Press Statement May 2, 2007
Issued by: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II
The events that happened last week were not only violent but public, personal and penetrating to the very core of our community. We cannot allow this incident or others to define, confine, or forever malign the future of our community. And so as faith leaders who understand that the role of the church is not only to preach and preside over death but to speak life and transformation, we are collectively calling for a Stop the Funeral: Hope Restoration, and Spiritual Warfare Unity Revival. According to Luke 7:11-17, we must participate in ways that deal with the reality of death by choosing to act in ways that bring hope and possibility out of unusual and unacceptable situations of death. Therefore, the purpose of the Stop the Funeral: Hope Restoration, and Spiritual Warfare Unity Revival is to be a first step in uniting the faith community and other community based groups in a common agenda against violence and death. Our imperative is to:
I. Call together the Faith Community -
Issued by: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II
The events that happened last week were not only violent but public, personal and penetrating to the very core of our community. We cannot allow this incident or others to define, confine, or forever malign the future of our community. And so as faith leaders who understand that the role of the church is not only to preach and preside over death but to speak life and transformation, we are collectively calling for a Stop the Funeral: Hope Restoration, and Spiritual Warfare Unity Revival. According to Luke 7:11-17, we must participate in ways that deal with the reality of death by choosing to act in ways that bring hope and possibility out of unusual and unacceptable situations of death. Therefore, the purpose of the Stop the Funeral: Hope Restoration, and Spiritual Warfare Unity Revival is to be a first step in uniting the faith community and other community based groups in a common agenda against violence and death. Our imperative is to:
I. Call together the Faith Community -
- Each church will hold a two night STOP The Funeral: Hope Restoration, and Spiritual Warfare Unity Revival at their local church which will focus on overcoming the fear that violence can bring and reclaiming the hope that things can change. The birth of this initiative comes out of a perilous situation but it has been entombed within the hearts of the faith community for time and eternity. This calling together of community will enliven our goal of organizing a consortium mindset that supports the plans spearheaded by different counterparts. Now, our road map is in place and thus we move forward.
II. Pray for our Community in a unified way
- Each participating pastor will ask their membership to join us for a prayer gathering on Saturday, May 12, 2007. Several types of prayer will be lifted by unified congregations and community leaders. The types of prayer include: Petionary, Intercessory, Healing, Authoritative, and Radical.
III. Connect our Community
- On Saturday May 12, 2007, each participant will receive special paraphernalia donning the STOP the Funeral: Hope, Restoration, and Spiritual Warfare Unity Revival Logo and will be asked to engage in 60 specific days of prayer and fasting for hope, healing and peace. At the conclusion of this sixty days a follow-up gathering will be held to engage our ultimate plan, a Drug Dealer and Gang Member Redemption Conference.
IV. Inform our Community
- At the community prayer gathering, the Plan of Engagement that will be imitated by the clergy will be unveiled as components of consistent efforts to curtail violence, narcissism and self-destruction in our community.
V. Empower our Community
- By having a specific Plan of Engagement with multiple projects, pastors and parishioners can prayerfully and selectively unify in ways that empower the community towards a common goal.
1 comment:
Grace & Peace Be Unto You From God Our Father and The Lord Jesus Christ. It is time that the Clergy of this city and the Leaders and Defenders of The Christian Faith ban together in efforts such as this to bind the hands of the enemy. Our youth are blind to what is happening to them and so are some adults. We are in the middle of a spiritual battle for our very lives and souls.We all need to pray because times are only getting worse. But I do know that the Victory is ours through Jesus Christ Our Lord! We must get the youth to understand who they are A Royal Preisthood. A Chosen Generation. That is why the enemy is fighting so hard to keep them ignorant because they are powerful. I salute the covenat partners for their work. I know that this will make a diffrerence even if just for one Child!
Minister AG Jones
Tehillah Church Ministries
Goldsboro,NC
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