Published: May 06, 2008 09:58 pm         

A Higher Power

Cornerstone Christian School students release prayer balloons

Faculty, staff and students at Cornerstone Christian School in Lily let fly their prayers for individuals, businesses and organizations who have supported the school.

As part of school’s celebration of the National Day of Prayer Thursday, the students gathered on the football field outside of the former Lily High School to launch about 160 balloons.

Attached to each balloon was a prayer card containing the name of the person who released the balloon and the supporter for whom that person is praying.

The balloons drifted up into the air with the wind carrying them in a northwesterly direction toward the Pine Grove and Sinking Creek areas of Laurel County.

On the back of each card is the school’s mailing address.

Principal Matt Webb said the goal is for anyone who finds one of the balloons write their name and the location where the balloon was found and mail the card back to the school.

“We are eager to learn where out balloons have traveled, so please send this card back to us,” the card states. “Add a stamp and your return name and address and we would love to pray for you as well!”

Webb gave credit for the event to his wife, Brenda, who worked to organize the balloon release. Students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade participated in the event. Though this is the first year for the balloon release, Brenda Webb said she is looking forward to making this an annual event at Cornerstone.

Judy Hampton, who teaches first grade at Cornerstone, said she has been talking with her students about the balloon release and using it as an opportunity to teach the children about the power of praying for others.

According to the National Day of Prayer Task Force’s Web site, www.ndptf.org, the National Day of Prayer was established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1952, asking Americans of all faiths to pray for their nation.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation setting the day as the first Thursday May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.

“I’m just so thankful President Reagan made the day official,” Hampton said.