By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – A day after a terrorist used a truck to kill 14 people and injured more than 35 others on Bourbon Street, New Orleans pastors prayer walked the area, Jan. 2, before it reopened to the public.
Among those Louisiana Baptist pastors and lay leaders participating were Page Brooks, senior pastor, Canal Street Church: A Mosaic Community, New Orleans; Larry Johnson, lay leader, Bridge Church, Madisonville; Ricky Murphy, associate pastor, Celebration Church, Metairie; Michael Raymond, Shiloh Christian Fellowship, New Orleans; and Dennis Waston, senior pastor, Celebration Church, Metairie. New Orleans Diocese Archbishop Gregory Aymond, Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, other pastors and law enforcement leaders also participated in the prayer walk, which took place at the request of Cantrell. The group also left yellow roses along the street in memory of the victims.
A second line band followed the group and played hymns such as “I’ll fly away” and “Just a closer walk with thee.”
“It was surreal to see Bourbon Street so clean and without people, which is totally atypical of how it usually is,” Watson said. “We prayed for the family members of those who were killed in the tragedy and for healing and recovery for those who were injured as we prayer-walked down Bourbon Street. And we also prayed that the ungodly businesses and activities that are typically prevalent on that street would lose their power and influence over people’s lives. We sensed the Lord’s presence as we prayed, and at the end city leaders and pastors affirmed our faith in the fact that God can take the greatest of tragedies, turn them around, and use them for our good and for His glory.”
Johnson was encouraged to see pastors from various denominations and along with city leaders come together for prayer.
“I personally appreciated the mayors and civic leaders calling faith leaders to come out and pray and do that event because it acknowledges the role of faith in prayer,” Johnson said. “New Orleans is a very spiritual place, a very religious city, and so acknowledging the role and power of prayer and faith and the role that it plays helps the city recover from this really tragic event. Also, it was powerful that we prayed in remembrance of those that have lost their lives and their families and those who have been injured.”
Johnson also is vice president of chaplaincy services with Baptist Community Ministries, a ministry that was formed from the proceeds of the 1995 sale of Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans. Through the years the ministry has furthered the Gospel through partnerships formed with 150 churches and 95 non-profit organizations in the city — investing in health, education and public safety.
He noted that chaplains from BCM arrived within 45-50 minutes of the incident, providing spiritual support to officers, bystanders and telecommunicators. BCM has 10 full-time chaplains, with five working with the NOPD and another with the 911 call center. BCM has contributed $75,000 to support affected families: $50,000 to the New Orleans Tragedy Fund, and $25,000 to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for counseling.
“In the time after, many of our chaplains offered prayers of comfort, encouragement and support,” he said. “I would ask that people continue to pray for strength of the chaplains, pastors, law enforcement, medical personnel and others. The past 48 hours have been intense and with that intensity any type of person who gives caregiving can become exhausted to the point where you experience burnout. Pray for strength, endurance and perseverance.
“And, please pray that our chaplains and pastors see some type of evidence of God at work,” he continued. “Because when you’re tired and exhausted, seeing that evidence of God moving gives you the sense and the assurance that you’re not alone and your labor is not in vain.
“Additionally, for the city itself, please pray that this would be a time for people to lean on God,” he said. “New Orleans is a very festive and celebratory city, and it’s good to have celebration and festivals to enjoy. But sometimes in all of the celebration you can forget the one who blesses and the one who is the giver of those blessings. So pray that this sparks a spiritual revival in the city that’s already primed for one.”
Brooks said the prayer walk showed the spirit of the people and city of New Orleans.
“On the one side we were lamenting those who had passed and the tragedy of the situation,” he said. “On the other side, the music brought people together for support and strength. That is what I have seen the community do; we lament together but we also come together for support and encouragement during the hardest of times.
“It is an opportunity to share Jesus,” he continued. “As people are thinking about life and death, it becomes an opportunity for us to let people know that none of this took God by surprise. At the same time, followers of Jesus must shine their light even more so that people can know there is hope that has overcome evil and tragedy in the world.”
