When All Else Fails to Contain Oil, Governors Turn to God -- Pray Along With Them

Texas Governor Rick Perry stated-" It seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join with their fellow Gulf Coast residents and others across the country and around the world to thank God, seek his wisdom for ourselves and our leaders, and ask him for his merciful intervention and healing in this time of crisis." Perry urged Texans to pray Sunday "for the healing of individuals, the rebuilding of communities and the restoration of entire Gulf coast environment."

Alabama Governor Bob Riley wrote, "Throughout our history, Alabamians have humbly turned to God to ask for his blessings and to hold us steady during times of struggle. This is certainly one of those times."

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour wrote- "Prayer allows us the opportunity to reflect and seek guidance, strength, comfort and inspiration from Almighty God and citizens of Mississippi are urged to pray..."

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal declared- "June 27th as a Statewide Day of Prayer for perseverance through the oil spill crisis."

Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp issued a June 23 proclamation urging Floridians to pray for the families of those killed in the Deepwater Horizon "initial blast"and that God would "crown with success efforts to stop the flow of oil in the Gulf."


Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp - Written by David Barton of Wallbuilders, and signed by FL Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, and the Governors of TX, LA, AL and MS.

"Whereas, we find ourselves in the midst of the greatest man-made environmental disaster in our history; and

"Whereas, it is our heritage that as a people we have been taught not only to publicly acknowledge God for the many blessings bestowed on us but also that we are to turn to Him and seek His aid and assistance in times of distress and calamity; and

"Whereas, President Ronald Reagan affirmed not only that "Prayer is the mainspring of the American spirit, a fundamental tenet of our people since before the Republic was founded" but also that "Prayer is today as powerful a force in our Nation as it has ever been. We as a Nation should never forget this source of strength";

"Whereas, President Reagan reminded us that we "have always turned to prayer at times of crisis. We recall the moving story of George Washington kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge to ask for divine assistance when the fate of our fledgling Nation hung in the balance. And Abraham Lincoln tells us that on the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg, 'I went into my room and got down on my knees in prayer.' Never before, he added, had he prayed 'with as much earnestness"; and

"Whereas, President John Adams declared that "a deep sense and a due acknowledgment of the governing providence of a Supreme Being" is necessary "to the happiness of individuals and to the well-being of communities" and "that in circumstances of great urgency and seasons of imminent danger, earnest and particular supplications should be made to Him"; and

"Whereas, Benjamin Franklin recalled that "In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered." Facing new difficulties, he queried, "And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?" He therefore recommended offering up "prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven"

"Whereas, John Hancock declared that not only was it "at all times our indispensable duty devoutly to acknowledge His superintending providence" but also that "especially in times of impending danger and public calamity...to implore His merciful interposition for our deliverance...humbly beseeching Him...to remove our present calamities";

"Whereas, Samuel Adams reminded citizens that "it being at all times our indispensable duty as a people devoutly to acknowledge the superintending Providence of God, [and] especially in times of public calamity to humble ourselves before Him, penitently confessing our sins and imploring His gracious interposition for our deliverance";

"Whereas, the Continental Congress declared that "in the hour of calamity and impending danger...we are peculiarly animated, with true penitence of heart, to prostrate ourselves before our great Creator and fervently to supplicate His gracious interposition for our deliverance"

"Now, Therefore, I, Jeff Kottkamp, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby call for a Day of Prayer on Sunday, June 27, 2010, urging citizens to pray for comfort for the families of those killed in the Deepwater Horizon initial blast; that God would crown with success efforts to stop the flow of oil in the Gulf; that He would interpose to mitigate further damage and strengthen the hands of clean up crews; that He would sustain those whose livelihood is directly impacted by this tragedy; that He would preserve the health of citizens along the coastal regions; that He would comfort all citizens impacted by the oil spill, reminding us that He is a strong refuge in times of trouble; that He would guide and direct our civil leaders and provide them with wisdom and Divinely inspired solutions to the many complex problems associated with this disaster; and that He would prevent future recurrences of this oil spill."

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley's Prayer Proclamation:

"WHEREAS, Alabama is suffering from an unprecedented disaster caused by the explosion and sinking of the BP Deepwater Horizon and its aftermath, a disaster that threatens the livelihoods of our fellow citizens, the environmental beauty of our coast, and our quality of life; and

"WHEREAS, throughout our history, Alabamians have turned in prayer to God to humbly ask for His blessings and to hold us steady during times of difficulty; and

"WHEREAS, citizens of Alabama are urged to pray for the well-being of our fellow citizens and our State, to pray for all those in other states who are hurt by this disaster, to pray for those who are working to respond to this crisis, and to pray that a solution that stops the oil leak is completed soon:

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby declare Sunday, June 27, 2010, as a Day of Prayer in Alabama and encourage individuals to pray on their own or with others, according to their own faith, in an expression of faith and hope.

