A regular anti-violence prayer meeting is under way in Vance County.
The prayer meeting crosses the lines of race and denomination. It is an offshoot of the Vance County Coalition Against Violence’s Faith Summit last weekend.
Seven people joined the host pastor, the Rev. Doug Addington, at West Hills Presbyterian Church at noon today for a few minutes of informal, heartfelt prayer for God to help Vance County overcome the plague of violent crime.
“We need more prayer than anything,” said Jackie Boone, who drove into Henderson from Townsville for the prayer meeting after reading about the plans in this morning’s Daily Dispatch.
Addington, who was joined by fellow ministers William Clayton, Todd Hester and Peter White, opened the session by reading 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, in which Paul talks about living in the world but fighting with divine weapons.
Addington then started a period of open prayer by asking for God to use his power to break down Vance’s barriers, break down its sin and help people of faith be a force for positive change with their message of hope.
“Show yourself strong on behalf of this community,” Addington said.
“Thank you for bringing us together,” Boone prayed.
Jerry Cousins prayed for the schools, the students and the athletes, and he thanked God for Jason Brown and the positive, faithful example the newly drafted Baltimore Raven sets.
Addington asked God to guide and support our local elected officials, and White asked much the same for all the good people of Vance County.
“Show us what we need to do,” White prayed.
“Prayer is not an excuse for action,” Hester said, but “a commitment to action.”
It’s a commitment the small group hopes more people will embrace.
In its initial stages, the prayer meeting will be held twice a month, once on a Thursday at noon and once on a Tuesday at 7 p.m. The gatherings will be at West Hills until the group decides to meet somewhere else.
The two meetings in May will be Tuesday, May 10, at 7 and Thursday, May 26, at noon.
Update: A special meeting will be held next Thursday, the National Day of Prayer, on the steps of the Vance County Courthouse at noon.