State leaders hold prayer service for Katrina victims

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Gov. Brad Henry joined police and fire officials Friday in praying for victims of Hurricane Katrina and those involved in relief efforts in New Orleans.<br/><br/>Henry said Oklahomans

Thursday, September 15th 2005, 5:00 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Gov. Brad Henry joined police and fire officials Friday in praying for victims of Hurricane Katrina and those involved in relief efforts in New Orleans.

Henry said Oklahomans eagerly responded to the material needs of hurricane victims but he also acknowledged that those victims "have wounds that are beyond our power to heal."

The prayer service, lasting over an hour, was held in the second floor rotunda of the state Capitol in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer proclaimed by President Bush.

In his prayer, Henry called on Oklahomans also to pray for the president and rescuers and urged unity, perseverance and rejection of "the pitfalls of anger and division that might tend to creep into this situation."

Other prayers were by Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Chief Gary Adams, Midwest City Fire Department Chaplain Charles McDade Sr., Dr. Matthews Draeos, Asst. Adj. Gen. Pete Costilow, Oklahoma Christian University Education Chairman Floyd Coppedge, the Rev. Randall Faulkner and Mike Jestes, executive director of the Oklahoma Family Policy Council.

The service included songs of faith performed by the Southern Nazarene University Chorale and a welcome by retired Air Force Col. Lloyd Smith, organizer of the event.

Coppedge prayed that children displaced by the hurricane will recognize God's love at work as they resume their class work in a new environment.

Fallin said it was important that leaders express their faith in public.

She said Oklahomans had shown their generosity to Katrina victims because "the Lord knows we have been on the receiving end" of help from others, referring to support Oklahomans received after such events as the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and killer tornadoes.

Henry said he was proud of how Oklahomans welcomed evacuees and of Oklahoma Army National Guard troops and others who went to New Orleans, including Brig. Gen. Myles L. Deering, who was given command of a task force that included regular Army troops.

"I have overwhelming pride and appreciation for Oklahomans everywhere who stepped up to the plate at a time of need to help our brothers and sisters," the governor said.