City leaders stage “Roanoke Prays” focusing on recent homicide rise
by Jazmine Otey
Bishop Jamal Jackson led a crowd of reportedly over 200 people, through a powerful chant “prayers up, guns down” that reverberated throughout Melrose Park Friday evening (8/26) at “Roanoke Prays.” The event attracted people from various ethnicities and backgrounds who came together for the prayer vigil. Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church and about 30 church members came out blazing red shirts that had the word “love” stretched across them in white lettering. It all was the perfect illustration of the positive atmosphere the event planners aimed for.
Councilwoman Trish White-Boyd, event organizer, said their goal was to lift up the community in prayer after someone was murdered a mere day after the July event that memorialized those lost to gun violence.
“She said we have to assemble, so she asked me to contact all of the clergy and friends that I know and ask them if they could come out because she really wanted something done about all this violence that seems to be hovering over this entire valley,” said Rev. Alonzo Smith, pastor Price Memorial AME Zion Church who was co-organizer of the event.
With the amount of grief, anxiety and unrest that has run rampant in the Roanoke Valley White-Boyd felt the need to be proactive. She spoke with the Mayor, Sherman Lea about a unity prayer and he was in full support. With help from the City of Roanoke they were able to organize the event in a few days.
White-Boyd states that she couldn’t have done it without the faith leaders, pastors, ministers and the community.
They asked people to join them in a fast in the days leading up to the event and everyone came out united as prayer warriors on Friday night. Their plea was evident “if you know something, say something,” addressing the code of silence that is plaguing the city and thus a lot of unsolved cases.
But while the event was a call to action in response to recent homicide violence, it was intended to only be seen as the first step.
“From prayer we get direction from God, we get inspiration but then once we get up off our knees there is work to be done,” said David Jones, pastor Williams Memorial Baptist Church. Jones, one of several who spoke on program, is a member of the city’s gun violence task force led by Vice-Mayor Joe Cobb.
“The Israelites prayed for freedom, but they had to walk through the divided waters of the red sea.”
Jones furthered explained that while the event delivered a powerful message of encouragement and healing to the community there’s a lot more that needs to be done such as more community engagement, policy changes and a push for more diverse recruitment in the police force.
“There’s no simple answer to this problem,” he said. “It’s a very complex issue, so it requires a complex answer. We have a lot of great people in our community and we need to tap into all of their abilities and skills in order to attack this problem.”
Smith had similar views as Jones.
“At least there’s a conversation, someone recognizes that we have to do something,” Alonzo Smith said.
“This is nothing but a gateway service, now the real work begins and I challenge my colleagues to reach out to people beyond the church doors because Jesus not only prayed but he taught people too.”
Jackson, another gun violence task force member, believes the event was highly successful, brought the community together and while it was a good start he would’ve liked to see more young individuals involved. He furthered explained that while prayer is necessary, the task force is also working toward solutions given that there have been over 260 gun reported incidents in 2019.
These proactive measures include talking with schools, law enforcement, hospitals and continuing to pray against the violence.
“There is a group of people coming together regardless of where they’re from to safeguard Roanoke,” said Jackson who is pastor, Refreshing Church, Roanoke.
“I believe the gatekeepers are coming together now to raise the gates to our city and pray for those of us that are within this valley.”
