On Monday, February 12, 2024, in response to the Protecting America's Waterways prayer initiative, we completed a prayer drive to 5 locations in the central and Flinthills areas of Kansas. Our focus was on lakes and rivers that are used as water supplies for cities and rural water districts in this area of the state. We started at the Marion Reservoir between Hillsboro and Marion, from which water is taken to supply Hillsboro, Marion, Peabody, and a rural water district. In Dickenson County, we stopped at the Herington Reservoir, a water supply for most of eastern Dickenson County. Near Council Grove, Kansas, we stopped a two water structures. The first was the Council Grove City Lake which supplies the city of Council Grove. Within a few miles is the Council Grove Reservoir. Its source is the Neosho River, which supplies water to the city of Emporia. From the scenic overlook on Highway 177 near Manhattan we prayed over the river valley through which the Kansas River winds. It supplies water to 600,000 people between that point and where it flows into the Missouri River.
Besides using the prepared decrees, applying salt, and sharing communion elements, we prayed that the water would be protected from pollution, nitrates, or any other damaging substances whether they be put there purposefully or by neglect from bad management.
We prayed over several other water bodies of significant size which are recreation and flood control lakes; Marion, Kahola, Herington City, Geary State Lake, Chase County State Lake, and Lake Wasbunsee. We declared that these lakes would fulfill their purposes, to provide habitat, beauty, and recreation as designed.
We prayed that every farm pond and watershed lake would be filled to capacity with coming spring rains and retain water as they were designed for flood control and livestock.