By Mike Barnhardt, Enterprise Record

Pray for our country.

It’s simple enough, but for Preston and Linda Stockner — it means more.

The couple is organizing a “Take America Back! One Prayer At A Time” free rally on Friday, April 22 in Davie High’s War Eagle Stadium.

It will include music by Davie native Tony Bailey, and plenty of prayers — for our elected officials, emergency workers, military, you name it.

“The Lord told me he wanted us to do something,” Linda said. She had heard about Franklin Graham going to every state to pray for the country. “It finally clicked with me. The Lord was saying he wants us to have a prayer rally.”

It will not be a political event.

With help from Mike Drayton and Serving Him Ministries, the couple’s ministry, “Guiding Light Community Outreach and Bright Morning Star,” will be able to put on the event with tax-deductible donations.

They’re hoping for a crowd of 3,000 to 5,000.

The message is being spread in publications and churches, by word of mouth, a billboard on I-40 and any other means possible.

“People think it’s a political rally, and it’s not,” Preston said. “We’re contacting the politicians so we can pray over them to make good decisions.”

In addition to Bailey opening the event at 5:45 p.m., Mocksville’s First United Methodist choir will perform a medley. Mocksville Mayor Will Marklin will offer a prayer, as will Drayton, Mocksville First Methodist Church minister Glenn Myers, Mocksville First Baptist minister Shane Nixon, and others.

Special guests will be Adrian and Holly Moldovan from South Carolina, providing testimony and music.

Boy Scouts will perform a flag ceremony, and more volunteers are being recruited.

“My ultimate goal is to bring the community together … Davie County, Forsyth County, other states … We want to bring these people together to change lives,” she said.

“We want people to leave changed … and go back to our roots of putting God first just like it says on the courthouse,” Linda said. “We’re getting away from that.”

Gerald Marion painted the logo for the event.

“The Lord says 3,000 plus … and I believe,” she said.

Attendees are asked to bring a donation of at least two canned food items for A Storehouse for Jesus.

Learn more at www.DavieRally.com