The Unity Revival: 2012

CLERGY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS UNITE IN A CALL TO END TO VIOLENCE AS WE HAVE SIX ACTS OF LOCAL VIOLENCE IN TWO WEEKS

STOP the Funeral to Hosts 2012 Unity Revival, Friday, June 8^th at 7:00PM at Word Faith Center, 289 Buck Swamp Road, Goldsboro, NC. The theme for this year’s revival is “A Call to Action; Arresting the Spirit of Murder and Greed.”

GOLDSBORO –Since 2007, Stop the Funeral Initiative has been working with leaders in our community and around the state to address senseless violence in this community and significant progress is being made. The Day Reporting Center recently reported that 61% of their participants, many of whom are participating in STOP the Funeral’s 2^nd Chance program, obtain or maintain employment while in their program. These are significant numbers and we applaud the work being done and yet the continued acts of violence and murders in our community highlight the need to do more. Since the month of May began, our local community has had at least six acts of major violence, two of which ended the lives of two young men, Khyrie Roberts, 21 and Charles Barnes Jr. 35.

Bishop William Phillips, pastor of Word faith Center and a STOP The Funeral covenant partner, asks the question, “Where is the value for life? There appears to be an underling belief that the lives of our young black men and women are not important, not to others and not to us. We know the value of these young lives and we will honor their lives and the lives of others that have fallen prey to senseless violence in our community at our 2012 Unity Revival. We intend to spiritually police our community during this revival and we will arrest the spirits of murder and greed that are attacking us. We must restore value to the lives of our children and teach them to value the lives of others.”

Spiritual Warfare is the thrust of this 2012 Unity Revival to be held on Friday, June 8^th at 7:00PM at Word Faith Center 289 Buck Swamp Road, Goldsboro. The revival ushers in the Initiative’s days of fasting and prayer in preparation for the Community Prayer Walk which will return to the steps of the Court House, the location of the first walk, On July 21. Friday night’s service will feature Bishop Phillips and the theme for this year’s revival is “A Call to Action: Arresting the Spirit of Murder and Greed.”

STOP the Funeral Initiative and its covenant partners through the 2^nd Chance program have been working to bring real change by providing resources and guidance through workshops held in partnership with Theresa Barratt, Director of the Day Reporting Center, Dennis Gaddy, Executive Director of Community Success Initiative and Carolyn Perry, Director, Microenterprise Loan Program N.C. Rural Economic Development Center. We are bringing leadership and business development skills and resources to those hoping to find employment or start a business.

“STOP the Funeral Initiative’s 2^nd Chance Program is a work that brings hope to a community seemingly without hope offering education, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. This revival is not just a call to pray, for as spiritual leaders in this community that is what we must do, but it is also a call to action, a call to continue to act on the work that spiritual warfare demands.”, said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, co-convener of Stop the Funeral Initiative and President of the NC Conference of the NAACP.

“We have been in prayer all year and each Wednesday throughout the month of May our partners have been asked to pray with their congregations about this issue. The Unity Revival is a time when we come together, join our forces and unite in prayer, and get our marching orders as we seek an end to this senseless violence. As the elders and leaders in our community we know that we must fight this battle in the spiritual realm as well as in the natural”, said Rev. Mickael Stephens, co-convener of Stop the Funeral Initiative.

"An E.P.I.C. CALL to ACTION"

Join us for the 2012 UNITY REVIVAL “A Call to Action; Arresting the Spirit of Murder and Greed."

Spiritual Warfare Services on Friday, June 8th at 7:00 PM; Word Faith Center, 289 Buck Swamp Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530. We are asking area churches, community leaders, civic organizations and concerned citizens throughout Wayne County to join us as we seek God for unity and wisdom in addressing violence in our community and as we remember “the why” of stopping funerals. Supporters are asked to attend this Friday evening service. Anyone wishing additional information is asked to contact Francine Smith at the STOP the Funeral Initiative office at (919) 581-9178 x 104 or Rev. Barber at (919) 394-8137.