Spontaneous prayer was the name of the game Thursday as Covington County residents gathered on the court square to observe National Day of Prayer.

The Rev. Leroy Cole encouraged those present to gather close together and pray at will.

Before prayers were uttered, Cole spoke at length about the importance of prayer and how Jesus Christ taught all to pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Gathered in a tight group, the crowd sang “Victory in Jesus” before prayers commenced.

Individual prayers rang up over the crowd and it got to where several were praying at the same time.

The small group wasn’t alone in praying as people gathered all around the nation to observe the day of prayer.

National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, which invites people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

In 1775, the first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting to signify the first day of prayer for the nation.