"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that citizens of Alabama are also encouraged to give personal thanks to God for the blessings we have received and for God's continued guidance during these difficult times."

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's Prayer Proclamation:

"WHEREAS, Louisiana is entering the 66th day of an economic and environmental crisis caused by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which is the largest oil spill in American history; and,

"WHEREAS, The Deepwater Horizon oil spill already has a profound effect on Louisiana, its coastline and its people and our entire Louisiana way of life; and,

"WHEREAS, The people of coastal Louisiana are being directly impacted by the closure of our waters for fishing and oyster harvesting and many are struggling to make ends meet or provide for their families; and,

"WHEREAS, The continuing BP oil spill disaster follows the damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike, which impacted many of the same communities now being struck by oil; and,

"WHEREAS, Louisiana, known around the world as the Sportsman's Paradise, is blessed with a bounty of natural treasures, including unique wildlife and fisheries and vibrant communities and traditions that are now threatened due to the ongoing catastrophic damage to our wetlands; and,

"WHEREAS, The suffering of Louisiana's state bird, the brown pelican, which was only recently removed from the endangered species list, has become symbolic of the continuing damage caused by the BP oil spill to our fragile coastline and the entire ecosystem it supports; and,

"WHEREAS, Louisiana's people are coming together to help each other now during this time of crisis just as they have persevered through losses before; and Louisiana fishermen, shrimpers and oyster harvesters are now on the frontlines of the oil spill, fighting to protect our coast; and,

"WHEREAS, Hundreds of members of the Louisiana National Guard are working tirelessly to shield our fragile marshland from oil that continues to hit our shores - even as many of them just recently returned from fighting for our country overseas; and Louisiana scientists, biologists, veterinarians and wildlife agents battle against the oil every day to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife that survive being impacted by the oil; and,

"WHEREAS, Coastal parish leaders from all along the coast have come together to implement their own ideas to protect our waters and our shores, often fighting to convey the sense of urgency and quick action that this crisis demands; and,

"WHEREAS, The American people continue to offer their support through prayers and charitable donations, and business owners and scientists share their ideas for stopping the oil; and,

"WHEREAS, Louisianians all across the world are united in hope for an end to this catastrophic event and pray for the recovery of our coastline, the rehabilitation of our fish and wildlife and the restoration of our extraordinary coastal areas that are unlike any other place in the world; and,

"WHEREAS, Our collective fight to recover from this crisis and prevent future damage continues today;

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bobby Jindal, Governor of the State of Louisiana, do hereby proclaim June 27, 2010 as a Statewide Day of Prayer In the State of Louisiana and in the Gulf of Mexico."

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's Prayer Proclamation:

"WHEREAS, the Gulf Coast has suffered an unfortunate loss of life due to the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, which continues to threaten livelihoods, economies and precious coastal wildlife ecosystems with devastation and destruction; and

"WHEREAS, throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up through prayer; and

"WHEREAS, prayer provides peace and guidance in times of crisis and conflict, and reminds us of the comforting assurance of God's love for us all; and

"WHEREAS, it seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join with their fellow Gulf Coast residents and others across the country and around the world to thank God, seek his wisdom for ourselves and our leaders, and ask him for his merciful intervention and healing in this time of crisis;

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim Sunday, June 27, 2010, as a Day of Prayer in the State of Texas. I urge Texans of all faiths and religious traditions to offer prayers on that day for the healing of individuals, the rebuilding of communities and the restoration of entire Gulf Coast environment in the wake of this disaster."

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's Prayer Proclamation:

"WHEREAS, Mississippians are suffering from an unprecedented disaster caused by the April 20, 2010, explosion and resulting oil spill from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil well, a disaster that threatens the livelihoods of our fellow citizens, the environmental beauty of our coast, and our quality of life; and

"WHEREAS, "Prayer allows us an opportunity to reflect and to seek guidance, strength, comfort and inspiration from Almighty God; and

"WHEREAS, citizens of Mississippi are urged to pray for the well-being of our fellow citizens and our State, to pray for all those in other states who are hurt by this disaster, to pray for those who are working to respond to this crisis, and to pray that a solution that stops the oil leak is completed soon:

"NOW THEREFORE, I, Haley Barbour, Governor of the State of Mississippi, hereby proclaim June 27, 2010, as a Day of Prayer in Mississippi for relief from this crisis and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico and shoreline."