ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- A pair of events in Central Baldwin will be held in recognition of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 2.

The Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce will host its Ninth Annual Prayer Breakfast beginning at 6:45 a.m. at the Baldwin County Coliseum, 19477 Fairground Road in Robertsdale.

The theme of this year’s event is “Hope Endureth All Things.” The featured speaker will be Mark Tidwell, author of “Leave a Mark.”

Riviera Utilities is the presenting sponsor for the event. Diamond sponsors are Terry Thompson Chevrolet, Baldwin EMC and Pen Air Federal Credit Union. Gold sponsors are Bryant Bank and Power Productions. Silver sponsors are the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and Bay Wood Products. Bronze sponsors are Stastka Insurance and Central Christian School.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Roberts will be the guest speaker for Summerdale’s 22nd annual Day of Prayer, which begins at noon at the Summerdale Municipal Complex, 502 Lee St., a half-block off of Highway 59.

 “Pray for America” is the theme for the event which is sponsored by the town of Summerdale, Baldwin EMC, local churches and businesses. Lunch will be provided.

Tidwell lives in Kennesaw, Ga., with his wife, Lee. They have been married for over 27 years and have three children, Nathan, Jessica and Cameron. As of this past summer, they are all married.

“He is a wonderful person and a wonderful speaker,” said event organizer Dennis Stastka, “who has a dynamic testimonial to share.”

Tidwell spent 19 years as a fulltime high school coach and teacher and has spent the past six years as a community coach. Throughout his career, he holds a total of eight state championships in five different sports. He currently works with Fellowship of Christian Athletes as an area director in metro Atlanta.

When he can, Tidwell enjoys hunting, playing tennis, working out, photography, reading, serving and teaching in his church, and mainly, spending time with family.

Philippians 1:20-21 is his life Bible passage. His first book, entitled “Leave a Mark,” was published this past October. For more information on Mark Tidwell please visit his website at www.leaveamarknow.com.

Tickets for the event are $20 per person, or $150 for a table of eight. For more information contact the Chamber at 251-947-2626 or online at www.centralbaldwin.com.

For the last 12 years, Roberts has practiced at Bayside Orthopedics in Fairhope and Foley.

He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 1979 during his orthopedic internship in El Paso, Texas, he said.

“I have known the grace, love and forgiveness of God for these last 34 years,” Roberts said. “During this time I have seen the Lord answer countless prayers for healing, salvation and deliverance both in the U.S. and on the mission field.”

Roberts and his wife of 31 years, Carol, have four children, Sarah, Daniel, Samuel and Hannah.

For more information call the Town of Summerdale at 251-989-6202.

According to its website, nationaldayofprayer.org, the National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863.

In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Harry S Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Ronald Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.