April 10, 2020
On the Christian holy day of Good Friday and the Jewish feast of Passover, Governor Mike Dunleavy called April tenth the Alaska day of prayer and hope, calling on all Alaskans to pray in their own way.
“We want to pull upon every resource we have,” the governor said, for the future of Alaska. The governor’s daily press conferences have been widely watched to track the state’s rising number of confirmed cases of the corona virus.
In between fielding questions from reporters and educating the public on the science of the disease, Dunleavy and the state’s chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, have appealed to the people of Alaska to do their part to contain of the corona virus pandemic, through social distancing and regular hand-washing.
But, today, Governor Dunleavy and members of his cabinet, appealed to the God of the Bible for healing, protection and strength for Alaskans and people around the world who are suffering. The governor read a proclamation affirming that prayer “comforts and sustains all through times of hardship and crisis.”
Dunleavy introduced a video of a recorded prayer given by Franklin Graham, whose Christian humanitarian organization, Samaritan’s Purse, arrived in Alaska on Monday with more than 8 tons of medical supplies for rural hub communities.
Graham prayed for the state, government leaders, first responders and health care workers attending to the sick. “Father, come now, we ask you, help us, please,” Graham prayed, “Help us, in Jesus’ Name we pray.”
Dunleavy prayed for Alaskans suffering from the virus, health care workers and first responders who are on the front lines, of what he called a war against the corona virus, and businesses and workers affected by the state’s health mandates.
“Most importantly, we pray for your watchful protection over our most vulnerable – the elderly, the homeless, those fighting physical afflictions,” the governor prayed, “Console the child who can no longer feel the embrace of a grandparent.”
But, the heart of the half-hour program was a compilation of prayers recorded by nearly 3 dozen leaders of the Christian and Jewish faiths, from around the state, and within his administration.
Dr. Tamika Ledbetter, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development prayed for economic stability.
“I pray that you will supply all of our need, according to your riches and glory in Christ Jesus,” said Ledbetter.
Kelly Tshibaka, Commissioner of the Department of Administration, prayed for all of the government workers.
“I ask that you bless them and protect them with your shed blood,” said Tschibaka, “I remember that you say that it is by your wounds that we are healed. Please protect them from corona virus and any danger that would come their way.”
Many prayed for protection for the governor and the state’s lawmakers and healing for the sick.
“Please be close to the those who have lost a loved one from COVID-19,” prayed Rick Benjamin, former pastor of Abbott Loop Community Church.
“I’m praying for hope to rise up in every town, city and village in Alaska, in Jesus’ name,” said Bill Pagaran, leader of Carry the Cure, who sang, danced and played a drum from a mountainside, “and that every man, woman, boy and girl would be filled with the love of God that casts out fear.”
An unnamed Jewish couple sang the Jewish song of healing, Mi Shebeirach.
“Bless those in need of healing with refuah shleima, the renewal of body, the renewal of spirit.” they sang.
More than 30 thousand people watched the governor’s video on social media within the first 24 hours, a sign that, like the governor, many Alaskans are looking to the heavens for a cure to the pandemic that has touched most of the world.
