I am not a preacher, but I will probably sound like one before you finish reading this.
The headline probably stopped a lot of folks, but let me urge you to stick with me on this.
We’ve had two major prayer events in Clarksdale over the past two weeks: Jericho Walk and National Day of Prayer.
People prayed. People prayed hard!
People in this town want to see change to problems that are much bigger than them.
Jericho Walk
Joshua and the Israelites marched around the city of Jericho seven times over seven days and the walls of Jericho fell flat.
Churches and church folk marched seven days in Clarksdale last week, praying for deliverance from seven vices that we all have.
I attended the one at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church on Tuesday, at Oakhurst Baptist Church on Thursday and the one Friday night at New Bethel Baptist Church.
The seven walks were held in neighborhoods around Clarksdale.
The one on Friday night was the one that touched me the most.
It started at D&T Supermarket on the highway in Clarksdale.
As you know, D&T was the scene of a gruesome robbery and murder on Good Friday. Your’s truly heard about it that night.
It was Good Friday, I was at home and looking forward to Easter Sunday with family and my church brothers and sisters.
But duty called. I was met by four Clarksdale policemen still in uniform. I guess their job never ends either.
I hope you pray for law enforcement in this town. I know what they saw that night.
That’s why I pray for peace and safety for those men and women who wake up every morning, strap on a gun, pin on a badge and head out to right an evil world.
National Day of Prayer
I’ve covered National Day of Prayer events in three states for over 30 years.
While the programs are sort of standard, the prayers never are.
Pastors, laymen and laywomen gather in a community green space and plead to God for repentance and for people to realize how bad this world is.
They pray for politicians, those in the military, teachers, pastors and, yes, even the media.
I’m often touched at this events. Literally, I have people come up to me and put a hand on my shoulder, call me by name and pray for me, my family and the people I work with.
There are those who hate the media. I’ve had people in this town try to bribe my boss to get me fired. I pray for them regularly. I don’t pray that God smite them, but that He change them as only He can.
That’s what Jericho Walk was all about. That is what the National Day of Prayer was all about.
It’s a mystery how tribulation drives you to your knees, forces you to be still and reflective and allows time and forces bigger than you to solve the problem.
Work to do
I love the book of James so much I named one of my sons James.
It contains a verse that says faith without works is dead.
Let us never say prayer doesn’t work, but we also need to ponder that we are to use our hands, our feet and our talents and resources to make this world a better place.
I’ve said before in this space: If we all do the job we are called to - police, preachers, politicians, bricklayers, bankers, businessmen, farmers, teachers and yes, even newspapermen - the world will be a better place.
Floyd Ingram is Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. The sermon’s over and it’s time to pass the plate and go home. Call him at 662-627-2201 if you have something to contribute.
