kiwanis also invited us to join the Prayer Breakfast that they had already been sponsoring for several years. From 2010-2013, we started meeting at the Goshen Courthouse at noon with as high as100 people attending – then we'd branch into different churches around town for the evenings.

 

On 2014’s National Day of Prayer, we started meeting at the Goshen Courthouse lawn together in the evening. Maggie Judd, Chairperson had a vision of a joyful assembly of saints worshiping and praising God. From this, she saw people worshiping on the courthouse lawn with flags and banners, building a wall of Prayer around the nation.

Psa. 149:6,9  "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand....to execute upon them the judgment written: "This honour have all His saints.  Praise the LORD." 

 

We had a record of over 200 community members lifting up their voice for their nations and their homes that night. 

 

During this time, we officially became the "Task Force" of Elkhart County National Day of Prayer, and added Elkhart County National Day of Prayer (ECNDP) on Facebook. 

 

After ReviveIN, Jan-Mar. 2015, we met at the fairgrounds at the Heritage Park in the evening with over 200 present and a powerful night of participation.

 

In 2019, Edna Shetler, ECNDP Task Force Member, shared with the Task Force, "We put a lot of time in promoting ONE event. What if we met at the Courthouse lawn EVERY FIRST Thursday of EACH month and encourage people to come out to pray?"  We continue to meet the FIRST THURSDAY (rain, snow or sun) 12-1:00 on the Goshen Courthouse Lawn. JOIN US!

 

Through rain and shine (and plague), our community continued to come together on the National Day of Prayer. The 2020 NDP was a particularly unique event as we met via live stream at noon on ECNDP Facebook. 

 

In 2022, Tim Henke, long-time ECNDP Task Force member, branched out and started meeting at Central Green Park, 300 S. Main St, Elkhart. The Elkhart chapter continues to grow.

 

For this year’s National Day of Prayer, we’re trying something totally new. On the National Day of Prayer, we will gather at Maple City Chapel for prayer, breakfast, and a message from our keynote speaker. We are excited to have Kyle Martin, founder of 'Time to Revive' and a familiar face from 'ReviveIN' in 2015, sharing with us.

 

Along the way, we have been blessed by the hard work and service of many volunteers. Long term members of the NDP Task Force include Edna Shetler, Ed Wright, Maggie Judd, Mary Ellen Sission, Denise Butler, and Tim Henke. Goshen’s city leadership has been instrumental in achieving our mission: Mayor Allan Kauffman, Mayor Jeremy Stutzman, and Mayor Gina Leichty have our special thanks. Many businesses and individuals come together every year to sponsor a community event on The National Day of Prayer. Their support helps make this event possible, and we are deeply grateful for their partnership.