Ken Locke speaks as 107.3 WRSW Operations Manager Kris Lake facilitates the special broadcast on March 22. InkFreeNews photo by Kory Betts.

WARSAW — Ken Locke, director of the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association led a time of prayer on local radio Sunday, March 22 in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Locke who also serves as the Envoy Administrator with the Warsaw Salvation Army delivered a brief prayer on Warsaw radio station 107.3 WRSW.

The broadcast was a way for a larger community to gather in unison at a time when many churches have suspended regular services in light of the virus crisis and are going online through social media.

The 2 p.m. day of prayer came at the request of the Kosciusko County Commissioners. Last week, Commissioner Brad Jackson issued a statement regarding the request.

Ken Locke during the special broadcast on 107.3 WRSW, March 22. InkFreeNews photo by Kory Betts.

At the request of the commissioners, Locke set 2 Chronicles 7:14 as the focus of his prayer.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, New International Version)

“Heavenly Father,” Locke began his prayer, “We come to you in this time of crisis.” In the prayer, Locke acknowledged that many people only turn to God “when times are bad.”

He asked for forgiveness in light of the complacency among those who claim to follow God. “Convict us of our sins and shortcomings,” he said, “and empower us to be a light in the dark of this world.”

“We pray that our repentance will open your ears to hear our cries,” he said. “We have been blinded by self-reliance, pride and desire for money, sex and power instead of your kingdom.”

“God we ask you for healing,” Locke said. “Heal our land from COVID-19.”

Locke also prayed for those in the federal, state, local government and within the medical field amid the epidemic. Additionally, he prayed for the many who have been affected by the epidemic.

“These are trying times as COVID-19 infections continue to spread and numbers rise,” Locke said while reading a statement he prepared for the broadcast.

“We’ve seen these epidemics in movies and read about them in history,” he said, “Now it is a reality.”

In the broadcast, Locke recounted a recent dream involving a scene of chaos. Yet, Locke said a vision of his grandmother stood calm and smiling as the world around her out of control. Locke interpreted this dream as a message from God.

“My grandmother and her generation struggled through the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918,” Locke said. She spoke of her life experience during other events like the Great Depression and two World Wars many times, “because many people came together and helped one another,” he said.

He claimed their endurance in-spite of these great trials survived “because they fixed their eyes toward Heaven, studied the Bible and put their hands to the plow of hard work and serving others.”

“There is a God who cares,” said Locke.

Of the virus epidemic, “God is calling us to trust him to see us through the way American’s have done before and since the founding of our nation,” he said.

He acknowledged the vast differences between the world of his grandmother and today. The vision of his grandmother he said, “was a reminder that God hasn’t changed.”

To end the special broadcast, Locke issued a challenge to those listening. He asked that they pray, actively worship, and yearn for revival.

There are about 125 churches in Kosciusko County. Area churches have been supportive of the local Day of Prayer, according to Locke.