On Saturday morning, from 6-7 a.m., the 13th Annual Prayer Rally will convene at the Pine Bluff Civic Center. The theme is “Light Up the City With Prayer.”
From Pine Bluff, Ark., across America, the streets, schools, homes and neighborhoods are witnessing days of challenge, chaos, darkness and disconnect from godly principles and values.
Divided people from politics to pulpits continue to breed cycles of hate and divisiveness and as a result of this, disunity, crime, murder is way too frequent and increasing.
Where is the help? Who can we turn to? Where is the Light of hope, deliverance and victory?
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
From the grounds of the Pine Bluff Civic Center located at 200 E. Eighth Ave., things will change for the better, says the prayer leaders in Pine Bluff, Ark.
The Annual Prayer Rally is led by Apostle Saint Mary Harris and includes local and national prayer leaders. The theme comes from Isaiah 60, verse 1: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”
The organizers are inviting pastors, parents, youth, city officials, community and civic leaders to come together to light up the city with prayer.
Prayers of love and unity will be prayed for various spheres and influences, including the church, family, education, government, media, military as well as issues that focus on non-violence, the economy and overall betterment for the citizens in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County.
Because no other force, strategy from agencies of government, education, community, etc., can defeat violence, the prayer rally emphasizes that there is but one power, the power of God and His Word is the only way to defeat and exterminate the violence that has crept into the city of Pine Bluff.
The Word of God is clear in so many ways:
“Righteousness exalts the nation, but sin is a reproach to any and all people,” Proverbs 14:34.
“If my people who are called by my name would humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land,” II Chronicles 7:14.
When the pandemic of the virus showed up, we did not know what to do. But we did something. Now with the clear acknowledgement of the “pandemic of the violence” we may not have known what to do in full command, but we now are clear.
Prayer and faith in the power of God is the greatest weapon, force, and power to defeat the violence. We will not tolerate the spirit of murder in our city.
We will work together from Pine Bluff and beyond with leaders and agencies who see prayer as the master key to this resolve.
Organizers pray that Pine Bluff, during and beyond this prayer time, will unite in values that are biblically based that bring a more united city. This effort supports the values documented in the constitution as our nation declares itself to be “one nation under God.”
Joint-vision prayer ministries and leaders who are helping to bring this forward include the Rev. Arthur L. Hunt Jr., CEO of the College of Aspiring Artists, and others.
The vision of the prayer rally continues each day at the House of Bread Deliverance Church (Pine Bluff Prayer Center), 1501 W. Second Ave.
(Portions of this article were printed in 2022.)
Saint Mary Harris is the apostle and pastor of House of Bread Deliverance Church at Pine Bluff and founder, organizer, and spiritual overseer for the prayer rally. For information on how to connect and be a part of the prayer rally and ongoing prayer services, contact Saint Mary Harris, House of Bread apostle/pastor, at (870) 872-2196 or www.houseofbreaddeliverance.net.
Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Please include your name, phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.