“Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee” – 2 Chronicles 6:39

The Orangeburg community will once again come together to offer prayers during the 15th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Thursday, May 7 at The Cinema in Orangeburg Mall.

Breakfast will be served at 6:45 a.m., and the program will begin at 7:30 a.m.

The Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast coincides with the National Day of Prayer. This year’s national theme is “Prayer: America’s Hope.” The theme is based on Psalm 33:22 which states: “May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”

The featured speaker will be WIS-TV Anchor Dawndy Mercer Plank.

“It is another opportunity for our community to be together as in the past,” Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller said. “I am excited about this year’s speaker. I am excited she will be able to take time out of her busy schedule to speak us. I look forward to having a good turnout.”

Plank, an active member of Columbia’s Shandon Baptist Church, is a frequent speaker at churches throughout the state. She is involved in programs that prevent child abuse, prevent cancer and promote healthy living. Plank also serves as an American Red Cross Ambassador. One of her greatest passions is helping stray animals be adopted into good homes.

Plank said her message will be based on 2 Chronicles 20, where the King of Judah (Jehoshaphat) chose to praise, pause, proceed and ponder when faced with a trial in his life in relation to his people.

“I want the people of Orangeburg to see that truly bowing before God enables your fears to turn into faith, your worry into worship and your trials into triumphs,” Plank said.

In addition to ensuring her spiritual fitness, Plank is also a marathon runner and fitness buff. Professionally, Plank is a health and medical reporter on WIS News.

Plank’s awards include Best Anchor Personality for 2008, 2005 and 2004 by The Free Times and Best Local TV Personality for 2008 and 2003 by Columbia Metropolitan Magazine.

In 2002, the South Carolina Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness awarded her its Media Fitness Award. In December 2001, Plank was a runner and torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

In 1994, she received the South Carolina Broadcaster’s Association Personality of the Year Award, as well as the National Journalism Award for Best Television Coverage of Leukemia.

Plank’s television career began in 1989 when she left her hometown of Indianapolis, Ind., for a reporter position at WBAY-TV in Green Bay, Wis. In 1992, she flew south to co-anchor “WIS News Sunrise.” She was later promoted to co-anchor of “Live at Five.”

Plank has spent time at Houston’s KNWS News, KTRK-TV, KSBJ Christian Radio and later was host of both a horse and travel show.

She returned to WIS Television in 2001.

Plank graduated with a B.S. in telecommunications in 1989 from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., after an internship in Washington, D.C.

Also during the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, the 35-voice Orangeburg Community Choir will present “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and “This is My Song.” The choir will be led by Sylvia Trimmier, choir director at Orangeburg’s First Presbyterian Church.

Prayers will be offered by:

n Opening – Shane Wall, senior pastor, The Feast of the Lord, and president of Orangeburg-Calhoun Association of Clergy

n For national, state and local government leaders – Dr. Mike Smith, St. Andrews United Methodist Church

n For educational community, schools, colleges and universities – Gary Briden, president, Southern Methodist College

n For the family – Fred McDaniel, Edisto Charge United Methodist Church

n For world peace and unity – Dr. Tommy Huggins, First Baptist Church, St. Matthews

n For churches, pastors, ministers and clergy – Katherine Sobey, First Assembly of God

n For officers, serving as state troopers, public safety officers, sheriff’s deputies and members of the armed forces – Rev. Butch Farnham, chaplain, Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office

n For business and medical professions – Rev. Paul Hamilton, director of Pastoral Care, the Regional Medical Center

n Closing prayer of Unity and Benediction – Rev. Nate McMillan, Petra Community Church

Last year, featured speaker Claflin University President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale spoke to a record crowd of 250.

Miller expects attendance to be similar if not larger this year.

Piggly Wiggly will cater the breakfast.

Tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased at the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce, 534-6821; Centrex Promotions, 531-8503; the Regional Medical Center’s Pastoral Care Department, 395-2356 or from Pastor Shane Wall, 516-8030 or Pastor Nate McMillan, 268-0690.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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