Jackson community members join in prayer for race relations

JACKSON, Tenn. — A community came together Wednesday, singing songs and praying for racial relations to improve in our country.

“With the events that have taken place in our country recently, we realized that there is a need for prayer,” Pastor of Englewood Baptist Church Jordan Easley said. “There’s power in prayer, and we believe that when we come together as believers in Christ that he provides a solution.”

The Holy Ground Community Prayer Meeting happens once a month and brings together worshipers from all denominations, races and beliefs.

“We want people to leave here realizing we must stop focusing on our differences and we need to start realizing that we are better together,” Easley said.

Jackson resident Marquitta McGowan said she couldn’t sit at home after she heard news of the service.

“I felt as though unity starts in the church, so I decided to come out today and fellowship with my brothers and sisters,” McGowan said. “We all are equal. We have equal rights and that we all are brothers and sisters, and times like these we need to be able to come together.”

For others, it’s about healing.

“We want unity in the community and we want healing in our nation,” Jackson resident Marilyn Polk said. “It’s just been so sad watching the news and seeing the riots and the killings. It’s just heartbreaking.”

Leaders want this to be the start of a greater realization.

“No matter what side you’re on, no matter what corner you’ve been hanging out in, when we realize that we can come together in the middle and be brothers and sisters in Christ the way God designed it, I think we are better together,” Pastor Easley said.

The next Holy Ground Community Prayer Meeting will be on Aug. 10 at Mother Liberty CME Church in Jackson. Community leaders say the focus of the next meeting will be to pray for the city of Jackson.