You can't say Butler doesn't have a prayer. It will have at least 1,000 of them daily during the upcoming Lenten season thanks to a prayer initiative involving nine churches kicking off March 5.

“Seek God for the City 2014” is the effort spearheaded by WayMakers, which organizes movements of united prayer.

Lisa Gill, director of serving at First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., is coordinating the local Seek God for the City 2014 prayer initiative set to begin on Ash Wednesday and run through the 40 days of Lent, ending on Palm Sunday, April 13.

Gill said nine churches in Butler are participating, meaning there will be nearly 1,000 people praying the same prayers for Butler County.

“Everybody can do this on their own,” said Gill. “It's hard to commit to meetings and groups.”

Participants pray each day using a booklet supplied by WayMakers.

“Each day's prayer begins with a small Scripture quotation and a prayer directed to a different population of people in the city: police, the homeless, college students,” said Gill.

“The idea is people aren't confident in praying. They don't know the right words to use,” said Gill. “This gives them the confidence in their praying.”

Gill said she got in contact with the WayMakers organization, and it provided her with 850 booklets containing the 40 days' worth of prayers.

“They suggest we sell the books for $1. That makes more of an impact than if we were just handing them out,” said Gill, adding the prayer books are available at First Methodist.

“We are actively looking for more people and churches to pray for things in the city,” said Gill.

Gill said any church or individual wishing to join the initiative should contact her at 724-283-6160, Ext. 233, or at lgill@butlerfumc.com.

Gill said, “There is also a Facebook page that anyone can access an app designed to work with the prayer booklet that can be downloaded to a smartphone or iPad.”

“I'm excited to see what God will reveal to us if we have a thousand people lifting up the same prayer every day,” said Gill.

“I thought this was a great way to focus on people in the city,” said Gill.

And the prayer initiative ties in with Lent. First United's pastor, the Rev. Eric Park, said Gill, “stressed is there some way we can increase spiritual attentiveness during Lent?”

“This takes the prayer focus off trivial and personal matters,” said Gill. “You get the sense of being involved more as people pray for things outside their own needs.”

“We pray to train ourselves to hear his voice and see where he's at work in the city,” said Gill.

The Rev. Mary Kitchen, pastor of East Butler Presbyterian Church and North Butler Presbyterian Church in East Butler, said her churches will be taking part in the prayer initiative.

“I think I'm going to make it the focus of our Lenten worship and offer it to our congregations,” said Kitchen, adding each church has about 100 members in its congregation. “It seemed to me like a very worthy and exciting focus,” said Kitchen.

Valerie Checkeye at North Main Street Church of God, 1201 N. Main St. Ext., said she learned of the prayer initiative from Gill because they attend Butler Collaborative for Families meetings together.

Checkeye said, “We probably have 200 people joining.”

“I'm expecting God to do incredible things in Butler after the 40 days are over. I'm excited to see what happens,” said Checkeye.

At least 1,000 members of nine area churches will pray daily during the upcoming Lenten season beginning March 5.• First United Methodist Church• First English Lutheran• North Street Christian Church• East Butler Presbyterian• North Butler Presbyterian• Community Life Church• Community Alliance Church• North Main Street Church of God• New Beginnings Free Methodist Church