First UMC congregation at 1959 church services in its new sanctuary.

First United Methodist Church in Rapid City will celebrate 50 years of church services in its “new” church in downtown Rapid City this month, which was built following a fire that destroyed the original church.

The congregation will note the anniversary at its Nov. 22 church services.  Recognize anyone in the photo above?

Sen. Gordon Howie, R-Rapid City, is looking for 1,000 praying South Dakotans to help elect a “God-fearing” governor, state legislators and city and council officials in 2010 through his Pray South Dakota group. But Howie isn’t asking for votes as much as for prayers.

“I’m asking 1,000 people for a commitmen to pray with me in November, December and January,” Howie said in a news release. “Pray South Dakota is a group of South Dakotans who believe that real leadership begins with a strong moral foundation. We are asking people all across the state to join in this commitment to pray.”

Howie bases his prayer request on Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.” and 2nd Chronicles, “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.”

Howie is asking people to email him at sdpray@ghowie.com and tell him they’ll join him. Their daily prayer assignment is three-fold: “Ask God to give us a governor who serves Him; Ask God to speak to men and women who will run for office throughout the state; and ask God to send revival to his people and cause them to support God-fearing candidates for every elective office in our state.”

The  Governor’s race is already a fairly crowded field, with four Republican candidates and one Democrat, but Howie didn’t say if he’s praying for more candidates or for the election of any specific one.  “I am excited to see what God will do as we begin to pray together!”