Press Release
By Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr., 05-05-24
I want to invite everyone to two exciting Christian events, coming up soon, in May and June.
On Thursday, May 9th, the National Day of Prayer will be observed in Nassau County at First Baptist Church, beginning at 6:30 PM. Every President since Harry Truman has proclaimed a National Day of Prayer each year, and we will join the nation in prayer. If there was ever a time to pray for America, this is it. The kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light are now clashing in mortal combat in Washington, for the soul of our country.
Prayer has always played a key role in the success of America. Christopher Columbus prayed his way across the Atlantic. The Pilgrims prayed when they landed in Massachusetts. The Huguenots prayed when they landed in Jacksonville, Florida. The English settlers prayed when they landed in Jamestown. George Washington prayed in the snow at Valley Forge. Abraham Lincoln prayed in the White House during the Civil War. President Roosevelt prayed with the nation during World War II. And God heard their prayers and saved our country and our freedom.
The theme this year for the National Day of Prayer is Lift up the Word, and Light up the World. The national Bible verse is Second Samuel 22:29-31: “For You are my lamp O lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You, I can run against a troop, and by my God, I can leap over a wall.” So we will be praying on May 9th for God to intervene in the 7 mountains or centers of influence in our culture: Government, Military, Family and Children, Education, Religion and the church, Media and Entertainment and Business. We will also pray for the Unborn and the Sanctity of Life, for our Judicial System, and for Unity in the Body of Christ.
This is not a First Baptist event – it is very interdenominational. Many churches will be represented. So please mark you calendar for Thursday night, May 9th at First Baptist Church, 1600 South 8th Street in Fernandina Beach!
Many people in our country have turned their back on God. Secular humanism reigns in our schools, our media and in our government. We have lost our moral compass as a people. It is time for the American people to turn back to our Creator, God Almighty, with humility and repentance. Let’s cry out to God for a might revival and for mercy on our land!
The second great event will be The Christian Heritage of America Parade, set for Saturday, June 29th at 10am on Centre Street on Amelia Island. This will be a parade on the 4th of July weekend to honor the Independence of America, and her great Christian heritage. The parade is being sponsored by First Baptist Church and other churches and I am on the parade committee.
We have many parades in Nassau County. We have a Shrimp parade, a gay pride parade and an MLK parade.
But we think it’s time to celebrate America and our Christian heritage with a parade as well!
The man who discovered America, Christopher Columbus was a devout Christian who made his voyage to share the Gospel with the New World. The Father of our country, George Washington was a devout Christian, whose prayer at Valley Forge led to victory in the Revolutionary War. Most of our Founding Fathers were devout Christians. And our Declaration of Independence and Constitution and laws were based on Biblical and Christian principles.
So please join our Christian Heritage of America Parade! We want floats, and cars and trucks and people marching. Rain or shine! Two American flags will be given out to all participants. Please come and dress in patriotic attire. – red white and blue. Dress up like George Washington! Please register for this parade ASAP on the First Baptist website. Or call me, Judge Meisburg at 904/651-5865. We need people to register for this parade by June 15th. spectators just need to show up. It starts at Central Park and goes to Centre Steer and around downtown.
Jesus once said: If you confess me before men, I will confess you before My Father in Heaven.” So we plan to be bold and confess and lift up the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ on Centre Street on Amelia Island on Saturday, June 29th! Please join us!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR- JUDGE JOHN MARSHALL MEISBURG JR.
Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr., was a U.S. Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration for 26 years in Jacksonville, Florida. He retired as a judge in 2021 and is now living in Fernandina Beach, Florida with his wife of 43 years, Dr. Denise Meisburg. They have six children and 11 grandchildren. Prior to being a judge, he was a lawyer with the Federal government for 23 years, serving in all three branches of the government, with the U.S. District Court, EEOC, Justice Department, Congress, FDIC and Office of Special Counsel (MSPB). He was in private law practice one year in Washington, D.C. and filed the lawsuit that became the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case on sexual harassment. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kentucky, and a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He is a lifelong Christian, being raised in the Baptist faith in Louisville, Kentucky. He was an Elder at New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville where he taught Sunday School, the Jewish Roots of the Faith and the Christian Heritage of America. He was a leader of both the National Day of Prayer and the House of Prayer in Jacksonville for over ten years. He has published ten books relating to Christian and legal issues. He is now a member of Living Waters World Outreach Center in Fernandina Beach, where he serves in the prayer and home group ministry, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Faith Christian Academy.
