An uplifting tradition that brings together communities, churches and schools will once again take place this August as the Okmulgee County Prayer Walk returns for its 9th year. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2, beginning at 9 a.m., with participants meeting at Brock Gymnasium on the campus of Okmulgee High School.

The annual Prayer Walk serves as a unifying moment for residents across Okmulgee County to come together in faith, offering prayers for students, teachers and school staff ahead of the new academic year. From public school campuses to local colleges, the walk spans multiple locations across the county.

Organizer Christy Parker, who graduated from Okmulgee High School, was inspired to launch the first event after a powerful personal moment during her daily commute.

“God laid it on my heart to post something on Facebook about having a prayer walk,” Parker said of that pivotal day in May nine years ago. “He was speaking to me about it during my whole 30-minute drive, and I ended up going ahead and posting a status about it.”

The response was immediate and overwhelming.

“My phone blew up with support from everyone who thought the county wanted and needed the event,” Parker recalled.

Recognizing the deep need for spiritual support amid local struggles, Parker reached out to her brother Darren Downing, Pastor Marcus Jeffrey and Mike James to help bring the vision to life. Since then, the event has grown in scope and significance, enduring the challenges of a pandemic and numerous local tragedies, while continuing to bring comfort and encouragement to those in the community.

The first several years, the event began and ended at Green Country Technology Center with participants gathering there. Then COVID-19 forced the event to be held outdoors at historic Harmon Stadium. It was then moved to the Brock Gymnasium on the campus of Okmulgee High School.

Rain and heat also haven’t stopped the mission of the event.

Each year, the Prayer Walk features stops at various schools and campuses across the county, including:

• Okmulgee Public Schools

• Schulter Public Schools

• Preston Public Schools

• Beggs Public Schools

• Twin Hills Schools

• Wilson Schools

• Henryetta Public Schools

• Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT)

• Green Country Technology Center (GCTC)

• College of the Muscogee Nation

• The Academy of Okmulgee At each location, participants offer prayers for protection, academic success and emotional well-being for everyone involved in the upcoming school year.

The event is open to the public, and people of all faiths are encouraged to join. Whether walking alongside others or driving from stop to stop, the focus remains the same: supporting local students, educators and communities through prayer.

For additional information, updates, or to get involved, organizers encourage the public to visit the event’s Facebook page, “Okmulgee County Prayer Walk: A City on Its Knees.”

As the school year approaches, the Prayer Walk continues to serve as a powerful reminder of unity, hope, and the strength of a community that believes in the power of prayer.