National Prayer Committee Transitions to New Leadership

During their January annual meeting, members of America’s National Prayer Committee (NPC) honored the leadership and life of the former chairman Dave Butts, who passed away in November 2022. Board members shared memories and tributes to Dave, who led NPC for 20 years and helped shape a vision for revival and spiritual awakening in the nation.

The NPC board then commissioned Geoff Eckart as new NPC chairman. Eckart is currently pastor of Daybreak Church in Grand Rapids, MI, and has served on the NPC executive board for several years. Eckart says, “I consider this to be one of the greatest honors of my life. . . . It’s NPC’s 40th anniversary. Biblically, it’s a generational number. It’s time for us to realize that we stand at this moment with the future of our nation under our charge as those who faithfully pray for her.”

Eckart adds, “The NPC is a force, not a fellowship. . . . Be ready to pray and wrestle in battle like you never have. God help our country if we sink back to normalcy as leaders.”

Kathy Branzell, president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, announced the theme for National Day of Prayer, May 4, 2023: “Pray Fervently in Righteousness and Avail Much.” By law, the president is required to declare the first Thursday in May as a day to pray for our nation, says Branzell.