A Day of Prayer: St. Louis, MO
In 2024, a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater St. Louis Scouting Council was inspired by church members in Birmingham, Alabama reading the Bible over three days to observe the National Day of Prayer. This sparked an idea. The Council invited Scouts from around the world to participate in a similar event, but with a difference—they would include readings from various faiths. This initiative became the National Day of Prayer and Sacred Text Readings.
The event has grown global in its reach, taking place in 14 countries and attracting over 5,100 youth. Its mission is to unite people worldwide in a collective prayer for peace. On May 1, 2025, the second annual National Day of Prayer and Sacred Text Readings in St. Louis brought together children and youth, ages 5 to 18, from 13 different faith traditions to the Salem United Methodist Church.
Eight Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) students from the Sri Sathya Sai Center of St. Louis, Missouri, participated in the event. They performed an uplifting song about love and peace, while two students shared insights from Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings, emphasizing that peace must begin within an individual before it can spread to family, community, and the world. Youth from other faith groups also recited passages from their sacred texts and shared their thoughts on promoting world peace. A common thread of understanding was woven through all the readings, reflecting the sentiment of the prayer the SSE students sang, the lyrics of which are shown below.
The SSE students are excited to participate in the event for years to come.