Dear editor,

Why did the Bryan County Board of Education stop opening its meetings with Prayer?

Silence does nothing. It’s weak and has no power.

Speaking has power: “Life and death are in the power of the tongue” - Proverbs 18:21 

Educators should know this: When teachers speak... they change student’s lives!

There is even a National Campaign: “If you see something- say something!” - Why?

Silence does not allow us to agree on something... and Agreement is the key to power.

The greatest teacher Jesus said, “If 2 or 3 agree about anything they ask for, it shall be done.”

Previous board members used to open their meetings with an Invocation: (See Webster) Invocation: “The act of calling upon God for assistance, guidance, inspiration or protection.” There is a definite need for all 4 of those here at the Bryan County B.O.E.

We are responsible for the lives and education of 10,600 students.

This is a big job and we need God’s help to do it correctly!

1. According to Education Week - there were 221 school shootings in 2024.

This is a real danger. We definitely need to pray and ask for God’s protection in our schools.

2. Pres. George Washington said, “It is impossible to Govern without God and the Bible.”

Prayer is the first step of living out our national motto: “In God we trust.”

3. Only Marxist nations deny the existence of God and reality of the Spiritual Dimension.

The Pembroke City Council opens all its sessions with prayer.

The Richmond Hill City Council opens all its meetings with prayer.

The Bryan County Board of Commissioners open all their meetings with prayer.

The GA state House of Representatives- opens each session with prayer.

The GA Senate starts each of their sessions with prayer.

The US House of Representative has a rule to open each session with prayer.

The US Senate opens each session with prayer.

Why does this B.O.E. think that it doesn’t need the assistance & guidance of God for their task?

No, that is a misguided idea-another bad policy!

This B.O.E. needs to recognize that it does need God’s help.

4. Expressing our Trust in God through Prayer is the American Way.

If there are no Christians on this board with the confidence to pray and ask for God’s assistance.

We have 30+ Pastors in this county, who if the Board Chairman would invite them, are eager and willing to come and pray over this board, our students and our schools.

Psalm 33 says: “Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord Jehovah.”

We need God’s blessing on our schools, our teachers and our students.

Please restore an Invocation back to the agenda of each meeting.

M. Thomas Seaman, Richmond Hill, Georgia