A large number of community leaders came together Tuesday morning for the Troy Exchange Club’s “One Nation Under God Prayer Breakfast” at First Baptist Church.

Terry Hassett, club president, said the prayer breakfast is held annually during November for the purpose of increasing appreciation of the nation’s rich religious heritage and as a reminder to trust in a higher power for guidance, protection and strength.

Special music for the breakfast was presented by the Rev. Ed Shirley, pastor of Brundidge United Methodist Church. Shirley presented a medley of patriotic and inspirational songs.

The guest speaker for the 2015 One Nation Under God Prayer Breakfast was the Rev. Bobby Templin, pastor of Collegedale Church of Christ in Troy who reminded those in attendance how great America it is to be “one nation under God and also asked, “What now?”

“America has a Christian heritage,” Templin said. “The early settlers of our country came to advance the Kingdom of God. They all came with the same aim and that was to establish a country that would advance the Kingdom of God.”

Templin said that education in America is also rooted in the teachings of God’s Word.

“Yale, Harvard, Princeton—those college of higher learning started with church affiliations and to educate youth for Christ,” he said. “In 1892, the Supreme Court defined America as a Christian nation and, since 1865, we have had ‘In God We Trust’ on our currency. America has a Christian heritage.”

But in today’s world, Templin said there is concern all around the country about the “silencing of God,” which had its beginning in the removal of prayer from the nation’s schools.

“The largest religious group in America today is the ‘nones’ – those who have no religious affiliation,” Templin said. “In 1990, 8 percent of Americans said they had no religious affiliation. Today, that number is 23 percent. In 1990, 86 percent of Americans identified themselves as Christians. In 2014, that number had dropper to 70 percent.”

Templin said American values are moving backwards and Christianity and society are at odds.

However, even though there are those who seek to silence God in America, Templin said 92 percent of Americans believe in God and that Jesus was real.

“As long as we have God, there is hope,” he said. “If we seek God, we will find Him. We must pray for our country and for our leaders. We must live as citizens in the Kingdom of God and for citizenship in heaven.”

The Exchange Club is known as “America’s Service Club.” Its platform includes child abuse prevention, youth, Americanism and community service.

The aim of the One Nation Under God program is to increase appreciation for the country’s rich religious heritage and as a reminder to always trust in God.

The famous words of the program’s title are taken from the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.