Drought sparks Facebook event asking people to pray and fast for rain

SILVER LAKE, Ind. (WANE) - A Facebook event in the area is trying to get people to pray and fast Monday, in hopes of starting a rain shower.  The event was created by Teresa Martin, who owns a farm in Silver Lake in Kosciusko County.

Martin said she came up with the idea after seeing Texas Governor, Rick Perry, ask people to pray for Texas' farmers last year.  Now she wants people everywhere to pray for Hoosier farmers.

"We had thought about holding a rally at the courthouse in Warsaw," Martin said.  "We decided not to, and I just put the event up on Facebook, instead."

As of Sunday, 75 people on Facebook said they planned on taking part.

"What I'm really praying and fasting for is that the weather pattern can be changed," Martin said.  "Not just we get a rain, but that the weather pattern can be changed so we get timely rains."

Martin said a couple churches around Warsaw have told her they'll join her Monday.

"A lot of people are praying for their lawns to be green," John Brenneman, who plans to join the cause Monday, said, " but we are talking about people's livelihoods here."

Brenneman isn't sure if he will fast, but said he will give it up something.

"Sacrifice a personal thing," he said.  "Something that matters, and shows God that it means a lot to you.  Food is a good one."

Both Brenneman and Martin said their were several Bible verses that are related to fasting.

Martin and her husband, Darren, grow corn, beans and hay.  Part of her corn is irrigated, while the other part is not.  The non-irrigated corn is knee-high.  The irrigated corn is shoulder-high.

"All this corn was planted the same day," Martin said.

This weekend, Martin's farm didn't get much rain.  She was able to show the few raindrops she had gotten by pointing to her walkway to the front door of her house.

On Sunday, a steady rain shower made its through S.R. 14, less than a mile from Martin's home.  However, her crops didn't get much.  The walkway to the front door of her house had only a few raindrops.

"Looks like we just got the southern tip of it," Martin said, while pointing to the radar.

Most of northeast Indiana is still in a moderate drought. The rain deficit is 6.89 inches lower than average. Right now there are some scattered showers, but no heavy rain in the forecast.