Mid-South churches launched a united offensive Tuesday (Dec. 14) morning against crime, violence, poverty, sickness, and the rise of mental illness in Memphis.
Faith leaders and hundreds of their parishioners gathered along the riverfront to cheer a new initiative of prayer around the clock, seven days a week, to inundate the city in 2022.
“The time for prayer is now in our community, and Memphis Prayer 365 is a solution that unites us, crossing racial and denominational lines,” said the Rev. Ricky Floyd, senior pastor of Pursuit of God Transformation Center in the Frayser.
Tuesday’s news conference announcing the launch of Memphis Prayer 365 used the iconic backdrop of the Mississippi River, with its towering bridge and Bass Pro Pyramid in the distance. The setting is uniquely Memphis, organizers said.
Pursuit of God, Bellevue Baptist Church, and Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven are leading the endeavor to push back against the effects of rising crime and poverty, which have plagued the city, especially in the past year.
Initiatives from law enforcement and other agencies also are needed, along with their strategies, prayers of the faithful, according to one organizer.
“With daily awareness of yet another violent act or a family struggling to make ends meet, many are left wondering what more can be done,” said the Rev. Bartholomew Orr, Brown Missionary senior pastor.
“But we are not helpless. The Christians’ weapons of warfare are not worldly, but spiritual, able to pull down strongholds. We will pray, using our most powerful weapon, and expect God to do miracles.”
Bellevue Baptist Church, a member of the Southern Baptist denomination, was a major driver in launching Memphis Prayer 365.
“We love our city and want prosperity and protection for the people who live here,” said the Rev. Steve Gaines, Bellevue’s senior pastor.
“We feel it’s our job, as pastoral leaders, not to remain silent, but to raise our voices in support of our community with consistent and intentional prayer.”
Gaines’ involvement is particularly noteworthy. The Southern Baptist denomination has historically upheld segregation within the church and in the larger community.
They broke from Northern Baptists in 1845 when slaveholders were prohibited from becoming missionaries. Later, “blacks who could behave properly and knew their place” were allowed to associate with the church, but not as equal members.
“Dr. Gaines came to us and told the story about Austin, Texas, when people were experiencing drought,” said Orr. “Churches across denominational and racial barriers joined together in prayer, and God brought the rain. Dr. Gaines said, ‘You know what? Let’s make that happen right here.’”
Orr said racial reconciliation will be an important factor of the success of Memphis Prayer 365.
“… In the midst of this pandemic, a group of us pastors, both black and white, have been praying every week together. Before the pandemic, we met once a month.
“But we must put aside our differences and divisions of the past and come together – especially in Memphis, where we have so many stains and blemishes on the city. We are all God’s people, and we must unite. Like one pastor said, ‘We owe God a revival,’” Orr said.
This moment in time makes sense, said Pursuit of God’s Floyd.
“There are significant needs in our city, and it’s well within God’s power to fulfill those needs,” said Floyd. “We have only to ask of God.”
Hallelujah FM, 95.7 is helping coordinate the prayer schedule.
Here is how the continuous prayer chain will work:
Each partner church will select one date out of the month that members will be praying around the clock. For example, a church may choose the fifth of every month to pray.
That congregation will then have members sign up to pray for a designated time until the entire 24 hours are covered. When fully implemented, the city of Memphis will be blanketed in prayer every minute next year.
Bishop Linwood Dillard, pastor of Citadel of Deliverance COGIC, said “Citadel has always been known for our ministry of prayer. It is one thing to pray as an individual church body, but there is so much more power when churches are able to come together and unite in prayer.”
Dillard said he appreciates Floyd, Gaines and Orr for being “very intentional” about organizing this prayer initiative.
“They said the prayer must reflect the heart of God, bringing in persons of all races and denominations,” said Dillard.
“Intentionality must be the order of the day.”
GALLERY
